This list of November food holidays gives us so many recipes to share. From National Candy Day to National Espresso Day, every day in November has at least one food or drink associated with it.

National days are fun to celebrate, no matter the reason. But add in some mention of foods and everyone gets excited. Unsure about what national days are? Check out this national days guide for more information.

The guide gives information about the history of national days, why we celebrate them and includes some fun facts about these special days.

Keep reading to find out more about the national food days in November and get recipes to celebrate them.

If you are interested in food, you are probably aware just how many days of the year are devoted to celebrating a favorite food. You might even find yourself scouring the internet to find out what food today will celebrate.

National days are a great way to tie food and celebrations together. Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday celebrating food this month!

What are national food days?

Do you like those meal planning cookbooks where there isn’t anything to decide, but the author tells you what to eat on each day of the month? The November food holidays are a bit like this.

Food days are the internet’s way of telling you what you could cook that day based on what the national day of the month it is.

Check out the national day list for November and look through the list. See how many of them are devoted to November food holidays?

Every day is associated with food or drink in some way. With this list of November food holidays you can’t go wrong with your party planning.

November food monthly observances

November is right in the middle of fall for many of us, so it makes sense that the observances this month are geared towards fall foods.

It is not just days of the month that are associated with food. Sometimes the whole month is known for a certain type of food. This month we observe the November food holidays below, all month long:

National Fun With Fondue Month
National Pepper Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pomegranate Month
National Raisin Bread Month
National Roasting Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
Spinach and Squash Month
Sweet Potato Awareness Month
World Vegan Month

List of November food holidays

Even though turkey is on our mind this month, there are many decadent foods on the November food calendar as well.

Below is a list of all the food holidays in November to look forward to. Most are labeled national days (or international days) and others are just labeled by the food itself.

In addition to information about these national food holidays, you will also find ideas for recipes and other ways to celebrate these November food days. Have fun!

Share these November food holidays on Twitter

Want to share this list of national food days in November with your friends? Here’s a tweet to get you started:

Celebrate the November food holidays this month with recipes, information about these national food days in November, and more! 🍗🥗 #NationalFoodDays #FoodHolidays Share on X

List of national food days in November

Below is a list of the national food days in November. On some of the days, there are recipes to help you celebrate, and on other days, there are links to products on Amazon that will help you get the most out of the national day.

(I earn a small commission if you purchase through those links but there is no extra cost to you.)

November 1

National Cook for your Pets Day – The food holidays in November aren’t limited to humans. This is a day dedicated to cooking for your pet!

There is debate as to whether a diet of dry kibble has enough nutritional value for your pet, so many people are opting to cook for their furry friends. If you do decide to cook for your pet today, make sure to review these pet food safety guidelines from the CDC.

After all, the whole point of cooking for them is to make sure they’re having a healthy diet, and these tips will help you ensure their safety.

National Calzone Day – Calzones are baked pizza dough (often with toppings) folded in half, and sealed into a crescent moon shape. They originated in Naples, Italy, in the 18th century and were intended to be eaten on the go.

The word calzoni translates to trousers, hinting at the mobility of this food. A calzone (unlike its rectangular shaped Italian-American cousin, the stromboli) does not have tomato sauce inside.

The sauce is served on the side, to aid in the calzone’s mobility by preventing it from getting soggy. Celebrate this pizza themed national day by ordering a calzone and eating it while you walk through the city, as they did in Naples!

National Deep Fried Clams Day – Clams are bivalve mollusks which can be cooked in a variety of ways; they can be eaten raw, sautéed into seafood pastas, steamed, incorporated into chowders and fried.

Today celebrates fried clams! Though mentioned in late 19th century cookbooks, fried clams are widely attributed to Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman of Essex, Massachusetts.

He made his first batch of fried clams for the 4th of July holiday on July 3, 1916. They were wildly popular and, to this day, are a regional staple of New England cuisine.

National Vinegar Day – Vinegar is a mildly acidic liquid made from a two step fermentation process of acetic acid and water. It has many culinary and non-culinary uses.

Vinegar has a tart flavor, and is used to balance and brighten the flavor of more rich dishes and sauces. It is commonly used in salad dressings, marinades, and to pickle food.

It comes in many varieties, from balsamic to white wine vinegar. You can even make your own infusions, like this DIY Italian herb infused vinaigrette.

Vinegar also can be used to tenderize meat and fish, because its acidity breaks down the chemical structure of protein, which unravels the meat fibers and produces a more tender cut of meat.

