National Strawberries and Cream Day (May 21st)

Red and juicy strawberries served with pure white cream makes an incredible combination!

Whether eaten on their own or placed on top of a piece of cake, scone or biscuit, strawberries and cream are certainly worth celebrating. And National Strawberries and Cream Day comes at just the perfect time!

History of National Strawberries and Cream Day

Wild strawberries have been around for thousands of years, at least as far back as Ancient Roman times. Not only were strawberries a symbol for Venus, the goddess of love, but they were also used for medicinal and Health purposes. It wasn’t until probably around the late 18th century that the more common garden strawberry was cultivated in Brittany, France.

The history of combining red strawberries with cream can be traced back many centuries. In fact, it is believed that the credit for putting this combination together goes to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (or more likely his unnamed chef) who was a right hand man to the English king at the time, King Henry VIII. It is believed that strawberries and cream were served at a luxurious banquet in 1509. It was such a hit that it was served to guests who were attending a tennis match and this became quite a tradition over the years.

Strawberries have a fairly short season where they are ripe and sweet, typically somewhere in mid to late May and running for just a few weeks. This means that National Strawberries and Cream Day comes at an ideal time for celebrating this dish – just when the strawberries are at their peak!

How to Celebrate National Strawberries and Cream Day

The celebration of National Strawberries and Cream Day can range from the sweet and simple to something a bit more advanced. Choose from a range of activities for paying heed to the day, including some of these:

Enjoy Strawberries and Cream

Head over to the garden, a farmer’s market, or a local grocery store to pick out the ripest, reddest strawberries for eating on National Strawberries and Cream Day. Then, grab some jars of fresh whipping cream that can be either poured on the berries directly, or whipped with sugar for an even sweeter flavor. Share with family and friends for a delightful little celebration!

Get Creative with Strawberries and Cream

To make National Strawberries and Cream Day even more special, turn those ingredients into something more fun and creative with Recipes for dishes like these:

• Strawberries and Cream Shortcake. Use a buttermilk biscuit recipe to make shortcakes and pile the strawberries and cream on top.
• Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream. Get out that ice cream maker and whip up some amazing ice cream with fresh strawberries.
• Strawberry Fool. This delicious dessert takes the whipped cream to another level by using vanilla bean paste, and adds sugar and vanilla extract to the whipping cream.
• Strawberry Pretzel Pie. Make a pie crust out of pretzels and then pile the filling high with strawberries and cream. Chill and enjoy this sweet and salty mixture of flavors.