It’s National Banana Cream Pie Day! People have been making pies filled with cream, pudding, and custard since the Medieval times. Similar inventions from that era include Napoleons, cream puffs, and éclairs.

Bananas arrived in the United States in the 1880s. By the early 1900s, banana recipes appeared in every major cookbook across the country. Traditional banana cream pie recipes call for a crust made out of graham crackers or pastry dough; a layer of sliced bananas; a custard filling made with eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla; and a topping of whipped cream or meringue. Common embellishments include pecans or drizzles of chocolate and caramel.

Celebrate National Banana Cream Pie Day with a big slice of banana cream pie from your favorite local bakery!