International Xinomavro Day – This international food holiday is dedicated to Xinomavro, a grape variety produced in Northern Greece which yields a full bodied red wine with high acidity and high tannins.

The wine produced from Xinomavro is often compared to Barolo wine, made from the Nebbiolo grape produced in the Piedmont region in Northern Italy.

While you could enjoy Xinomavro by itself, the grape’s boldness would pair well with a heartier meal like this recipe for roast beef with herbs and garlic.

World Vegan Day – A vegan diet is one that doesn’t consume any animals or animal products (eg. milk, eggs, honey). However, this doesn’t mean a vegan diet is boring.

There are lots of flavorful dishes you can make to celebrate World Vegan Day. Try making a three course, fall themed, vegan dinner.

Begin your meal with vegan butternut squash soup, have vegan lasagne with eggplant and mushrooms for your entrée and finish the meal with salted pumpkin fudge for dessert.

November 2

National Deviled Egg Day – Deviled eggs are hard boiled eggs, sliced in half lengthwise. The yolks are removed, mixed with mayonnaise, mustard and spices (like paprika and cayenne pepper), and then returned to the hard boiled egg white.

They are often served as an appetizer at holiday gatherings. If you’d like to make your own deviled eggs make sure to read our tips for making the perfect hard boiled eggs.

Their name as caused controversy, but the “deviled” in their name doesn’t refer to Satan, it means heavily spiced. They are also referred to as “salad eggs”, “Russian eggs”, “mimosa eggs” and “dressed eggs”.

Cookie Monster’s Day – Cookie Monster is the blue muppet on Sesame Street who loves cookies. However, throughout time, Cookie Monster has begun to embrace fruits and vegetables, in an effort to promote healthy eating for children.

He still enjoys cookies but now calls them a “sometimes food”. If you’d like to make a Cookie Monster approved recipe this fall, treat yourself to some autumn leaf cookies or cookie turkeys for Thanksgiving – but don’t forget to eat some fruits and veggies too!

November 3

National Sandwich Day – The sandwich is named after 18th century aristocrat John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He was a frequent gambler, and would often eat beef between two slices of bread so that he didn’t have to stop gambling to eat.

While the sandwich is named after him, he did not invent sandwiches. The first written sandwich reference is to Hillel’s Sandwich, named after the 1st century rabbi, Hillel the Elder.

Hillel’s Sandwich consists of maror (bitter herbs) and charoset (a paste of sweet apples and nuts) between two slices of matzah (unleavened flatbread).

November 4

National Candy Day – National Candy Day is a food holiday dedicated to celebrating every kind of candy, from chocolate to licorice and everything in between.

This day also celebrates every size of candy. Full size candy bars were the only sizes available until after the Great Depression, when sugar became harder and more expensive to purchase.

In 1957 the Curtiss Candy Company decided to make smaller, “junior” versions of their Baby Ruth and Butterfingers candy bars.

Mars, Inc followed suit, making their own junior candy bars in 1961. In 1968, Mars began making a new size of candy bar (larger than junior, but smaller than full size) which they named “fun size”. Mars, Inc later trademarked the name “fun size”.

November 5

National Doughnut Day – This national food day celebrating doughnuts is also observed on June 5. Doughnuts are sweet pastries made from leavened dough.

While most doughnuts are fried, they can also be baked at home in the oven by using a doughnut pan. Some doughnuts are circular and filled with jams or custards, while others are ring shaped and glazed or frosted.

They come in many flavors, and some businesses, like Voodoo Doughnuts are even known for their gourmet doughnut flavors like “maple bacon doughnuts”.

November 6

National Nachos Day – Ignacio Anaya García invented nachos in 1943 for the restaurant called The Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Mexico, where he was the maître d’.

These original nachos were made of tortilla chips topped with cheese and jalapeños, and broiled. They were named nachos, because Nacho is a nickname for the name Ignacio.

Though the original nacho recipe is simple and delicious, nachos can be customized in a number of ways. They can include proteins like beans, beef or chicken, and other toppings like tomatoes, olives, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

During football season, nachos are a popular game day snack.

Learn how to celebrate this national food day, and get an easy nachos recipe in our post on National Nacho Day.

November 7

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day – This November national food day is one of the many chocolate holidays in the year. It celebrates bittersweet chocolate with almonds in it.

In order to be called bittersweet chocolate, the chocolate must be around 70% cocoa (35% cacao). The flavor of bittersweet chocolate is more sweet than dark chocolate, but less sweet than milk chocolate.

