Pigs in a blanket is a type of food in which hot dogs are wrapped in biscuit or croissant dough and then baked in the oven. It’s a food that’s often given to children, although it should be said that there are plenty of adults who love this food as well.

It’s a food that people all over the world have been enjoying for decades now, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that it has its own holiday. This food’s holiday is called National Pigs in a Blanket Day and is observed on April 24th every year.

The History of Pigs in a Blanket

Even though there are plenty of rumors concerning the creation of this food, most food historians agree that it can be traced back to the 17th century. In England during this time, manual laborers would often wrap meat in dough for a quick snack.

That would form the basic idea behind this food. As time went by, sausages were often placed in the middle of them. During the turn of the 20th century, pigs in a blanket came in a variety of different forms. In the UK, they were sausages wrapped with bacon, and in other parts of Europe, they were sausages wrapped in cabbage.

It wouldn’t be until the 1950s, however, that pigs in a blanket would take off in the U.S. This is when Betty Crocker published a recipe for pigs in a blanket in 1957. After that, the popularity of this snack food began to surge.

Facts About Pigs in a Blanket

Since the subject of this holiday is pigs in a blanket, we thought it would be a good idea to list some facts about it. Facts that will highlight just how special this snack food is. So without further ado, below are some things to think about while you’re enjoying pigs in a blanket.

• Pigs in the Blanket are also known as wiener winks, devils on horseback, and pigs in skins.
• Pigs in the Blanket are also known as kilted sausages, sausage in a dressing gown, and nakkipiilo.
• In Denmark, they’re known as Pølsehorn or translated in English, Sausage Horns.
• Pigs in the Blanket can be made with Vienna sausages, hot dogs, or breakfast sausages.
• Pigs in the Blanket can be made in under 20 minutes.
• It’s estimated that over 130 million pigs in blankets are eaten on Christmas Day.

Observing National Pigs in a Blanket Day

Observing this holiday is as simple as making and enjoying pigs in a blanket. Of course, how pigs in a blanket are made is likely to be different from one person to the next. Some people will simply wrap hot dogs in pre-made biscuits and bake them in an oven, while others may get more creative.

Some people top them with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, some people make them with a pretzel coating, and some people will put some other creative twist on the recipe. Some people will even get their pig-in-a-blanket fix at a local restaurant.

In the U.S., people can visit places such as Pig ‘N Pancake in Cannon Beach, Oregon, or Weikel’s Bakery in La Grange, Texas to get their pig-in-a-blanket cravings answered. In St. Louis, people can visit Gus’ Pretzels to enjoy full-size bratwurst, salsiccia, or hot dogs in a pretzel coating.

Not exactly pigs in a blanket, but pretty close and pretty good. Regardless of how a person celebrates this day, they should take the time to spread the love of this holiday by using the hashtag #NationalPigsInABlanketDay and sharing their delicious finds for the day.