Although people can enjoy fruit cobblers any day of the year, some people might want to think about having some cherry cobbler on May 17th. Why? Because that’s the day on which National Cherry Cobbler Day falls.

That’s a good excuse for everyone to grab themselves a slice of this type of cobbler, maybe with some whipped cream or ice cream placed strategically on top. It sounds like a great way to spend the day with friends and family.

The History Of The Cherry Cobbler

Since we were unable to uncover the history of National Cherry Cobbler Day, we decided to turn our attention to finding out the history of the cherry cobbler. And to understand the cherry cobbler and when it was first made, we first have to uncover the history of both cherries and cobblers to find out when they came together for the first time.

Cherries are a stone fruit, otherwise known as a fleshy drupe, of plants in the Prunus genus. The indigenous range of this fruit extends not only through most of Europe, but also parts of northern Africa and western Asia.

It’s a fruit that’s been consumed since prehistoric times. In North America, it was the Dutch who introduced cherries to the Americas. During the 18th century, people started making cobblers. Although the English had made sweet confections, of course, the ones that were common at the time were suet puddings.

Suet puddings were made with wheat flour, suet, and dried fruits and then steamed, boiled, or baked. When these English settlers were unable to make these puddings, they instead made simple stewed fruit fillings that they covered with either dumplings, scone batter, or biscuits and then baked.

The first instance of the word cobbler wouldn’t occur until the mid 19th century, however. Cobblers were a popular dish for settlers during the 18th and 19th centuries because they were simple to make and the materials used to make them could make the arduous trips westward.

So, when did cherries start getting used in cobblers? Well, no one really knows but it most certainly was around the same time that the cobbler was invented. During this time, a lot of fruits were being used for cobblers including peaches, blackberries, blueberries, and of course, cherries and apples. Although why they’re called cobblers is currently unknown, some people theorize it evolved from the word “cobeler,” a term for a wooden bowl.

Observing National Cherry Cobbler Day

National Cherry Cobbler Day can be easily observed by cutting yourself a slice of pie and enjoying it by itself or topped with whipped cream or ice cream. This is a cobbler that you can make yourself or it can be one that you buy from your local grocery store.

And while you’re enjoying this sweet holiday with friends and family, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalCherryCobblerDay to let the world know just how sweet cherry cobblers are.