It is similar to semi-sweet chocolate, which is why the two can be used interchangeably in recipes.

International Merlot Day – Merlot is a medium bodied, easy drinking wine. It is round, with medium acidity and soft tannins. Merlot often has notes of cherry, plum, chocolate and vanilla.

One of the world’s most popular red wines, merlot is great for drinking by itself. However, its roundness and notes of stone fruit also makes a great base for mulled wine.

Try using it in this recipe for slow cooker spiced wine with oranges and cranberries. Merlot can be used in food recipes too, like this London Broil with spicy rub and red wine marinade.

We have finished one week and there are still so many more November food holidays to celebrate. Which will become your favorite food holiday?

November 8

National Harvey Wallbanger Day – A Harvey Wallbanger is a cocktail is made of vodka, Galliano and orange juice (similar to a screwdriver).

According to legend, a bartender named Donato “Duke” Antone created this cocktail, in 1952, at Duke’s “Blackwatch” Bar on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

He supposedly named it for a Manhattan Beach surfer, Tom Harvey, who would frequently have too many drinks and end up running into walls.

While some believe this story, most think it was a marketing campaign conceived by George Bednar, the marketing director of McKesson Imports Co., (which handled Galliano).

Bednar also created other campaigns for the Harvey Wallbanger, popularizing the drink in the 1970s, and raising the sales of Galliano.

National Cappuccino Day – A cappuccino is a coffee drink that was first made in Italy, in the early 1900s, after Luigi Bezzera invented the espresso machine in 1901.

A cappuccino is made of espresso shots, steamed milk, and a generous amount of milk foam. A cappuccino differs from a latte, because while both are Italian coffee drinks that contain espresso, milk and foam, a cappuccino contains significantly more foam than a latte.

A cappuccino is also different from a café au lait, because while a café au lait has steamed milk, the base of the drink is made of coffee (not espresso) and it doesn’t have any milk foam.

Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day – It’s easy to get stuck in a culinary rut, but this day encourages us to cook something new!

A bold food could be something you’ve never cooked before, and pungent foods include foods with a strong smell or taste. Some examples of pungent foods you could use in your cooking today are chilies, garlic, onion, mustard, and most spices.

To participate in this culinary national day, try making this recipe for crockpot curried chicken or this one for spicy garlic parsley shrimp. Both are deliciously bold and pungent!

November 9

National Greek Yogurt Day – Greek yogurt, also known as strained yogurt, is made by straining most of the whey out of regular yogurt. This straining process yields a firmer, denser, yogurt with more protein and less sugar than regular yogurt.

Greek yogurt is a great heart healthy food substitute for sour cream, and full fat yogurt.

You can also make delicious recipes with Greek yogurt, like this chocolate hazelnut fruit dip, or these patriotic popsicles.

November 10

National Vanilla Cupcake Day – The first written recipe for cupcakes dates back to 1796, when Amelia Simmons wrote a recipe in her cookbook, American Cookery, for a “light cake to bake in small cups”.

Before muffin tins were used to bake cupcakes, they were baked in cups, hence their name. There’s no better way to celebrate this delicious dessert than to eat one today!

Fancy cupcakes get so much attention, and we understand why! There are plenty of delicious flavors (like chocolate with strawberry buttercream frosting), and lots of snazzy ways to decorate them.

However, this day is dedicated to a simple and nostalgic cupcake flavor – vanilla! Sometimes you don’t want an inventive cupcake flavor, you just want a tried and true cupcake that will bring you right back to childhood.

November 11

National Sundae Day – The history of ice cream sundaes is surprisingly contested. There are several cities that claim credit for the first Sundae. Some notable contenders include (but are not limited to) Two Rivers, Wisconsin and Ithaca, New York.

Traditional ice cream sundaes are served in tulip glasses, and consist of vanilla ice cream, a flavored syrup, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

A flavored sundae is named for the flavor of syrup, not the flavor of ice cream. All ice cream sundaes have vanilla ice cream.

November 12

National French Dip Day – A French dip is a hot sandwich that consists of sliced roast beef on a French baguette. It is served au jus, which translates from French to mean “with juice”.

The jus is the liquid produced from cooking the roast beef, which contains broth and drippings from the meat.

It is served in a small bowl with the French dip sandwich, so that the diner can dip the French dip in the jus before eating. French dip sandwiches also often have Swiss cheese and caramelized onions in them.

If you’re wanting to celebrate this national food holiday at home, learn how to make the perfect caramelized onions for your French dip sandwich.

