National
Cheesecake Day is an unofficial holiday which comes annually on July 30th.
This year, National Cheesecake Day falls on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
The observance, which is part of a surprisingly large
tradition of food holidays, has not been officially endorsed by any presidents, and does not have any congressional records to solidify its claim. But why shouldn't cheesecake have its own holiday?
Records of cheesecake date as far back as 770 BC, when the dessert, or something like it, was served to Olympic athletes. Today there are European, Latin American, Asian, and of course, American variations on the ways cheesecake is baked and served.
Today, National Cheesecake Day is celebrated every year by nationwide chains and local bakeries offering great deals on their best cheesecake varieties coast to coast.
National Cheesecake Day 2024 deals & specials
Be sure sure to watch for a National Cheescake Day tradition as The Cheesecake Factory announces its newest 2024 flavor in honor of the day. Last year, it was Cookie Dough Lover’s Cheesecake with Pecans -- along with special offers for rewards member.
Elsewhere, watch for news and social media reporting on buy-one-get-one-free deals in celebration, and don't forget local supermarkets and bakeries offering additional special cheesecake discounts on the big day.
Meanwhile, keep it here for updates as National Cheesecake Day draws near.
Enjoy!
New York Style or Philadelphia?
TIP: How to keep your cheesecake from cracking.
Slow and gentle baking is the secret!
Take additional care after baking by turning down the heat to cool the cheesecake in the oven. This is to avoid extreme temperature changes after baking.
In the United
States, there are two big contenders for the cheesecake crown,
one being New York style cheesecake, which is very heavy and rich
and features cream cheese, heavy cream, and many other fattening
ingredients.
The other popular cheesecake is Philadelphia style, which is generally considered to be creamier and
lighter than New York style, but certainly does
not skimp on the fattening ingredients!
Cheesecake can also be flavored in a huge variety of ways. Chocolate or strawberry remain the popular national favorites
followed by (surprise!) pumpkin cheesecake.
How to celebrate National Cheesecake Day
Joining in the fun on National Cheesecake Day is simple. The only requirement is the hearty consumption of cheesecake (but do we really need a reason?) Also look for many popular cheesecake chains and restaurants to offer great deals on cheesecake on July 30th in celebration.
While making cheesecake can sometimes be a challenge, there is no reason that the holiday can't be celebrated at home with these easy, delicious cheesecake recipes .
Here's a basic cheesecake recipe to get you started... with best wishes for a Happy National Cheesecake Day!
Basic cheesecake recipe
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp. sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. 2. In a medium bowl, mix graham crumbs, sugar and butter. Press mixture onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. 3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, slowly mixing until just blended. Pour mixture over crust.
4. Bake 55 minutes or until center is almost set. Let cool in oven, then loosen cheesecake from rim of pan. Cool an additional 3-4 hours in the refrigerator before serving.