National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
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Overview
National Bavarian Cream Pie Day, observed every November 27, celebrates a custard-and-gelatin dessert with a name that turns out to be more marketing than geography.
Origin and story
Bavarian cream (crème bavaroise) is a classic custard set with gelatin and lightened with whipped cream, distinguishing it from a simple pastry cream.
The dessert is sometimes credited to the famous French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, a pioneer of early 19th-century haute cuisine.
Quick facts
- DateNovember 27
- TypeFood / Dessert
- Great forBakers, Pie lovers, Families
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
Despite its name, Bavarian cream has never really had much to do with Bavaria — it's a French dessert that borrowed a foreign name to sound impressive.
A French dessert wearing a German name
Bavarian cream (crème bavaroise) is a custard-based dessert, milk thickened with eggs and gelatin, folded with whipped cream and set in a mold. It's sometimes credited to Marie-Antoine Carême, a pioneering French chef of early 19th-century haute cuisine, though its exact origin isn't fully settled. One theory traces the "Bavarian" name to the 17th and 18th centuries, when French chefs cooked for Bavaria's ruling Wittelsbach family, and the dessert may simply have been named in honor of a visiting Wittelsbach guest rather than actually invented in Bavaria.
An American staple since the 1880s
Bavarian cream recipes first appeared in American cookbooks in D. A. Lincoln's Boston Cooking School book in 1884 and Fannie Farmer's in 1896. From 1884 through 2022, the dessert has been mentioned in U.S. and Canadian newspapers more than 95,000 times. The same filling shows up well beyond pie crusts, most familiarly as the filling inside "Bavarian cream" doughnuts.
Ways to mark the day
- Bake or buy a Bavarian cream pie and compare its texture to a simple custard pie.
- Try the same filling in doughnut form to see how versatile it really is.
- Share the "it's not actually from Bavaria" fact at your Thanksgiving-week table.
Helpful resources: Wikipedia, "Bavarian cream".
Did you know?
The day falls on November 27 each year, frequently landing on or right around Thanksgiving, giving pie lovers one more dessert option for the holiday table.
Fun facts
- Bavarian cream (crème bavaroise) is a classic custard set with gelatin and lightened with whipped cream, distinguishing it from a simple pastry cream.
- The dessert is sometimes credited to the famous French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, a pioneer of early 19th-century haute cuisine.
- Despite its name referencing Bavaria in Germany, the cream's refined form is strongly associated with French culinary tradition.
- Bavarian cream is the same filling commonly found inside "Bavarian cream" doughnuts, showing its versatility beyond pies.
- The day falls on November 27th each year, frequently landing near or on Thanksgiving, adding another dessert option to the holiday table.
Sources and attribution
Primary source: Wikipedia, "Bavarian cream".
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National Bavarian Cream Pie Day?
- It is observed on November 27 each year.
- What is National Bavarian Cream Pie Day?
- National Bavarian Cream Pie Day honors the rich, custard-filled dessert known as Bavarian cream pie. This decadent treat pairs a creamy vanilla custard base, thickened with eggs and set with gelatin, with a pie crust, giving pie lovers a reason to indulge each year, often right around Thanksgiving.
- How do people celebrate National Bavarian Cream Pie Day?
- People bake or buy a Bavarian cream pie and learn its surprisingly French history: despite the name, it's a classic French dessert sometimes credited to chef Marie-Antoine Carême, named for Bavaria's Wittelsbach rulers rather than actually originating there.
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