National Pizza with the Works (Except Anchovies) Day – Anchovies are a small “forage fish”, which means they are foraged by other larger fish and animals.

They are also considered an “oily fish” (along with salmon, sardines, and others), because they contain more oil than other varieties of fish (their filets containing up to 30% oil).

They have umami flavor (a Japanese word meaning “pleasant, savory taste”) and are classified as the fifth taste, beside sweet, salty, bitter and sour.

However, if you want to try anchovies, today is not the day to do it! Today is for pizza without anchovies. Try making this chicken bacon Alfredo pizza or this chicken pizza with artichokes and peppers – both are anchovy free!

November 13

National Indian Pudding Day – Indian pudding was first made by early colonists in New England. They wanted to make a dish called “hasty pudding” which involved boiling wheat flour into milk until it reached a porridge consistency.

However, since wheat flour was less available, they substituted corn meal, which was used as a grain of choice by the Indigenous Peoples. The colonists referred to corn meal as “Indian meal”, which gave this dish its name.

When first made, this dish could have been either sweet or savory, but today, it’s known for being a sweet, spiced dessert (using molasses, milk and cornmeal).

To learn more about the crops available during this time period, check out this guide to the symbols of Thanksgiving.

November 14

National Pickle Day – The term “pickle” most commonly refers to pickled cucumbers. Pickling is a process of food preservation where the food is fermented in brine or vinegar.

Doing this gives the food a tangy taste. Pickled foods make great additions to antipasto platters. While “pickles” usually refer to pickled cucumbers, a large variety of food can be pickled.

The most commonly pickled foods are vegetables but even items like eggs, fruit, meat and fish can be pickled. If you’d like a recipe that uses pickled foods try this healthy antipasto salad with giardiniera, olives and pepperoncini.

National Spicy Guacamole Day – Guacamole is a dish made of avocado mashed with onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime juice. The first written account of guacamole was in the 1697 book, A New Voyage Round the World by William Dampier.

However, since evidence of the first avocado dates back to the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico in 7000-8000 BCE, the first recorded recipe was likely not the first ever guacamole recipe.

Now that you know a little about the history of guacamole, try making your own spicy guacamole (by adding extra jalapeños) and adding it to recipes like this one for grilled shrimp tostadas, or this one for oven baked chicken fajitas.

November 15

National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day – The name “spicy hermit cookies” is a little deceiving. They are not spicy at all; rather they are a spiced cookie flavored with cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

They also contain dried fruit like raisins or currants. The first written recipe for hermit cookies was in 1880 in The Champlain Valley Book of Recipes, written by the ladies of the Trinity Church in Plattsburgh, New York.

This specific hermit cookie recipe was attached to the name Miss Hattie Elkins. Hermit cookies are similar to biscotti in that they are made into a long flattened log shape and baked and then and cut into slices.

National Clean out your Refrigerator Day – In 1755, William Cullen was the first person to design successful artificial refrigeration. Many inventors came after him to help improve the concept and technology including Fred W. Wolf invented the first electric refrigerator for home use in 1913.

This national day of cleaning encourages us to clear out and sanitize our refrigerators. It’s no coincidence this day falls in the middle of November, it arrives just in time to encourage us to clear out our refrigerators to make room for Thanksgiving turkey and the leftovers for days to come!

However, this isn’t the only day we should be cleaning out fridges. Keeping fridges clean allows fresh produce to last longer, and reminds us of what we have in the fridge so we don’t grocery shop without a plan.

National Bundt (Pan) Day – Bundt cakes are known for their distinctive shape. They are made in bundt pans, which have fluted sides, and yield tall ring shaped cakes with a hole in the center.

Bundt pans were invented in 1950 by Henry David Dalquist, the owner of a cookware company called Nordic Ware.

In the late 1940s a group of women from the Minneapolis Hadassah Society approached Dalquist. They asked if he could make a modern version of the pan used to bake a European bundkuchen cake (also known as a gugelhupf cake).

The company made an aluminum version of the bundt pans, and trademarked the name in 1950. Any recipe of cake can be baked into bundt cakes, all you need is the bundt pan!

Try making this lemon pudding bundt cake or this chocolate cherry cheesecake bundt cake to celebrate this national day!

National Raisin Bran Cereal Day – In 1925, the Skinner Manufacturing Company created Raisin-BRAN, a breakfast cereal made of bran flakes and raisins.

