NATIONAL COCONUT CREAM PIE DAY

NATIONAL COCONUT CREAM PIE DAY

National Coconut Cream Pie Day on May 8 celebrates its own slice of deliciousness made with a sweet coconut cream filling. Pie lovers know a thick layer of real whipped cream topped with toasted coconut make this pie irresistible.

#CoconutCreamPieDay

Coconut cream pie seems to have began its delicious journey during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1895, Franklin Baker, a flour miller from Philadelphia, received a shipment of coconuts from Cuba as payment for a debt owed to him. Recognizing the shipment as an opportunity, Baker established a factory to shred and dry coconut meat to make coconut more accessible to American bakers and homemakers. Consequently, shortly after this time, recipes for coconut cream pie started appearing in cookbooks.

By the early 1900s, coconut cream pie had gained widespread popularity, especially in the Southern U.S. Coconut became a popular ingredient in Southern cuisine, it was commonly used in desserts, such as cakes and puddings. The combination of coconut, milk, eggs, and sugar likely led to the creation of the first versions of coconut cream pie.

Traditional coconut cream pie is made from a thick, creamy custard filling of milk, eggs, sugar, and shredded coconut. After the mixture is cooked, it is poured into a pie crust and topped with whipped cream or meringue then chilled. Luckily, coconut trees produce their fruit all year long, making it easily accessible to create a coconut cream by year-round!

HOW TO OBSERVE COCONUT CREAM PIE DAY

There are plenty of pie holidays on the National Day Calendar. In fact, every month includes at least one. Bake up a coconut cream pie this month and choose a new pie next month! It won't take long, and you won't be disappointed. Don't forget to share your delicious pie photos and recipes on social media using the hashtag #CoconutCreamPieDay on social media.

NATIONAL COCONUT CREAM PIE DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this baking holiday.