May 26 – NATIONAL BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE DAY

NATIONAL BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE DAY | MAY 26

On May 26th, two of the calendar’s favorite foods come together on National Blueberry Cheesecake Day. We’ve scattered blueberries and cheesecakes throughout these pages in scrumptious celebration. But one day a year they join forces in perfect, delicious harmony.

History of Blueberries and Cream Cheese

There was a time when people only gathered blueberries from the wild. It wasn’t until the early 1900s through the observations of Elizabeth Coleman White and the research of Dr. Frederick V. Coville that successful transplanting and domestication of the blueberry became possible. It wasn’t long after that commercial production of the blueberry began.

Combine the history of the blueberry with the development of cream cheese, some might consider the blueberry cheesecake to be a truly American dessert. While recipes for cheesecake served athletes in ancient Greece, cream cheese has been a part of American’s dessert making since about the 1820s. However, after the advent of pasteurization, mass production became possible. One dairy farmer from Chester, New York, decided to be the first. William A. Lawrence purchased a Neufchatel factory to begin his production and in 1873 the first mass-produced cream cheese became a reality.

Types of Cheesecakes

Either way, this smooth dessert hits the spot when dessert time rolls around. While most cakes have a crumb, cheesecake’s texture is nothing like cake. Indeed, its creamy, thick pudding-like character comes from the soft cheese used as the main ingredient. Depending on the recipe, bakers use either cream cheese or cottage cheese. When the cheese is mixed with sugar, eggs, and other ingredients, the batter is added to a crust. Either add the blueberries now or save them for a beautifully fresh and vibrant topping.

When making cheesecake, one of the most common crusts used is a graham cracker crust. Other options include a cookie crust, pastry or sponge cake. However, some cheesecakes are crustless. Depending on the recipe, cheesecakes may be prepared baked or unbaked.