Pig in a Blanket Day 🌭

Overview

Pig in a Blanket Day, observed annually on April 24th, celebrates the popular appetizer consisting of a small sausage or hot dog wrapped in pastry dough and baked until golden brown. This informal food holiday encourages enthusiasts to enjoy the savory snack in its various forms, from miniature cocktail frankfurters enveloped in crescent rolls to larger sausages baked in puff pastry, often served at parties and gatherings.

Origin and story

The earliest known recipe for 'Pigs in a Blanket' in a mainstream American cookbook appeared in Betty Crocker's Cooking for Kids in 1957.

While typically miniature hot dogs in pastry in the United States, the term 'pigs in a blanket' in the United Kingdom usually refers to sausages wrapped in bacon.

Quick facts

• DateApril 24
• TypeFood / Dessert
• Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers

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Ways to celebrate

The name means two different snacks depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on. The American version — cocktail sausages wrapped in biscuit or crescent dough — traces to a 1940s U.S. Army cookbook and got a popularity boost from a 1957 Betty Crocker cookbook, while the British version wraps small sausages in bacon, not dough, and only became a Christmas dinner staple in the UK in the 1990s.

Make the American version

• Wrap cocktail sausages in crescent roll or biscuit dough and bake until golden, the party-tray classic most Americans picture.

Try the British version too

Helpful resources: Tasting Table compares the two very different dishes sharing one name in "The Difference Between British And American Pigs In A Blanket."

Trace it back further

• Look into the dish's much older roots — some food historians trace bacon- or dough-wrapped meat concepts back to ancient Asia, long before either modern national version existed.

Did you know?

In Scotland, the bacon-wrapped version goes by "kilted sausages," and in Ireland, "kilted soldiers" — regional names for what's essentially the same British-style dish.

Fun facts

• The earliest known recipe for 'Pigs in a Blanket' in a mainstream American cookbook appeared in Betty Crocker's Cooking for Kids in 1957.
• While typically miniature hot dogs in pastry in the United States, the term 'pigs in a blanket' in the United Kingdom usually refers to sausages wrapped in bacon.
• They are a popular party food and appetizer, often served with dipping sauces like mustard or ketchup.

Sources and attribution

• The Difference Between British And American Pigs In A Blanket (Tasting Table)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is Pig in a Blanket Day?

It is observed on April 24 each year.

What is Pig in a Blanket Day?

Pig in a Blanket Day, observed annually on April 24th, celebrates the popular appetizer consisting of a small sausage or hot dog wrapped in pastry dough and baked until golden brown. This informal food holiday encourages enthusiasts to enjoy the savory snack in its various forms, from miniature cocktail frankfurters enveloped in crescent rolls to larger sausages baked in puff pastry, often served at parties and gatherings.

How do people celebrate Pig in a Blanket Day?

Bake the American dough-wrapped version, try the British bacon-wrapped version too, and read up on how the same name describes two genuinely different dishes on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

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