It was the only cereal in the market with that name until 1942, when Kelloggs and Post (General Foods) came out with their own Raisin Bran cereals.

In 1944, Skinner Manufacturing Company filed a cease and desist with both Kelloggs and Post, ordering them to stop using the name Raisin Bran.

When it went to court, the ruling was the the name “Raisin Bran” could not be trademarked, because the name was just a description of the ingredients, which could not be trademarked.

From that point forward, any brand was free to make a breakfast cereal with raisins and bran flakes and call it Raisin Bran.

Pack Your Mom’s Lunch Day – The mothers in our lives do so much for us, this is a day to help them out and show them our gratitude for all the ways they help us.

If you’re looking for an easy lunch to make for mom, check out this recipe for garbanzo bean salad. It’s a no-cook meal that would be easy make, and also delicious! It’s full of protein to keep her feeling full, and full of flavor to delight her tastebuds. This healthy recipe is a winner!

You could also tuck a handwritten note in her lunch box. If you don’t know what to say, try getting looking through these inspiring quotes for moms.

Share these November food holidays on Twitter

Let your friend and family know about the November food days with this tweet:

Celebrate food and drink all month long with a list of November food holidays. Head to Always the Holidays for the national food days in November and recipes to celebrate them! 🍪🍇 #NationalFoodDays #FoodHolidays Share on X

Food holidays in November with variable dates each year

Some November food holidays are not dedicated to a specific date, but happen on a particular day of the week each year, so their date changes. The variable date days in November are:

Healthy Eating Day – (1st Wednesday)
National Men Make Dinner Day – (1st Thursday)
International Stout Day – (1st Thursday)
National Wine Tasting Day – (1st Saturday)
Learn to Homebrew Day – (1st Saturday)
International Tempranillo Day – (2nd Thursday)
Wine Tourism Day – (2nd Saturday)
National Zinfandel Day – (3rd Wednesday)
Beaujoulais Nouveau Day – (3rd Thursday)
Blackout Wednesday – (day before Thanksgiving)
Tie one on Day – (Wednesday before Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving Day – November 28, 2024 (Date changes each year)
Turkey-free Thanksgiving – (4th Thursday)
Unthanksgiving Day – (4th Thursday)
National Leftovers Day – (day after Thanksgiving)
Maize Day – (day after Thanksgiving)

We are halfway through the month and look at all the national food days we have covered already! There are so much more to come, too!

Perhaps one of these November national food days in the next two weeks will be right up your alley.

November 16

National Fast Food Day – Fast food restaurants are establishments that serve “fast-food”, which is mass produced food designed to be quickly prepared and served in to-go packaging. The food is often frozen, precooked or preheated, and assembled quickly.

The first fast food restaurant, created in 1921, was White Castle. The most popular fast food restaurant is McDonalds, which has 40,000 locations in 100 countries (and exists in every continent except Antartica).

November 17

National Baklava Day – Baklava is a flaky and sweet pastry made from phyllo dough, chopped nuts, spices and honey (or syrup). The origin of baklava is unclear, as both Greece and Turkey claim this dessert.

While baklava is a popular dessert in Greek and Turkish cuisines, many other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines also make their own versions of this sweet treat.

A notable difference between Greek baklava and Turkish baklava is that Greek baklava traditionally contains walnuts, while Turkish baklava can contain walnuts, pistachios or almonds. The spices, nuts and syrups used to make baklava differ regionally.

National Homemade Bread Day – Evidence of the earliest bread dates back to the Epipaleolithic era, roughly 14,000 years ago.

In 2018, Archeologists were working at an excavation site in Jordan, collecting dinner remains from the Natufian hunter gatherer tribe. They found charred food remains which turned out to be breadcrumbs.

These breadcrumbs were a significant discovery. Until they were recovered, bread-making was only dated back 10,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt.

Celebrate this food that has been around since antiquity by baking your own homemade bread. Try this beginner friendly recipe for homemade Italian bread.

November 18

Apple Cider Day – Depending on where you are in the world, the term apple cider has different meanings. It encompasses alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which can be served warm and cold (respectively).

In the United States apple cider is a non-alcoholic beverage, usually served warm. It is essentially warmed apple juice with spices.

In other places in the world, apple cider is an alcoholic beverage (which is called hard cider in the United States). Alcoholic ciders are made from fermenting fruit juice, and while apples are a popular choice, they can be made from many different fruits.

Head to this post on Apple Cider Day to learn more interesting facts about apple cider, and get a recipe to make your own warm spiced apple cider. The recipe is non-alcoholic, but you can always add bourbon for a boozy drink!

