National Blueberry Pie Day (April 28)
National Blueberry Pie Day on April 28 is one of those food holidays that’s easy to ignore… until you remember how good blueberry pie actually is.
It’s not fancy, and it’s definitely not new, but it’s one of those desserts that shows up every year and somehow never gets old. Especially once blueberries are back in season.
And if you’ve ever had it warm with ice cream melting into it, that’s pretty much all the reason you need to celebrate it.
When is the Holiday?
National Blueberry Pie Day is celebrated every year on April 28th.
Who Invented Blueberry Pie?
The first known blueberry pie recipe appeared in Maria Parloa’s 1872 cookbook, “The Appledore Cook Book.”
Parloa was a well-respected cooking teacher and author, and her book helped shape American culinary traditions.
Blueberries themselves, however, have been used in indigenous recipes for centuries, long before they became a staple in pies.
The History of the Holiday
Blueberries were being eaten long before anyone thought to turn them into pie filling. Native American tribes used them all the time, drying them for later or mixing them into meals. They even had meaning attached to them because of the small star shape on each berry.
The pie part came later.
By the late 1800s, recipes started showing up in cookbooks, including one from Maria Parloa in 1872. After that, it didn’t take long for blueberry pie to stick.
It wasn’t some big food trend. It just worked, and people kept making it.
Top Facts About Blueberries
Blueberries are actually one of the few fruits native to North America, which is probably why blueberry pie feels so “classic” compared to other desserts. Early settlers even called them “star berries,” and they were useful enough that they showed up in wartime rations.
Maine still produces most of the wild blueberries in the U.S., and at this point blueberry pie is so tied to the state that it was officially named the state dessert.
Coloring Page
I always like having something easy to hand kids while I’m getting things ready, and a blueberry pie coloring page does the job.
It’s not anything complicated, but it buys you a bit of time, and it keeps them loosely interested in what you’re doing. If you are baking, it sort of ties in without needing to turn it into a whole “activity.”
Activities to Celebrate
Honestly, most people are just going to make a blueberry pie, and that’s enough.
It doesn’t need to be from scratch either. I’ve used store-bought crust more times than I can count, and it still turns out fine. If kids are helping, they usually just want to pour the filling in anyway.
If baking feels like too much, I’d just grab one from a bakery and call it done. Same result, no cleanup.
If you want to make a bit more of it, doing a couple of variations works well. Something like a crumble topping or small hand pies gives people options, and it feels a bit more interesting than one big pie.
Or just don’t make pie at all. Blueberries in pancakes or yogurt still fit, and it’s a lot less effort.
And if kids are involved, having something small alongside it, like the coloring page or even just letting them “help” in their own way, usually keeps things running without it turning chaotic.
Best Blueberry Pie Recipes
If you are baking, these are the ones that are actually a bit different from each other:
Classic Blueberry Pie – This is the one everyone expects. Simple, a bit tart, and best eaten warm.
Blueberry Lemon Crumble – Slightly messier, but the topping makes it worth it.
Blueberry Pie Ice Cream – This one sounds odd, but it’s surprisingly good if you like softer desserts.
Glazed Blueberry Hand Pies – Easier to serve, especially if you don’t want to deal with slicing.
Blueberry Pie Bars – Good if you want something you can just cut and leave out.
Blueberry Cheesecake Pie – Definitely richer, so better for smaller portions.
Mini Blueberry Galettes – These look nice without needing to be perfect.
Blueberry Puff Pastry Tart – Probably the easiest one on the list.
Blueberry Cobbler – Not really pie, but close enough, and usually the quickest option.
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Links to Resources
A Pie Crust Shield is useful if your edges always brown too fast (mine do).
A Rolling Pin with guides helps if your crusts end up uneven.
A Pie Bird Vent isn’t essential, but it does stop the middle getting too soggy.
Related Holidays
If you end up liking this one, there are a few others through the year that are pretty similar.
National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, is celebrated on August 20.
Pi Day, observed on March 14, combines math and desserts, encouraging people to indulge in all kinds of pies while celebrating the mathematical constant π (pi).
National Pie Day on January 23 is a broad celebration of all types of pies, whether sweet or savory, encouraging people to bake and enjoy their favorites.
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