National Bakewell Tart Day
June 24
About National Bakewell Tart Day
National Bakewell Tart Day is a celebration of one of England’s best loved baked treats, the jam and almond tart that takes its name from the Derbyshire town of Bakewell. It falls on the last Wednesday of June, which in 2026 is Wednesday 24 June, and gives bakers and dessert lovers a reason to enjoy a slice of this classic frangipane tart.
How to Celebrate National Bakewell Tart Day
This is a day made for baking, sharing, and eating, so the best way to mark it is hands on:
- Bake one from scratch – Make a shortcrust pastry case, spread a layer of raspberry or strawberry jam, top with frangipane, and bake until golden. A homemade tart beats any shop-bought version.
- Try the original Bakewell pudding – For something more historical, swap the frangipane for the older egg and almond custard filling that started it all.
- Add a cherry Bakewell twist – Finish your tart with white icing and a single glace cherry, the iconic look of the cherry Bakewell.
- Host a baking contest – Challenge friends or colleagues to bake their best version and judge them on pastry, filling, and finish.
- Visit a bakery or tearoom – If baking is not your thing, seek out a local bakery and enjoy a proper slice with a pot of tea.
- Pair it well – Serve warm with custard, clotted cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a fuller pudding.
- Visit Bakewell itself – If you are in the Peak District, the town of Bakewell is the home of the original recipe and several shops still claim the heritage.
- Share your bake online – Post a photo of your finished tart and tag friends to take on the challenge.
What is National Bakewell Tart Day?
National Bakewell Tart Day honours the Bakewell tart, a dessert consisting of a shortcrust pastry shell, a layer of jam, and a topping of frangipane, the soft almond sponge that gives the tart its distinctive flavour. The day celebrates both the tart and its older relative, the Bakewell pudding, and the wider tradition of English home baking. It is enjoyed mainly in the United Kingdom, where the Bakewell remains a fixture of bakeries, tearooms, and family kitchens.
When is National Bakewell Tart Day?
National Bakewell Tart Day is observed on the last Wednesday of June each year. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday 24 June. Because the date moves with the calendar, the table below shows when it lands over the next few years.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, 24 June |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 30 June |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 28 June |
| 2029 | Wednesday, 27 June |
| 2030 | Wednesday, 26 June |
The History of National Bakewell Tart Day
The story of the Bakewell begins not with the tart but with the Bakewell pudding, which according to local legend was created by accident in the Derbyshire town of Bakewell during the nineteenth century. The most repeated account places its birth at the White Horse Inn, where the landlady, Mrs Greaves, is said to have asked her cook to make a jam tart. The cook spread the egg and almond mixture on top of the jam rather than stirring it into the pastry, and the result was a new pudding that proved popular enough to stay.
The exact date is disputed, with sources placing the happy mistake anywhere between around 1820 and 1860. What is more certain is that the first printed recipe for the Bakewell pudding appeared in Eliza Acton’s influential 1845 cookbook, Modern Cookery for Private Families. Over time the pudding evolved, and by the early twentieth century the familiar Bakewell tart had emerged, with the original egg custard filling giving way to frangipane.
National Bakewell Tart Day itself is a more recent addition to the calendar, created to celebrate the heritage and ongoing popularity of the bake. Like many food days it has been embraced by bakeries, food writers, and home cooks who use the occasion to revisit a recipe with deep regional roots.
Fun Facts About National Bakewell Tart Day
- The Bakewell pudding and the Bakewell tart are different bakes, the pudding using an egg and almond custard and the tart using frangipane.
- The first printed Bakewell pudding recipe appeared in Eliza Acton’s 1845 cookbook.
- The cherry Bakewell, topped with white icing and a glace cherry, is one of the most recognisable versions.
- Several shops in Bakewell still compete over which holds the most authentic claim to the original recipe.
- Frangipane, the almond sponge filling, is named after an Italian aristocratic family associated with an almond scented perfume.
Why National Bakewell Tart Day Matters
Beyond the pleasure of eating cake, the day keeps a piece of English regional food heritage alive and supports the independent bakeries and tearooms that still make Bakewells by hand. It is also a gentle nudge to get baking, a hobby that brings people together around something made and shared at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Bakewell Tart Day?
It is a celebration of the Bakewell tart, the English jam and frangipane tart named after the Derbyshire town of Bakewell, held on the last Wednesday of June.
When is National Bakewell Tart Day in 2026?
It falls on Wednesday 24 June 2026, the last Wednesday of the month.
What is the difference between a Bakewell tart and a Bakewell pudding?
A Bakewell pudding uses an older egg and almond custard filling in flaky pastry, while the more modern Bakewell tart uses a frangipane almond sponge in shortcrust pastry, often finished with icing and a cherry.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best Bakewell tart photos on social media with #BakewellTartDay and #BakewellTartDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to bake their own. If you enjoy classic British food days, you might also like National Picnic Week, another celebration of homemade favourites.
Related Awareness Days
- National Picnic Week – A week celebrating outdoor eating and homemade treats, perfect for a slice of tart.
- National Pecan Sandies Day – Another day devoted to a much loved baked sweet.
- National Cheese Day – A food day for those who prefer something savoury to celebrate.
Links
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