If you’re a big cider fan, you can also celebrate this beverage on World Cider Day occurring on June 3rd.

November 19

National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day – This food holiday would not exist if it were not for an Englishman named Joseph Priestley who invented carbonated water (sparkling water) in 1767.

The invention of sparkling water paved the way for other carbonated beverages. There’s a variety of different types of carbonated beverages with caffeine, from energy drinks like Red Bull, to sodas like Coca Cola and even sparkling caffeinated teas!

There was even an alcoholic beverage called Four Loko which combined caffeine with alcohol in a carbonated beverage. In 2010 the company reformulated their recipe when the FDA deemed the combination of alcohol and caffeine to be dangerous.

With so many carbonated beverages to choose from, there’s so many ways to celebrate National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day.

November 20

National Peanut Butter Fudge Day – Fudge is a confection made with butter, milk and sugar. It is smooth, creamy, and while firm enough to hold its shape, it’s also soft enough to melt in your mouth.

Fudge is often flavored with chocolate, nuts, or other add ins. If you’re a peanut butter lover, today is for you! It’s about celebrating peanut butter fudge!

Many people make fudge as a holiday tradition, but you can make fudge all year round. To celebrate National Peanut Butter Fudge Day try making this vegan peanut butter fudge recipe that vegans and non-vegans alike will love!

Pro fudge tip: If it’s your first time making fudge, look for fudge recipes with marshmallow or marshmallow creme. These ingredients help prevent fudge from crystalizing.

November 21

National Gingerbread Cookie Day – Queen Elizabeth I created the first gingerbread cookies to resemble her guests, suitors and visiting dignitaries. The led the cookies to become popular in England.

Gingerbread cookies were also thought of as a superstitious way to attract a husband. Single women would create gingerbread “husbands” in the likeness of a man they hoped to attract, and eat them for good luck.

Make sure to check out our post on National Gingerbread Cookie Day, for a homemade gingerbread cookie recipe, and to learn the history of gingerbread!

National Stuffing Day – Though stuffing comes in many varieties, its base usually consists of a mixture of herbs, bread cubes, and a binding agent (like egg). The mixture is then “stuffed” into the cavity of another item which will then be cooked.

The ingredients used to make stuffing can also contain meat, vegetables, and even fruit. There’s room to be creative when making stuffing.

Stuffing is frequently used in turkey and other poultry. However, many items can benefit from the use of stuffing like vegetables (peppers, mushrooms) meat (pork, beef), fish and breads (meat pies, empanadas).

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s no wonder we celebrate stuffing this month! If you’d like to make a recipe that features stuffing before Thanksgiving, check out this one for pork chops with apples and stuffing.

Just a week left. Which of the November food holidays will you celebrate?

November 22

National Cranberry Relish Day – You’re probably familiar with cranberry sauce, but have you ever heard of cranberry relish? The two items are condiments made from cranberries, but that is where their similarities end.

Cranberry relish is a raw condiment made from cranberries, oranges and sugar. Cranberry sauce, on the other hand, is a condiment made from heating cranberries with sugar on the stovetop.

Head to this post on National Cranberry Relish Day for a recipe to make your own cranberry relish, and learn several fun ways to celebrate this national food day.

November 23

National Eat a Cranberry Day – Cranberries are a tart and tangy fruit red fruit which grow on low hanging vines near marshes and sandy bogs.

They are harvested in September and November and it may surprise you to know that only 5% of cranberries are sold raw, while the other 95% are processed.

If you’ve ever picked up cranberries, you might have noticed how light they are; that’s because cranberries are 90% air. For more fascinating statistics, check out our post filled with cranberry facts!

To enjoy a cranberry recipe today try this savory one for cranberry pecan crostini appetizers, or this sweet one for baked apples with cranberries and Nutella.

National Cashew Day – This national food holiday celebrates what we refer to as cashew nuts. Botanically speaking, cashews are actually seeds, not nuts (though they do trigger tree nut allergies).

Cashew nuts are grown on cashew trees. These trees produce a fruit called cashew apples, which are classified as drupes. Dupes, simply put, are fleshy fruits that form around a single seed with an outer skin (like peaches, cherries, plums, etc).

The seed inside of the cashew apple is what we refer to as a cashew nut! To celebrate this fascinating food, try using it to make cashew coconut energy bites, or these no bake almond butter balls.

National Espresso Day – Espresso is a type of coffee which is made in an espresso machine. It forces water quickly, with extreme pressure, through finely ground coffee.

This yields a one ounce shot of espresso. Per ounce, espresso contains 40mg of caffeine, while an ounce of drip coffee only contains 10mg of caffeine.

Espresso has a three part structure: the sweeter top layer of crema, the body, and the bitter heart of espresso that settles to the bottom. When you receive an espresso shot it is optimal to stir it. This combine the three layers and balances the flavor of the espresso shot.

Make sure to visit this post on National Espresso Day to learn more fun facts and ways to celebrate.

November 24

National Sardines Day – Similar to anchovies, sardines are small and oily fish, which are foraged by larger species of fish. Sardines are slightly larger and fatter than anchovies.

When cooked fresh, the two forage fish can be used interchangeably. However, if you’re getting them from a can, they will taste very different.

Sardines are usually canned in olive oil, giving them a softer, rounder, milder taste. Anchovies are usually canned in a salt brine, which brings out their salinity and umami flavor profile.

Sardines are high in omega 3 fatty acids, which are thought to promote heart health as part of a balanced diet.

International Carménère Day – Carménère is a grape which originated in Bordeaux, France. Its name comes from the French word carmin meaning “crimson”, hinting to the grape’s color.

Though carménère hails came from France originally, very little of the grape is grown there now. The majority of carménère is grown in Chile.

In the late 1800s, a phylloxera plague devastated France, destroying over 70% of French vines (of all varietals). Carménère was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered by in Chile, by French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot, in 1994.

It had been imported nearly 150 years prior and was mistakenly thought to be merlot, since the two grapes have such similar flavor profiles.

Raise a glass today to celebrate carménère’s reemergence, and read our wine temperature guide to learn the optimal serving temperature for this medium bodied wine with soft tannins and dark fruit flavors.

November 25

National Parfait Day – The word parfait translates from French to mean “perfect”. If you’ve ever had this delicious dessert, you might be inclined to agree!

Surprisingly, the term parfait refers to two different desserts. The traditional French parfait is a frozen custard-like dessert made from a base of cream, egg and simple syrup which are heated, whipped and frozen.

The American style parfait is a layered dessert served in a clear glass container. The layers in this dessert contain a cream base such as parfait cream, ice cream or whipped cream. Additional layers often consist of fruit, nuts or granola.

If you’d like to make your own rendition of this perfect dessert today, try this recipe for Dutch apple crumble parfaits, or this one for yogurt parfait breakfast popsicles.

Eat with a Friend Day – This national food day encourages us to eat with friends. There is so much joy to be found spending time with together and sharing a meal.

Call up someone you haven’t seen in a while and reconnect over food! If you’re feeling inspired, you could even make a meal for you both to share.

Try this one pot sausage rotini bake, this lemon caper chicken piccata or this barramundi with lemon garlic butter sauce. All are delicious and sure to be crowd pleasers!

November 26

National Cake Day – Today is a day where you can have you cake, and eat it too! There are so many different varieties and styles of cakes, from traditional cakes, to cake pops, and everything in between!

Appease your sweet tooth by making a cake to celebrate this November national food day. Some of our favorites are this pumpkin cake with toasted coconut frosting and this honey apple cake with a caramel glaze.

In addition to making a cake today, you could also lean in to your artistic side by decorating your confection. Not sure how? Try getting started with these cake decorating tips.

November 27

National Bavarian Cream Pie Day – A Bavarian cream pie is made of custard mixed with gelatin, that has whipped cream folded into it. It is then poured in a mold and allowed to cool until it’s set.

Though the origins of this smooth and creamy dessert are unclear, French chef Marie-Antoine Carême is often credited with creating the Bavarian cream pie in the 19th century.

Marie-Antoine Carême is best known for perfecting the soufflé and creating the four of the five “mother sauces” (allemande, béchamel, espagnole and velouté) which serve as an essential component to many French dishes.

National Craft Jerky Day – This national food holiday was created in 2013 by the Long Beach Jerky Company in honor of one of the founder’s grandfathers, Albert ‘Gramps’ Naticchioni.

Albert would make his own homemade jerky and put it in his family’s Christmas stockings.

This kind Christmas gift inspired grandson Alex Naticchioni and his friend Richie Beckman to start their own jerky company when they were looking for a snack to pair with craft beers, which they enjoyed drinking together.

November 28

National French Toast Day – This classic brunch dish is made of sliced bread soaked in a mixture of milk and eggs and then cooked in a frying pan. It is often topped with fruit and syrup and served as a sweet dish.

An early reference to French toast dates back to antiquity. It was mentioned in Apicius, a cookbook which was written around the 5th century CE, simply as “aliter dulcia”.

If you’d like to try making it to celebrate this national food holiday we suggest this recipe for coconut crusted french toast. It’s easy to make and delicious.

Turkey Leftover Day – This national food day falls at the end of November, fittingly, as many of us have leftover turkey from Thanksgiving that needs to be used up!

If you need a recipe to use up some of that leftover turkey, try using them by making this hot turkey sandwich with cranberries and stuffing. It’s a warm, comforting dish that’s perfect for the cooler weather in these fall months.

If you still have too much turkey, you can always freeze it and defrost it for later use. It’s definitely better to freeze it and use it later than to waste it!

November 29

National Chocolates Day – There are so many different types of chocolates, from white chocolate to dark chocolate and everything in between.

In addition to celebrating chocolate on this November food day, chocolate is also a central part of many holiday celebrations. From New Year’s Day to Christmas, chocolates are sure to be found.

Boxes of chocolate are especially popular during February, as chocolate is one of the minor symbols of Valentine’s Day. Fortunately you don’t have to wait until February to celebrate chocolate, you can enjoy some on National Chocolates Day!

National Lemon Cream Pie Day – This silky smooth and delicious dessert with a lemony punch is is not to be confused with lemon meringue pie. Though both pies have a pie crust base and lemon fillings, they are actually quite different.

A lemon meringue pie has a lemon curd filling and a meringue topping. Alternatively, lemon cream pie has a lemon custardy filling and a whipped cream topping.

Even though lemon cream pies are not as popular as their meringue cousin, this pie is a tasty treat that shouldn’t be missed. Celebrate this November food holiday by making one of your own today.

Throw Out Your Leftovers Day – While no one loves to throw out food, sometimes it is necessary. According the the US Department of Agriculture, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days, but not longer than that!

We’ve all had been in the situation where a tupperware container of leftovers gets pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten. In that case, it’s better to toss those leftovers than risk food poisoning.

Having this day at the end of the months allows us to take note of what’s in your fridge and clear out any food that’s past its best. Doing this will start the month of December on the right foot, with a clean fridge!

November 30

National Mousse Day – The word mousse translates from French to mean “foam” or “froth”. It’s an apt translation for this dish which is made from eggs, cream and sugar which have been whipped.

Whipping the ingredients together incorporates air into the mixture, giving it a light, fluffy texture.

Mousses are normally sweet, and served as a dessert or as a component of a dessert. However they can also be savory and made from vegetables, meats, fish or poultry.

Celebrate this national food day by making your own mousse with this strawberry chocolate chip mousse. It’s quick and easy to make, but impressive enough to wow your friends and family!

National Mason Jar Day – In 1858, John Landis Mason created and patented the Mason jar. His invention was a canning jar with a threaded screw top that provided an air tight and waterproof seal.

Before the Mason jar’s invention, canning was messier, more complicated and less safe. Without the airtight seal of Mason’s jars, the food being canned was more susceptible contamination which could lead to food borne illness.

While the jar’s original purpose was for canning, it has many other uses in modern times. They can be used decoratively as drinking glasses, Halloween luminaries, DIY herb planters, Easter treat containers, flower vases and Mason jar Christmas decor.

More national food days

For other lists of national food holidays, check out these posts:

It is not just food that has a national day associated with it during November. All sorts of topics get made into national days. Check out this list of national days in November for the complete list of days to celebrate.

If you enjoy doing puzzles, be sure to also check out our puzzle category. We suggest looking at our word search of November national days to see how many food holidays you can locate within it.

Pin the national food days in November for later

Would you like a reminder of the food holidays in November? Just pin this photo to your November food holidays Pinterest board. Then you can easily reference this information about the November food holidays later.

You can also watch the November food holiday video on YouTube.

Yield: 1 food holiday planner

November Food Holidays Planner

Print out this planner to accompany the list of November food holidays.

Make sure to fill it in with your favorite national food days in November. It's a great way to keep track and plan for the whole month.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $1

Materials

Printer paper or heavy cardstock
Pen

Tools

Computer
Printer

Instructions

Load your heavy card stock or glossy photo paper into your Deskjet printer.
Choose portrait layout and if possible "fit to page" in your settings.
Print out this planner, and use the to plan your national food day related activities for the month.

Notes

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