St Piran’s Day is just around the corner, and here at Trewithen Dairy, we’re celebrating everything that makes Cornish food special in honour of Cornwall’s patron saint! We know a thing or two about the delicious treats that have emerged from our beautiful county over the centuries, and St Piran’s Day on March 5th gives us the perfect excuse to indulge in traditional Cornish fare. Whether you’re a local or just love Cornwall’s rich culinary heritage, here are seven iconic Cornish foods which are perfect for your St Piran’s Day celebrations!
7 Authentic Cornish Food Recipes to Celebrate St Piran’s Day
Many St Piran’s Day festivities include parades, music, and community gatherings all across Cornwall. Here are seven authentic foods to serve at St Piran’s Day celebrations – a moment to sit down with friends and family to enjoy something distinctly Cornish while reflecting on our shared cultural heritage.
1. The Iconic Cornish Pasty
No list of traditional food for St Piran’s Day would be complete without paying homage to our county’s most famous culinary creation – the Cornish pasty. The iconic pasty has been Cornwall’s signature dish for centuries, boasting a rich history rooted in our mining heritage. In 2011, the Cornish pasty received prestigious protected status, earning both Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) recognition meaning that it must be made within Cornwall’s borders and made in the traditional Cornish way to be labelled as ‘Cornish’.
The distinctive semi-circular D-shaped pasty has a crimped edge which was originally designed for miners to hold with their dirty hands, using the thick crust as a disposable handle to enable them to safely enjoy the tasty contents inside. The tin miners’ wives would carefully craft their husbands’ initials from excess pastry and place them on top of their pasty, allowing each miner to easily identify his lunch when down the mines.
The classic ingredients of a Cornish pasty include homemade buttery shortcut pastry, a good quality beef skirt cut into cubes, potato, swede, and onion (all peeled and diced) and then seasoned simply with salt and pepper to your taste. Beef skirt is traditionally used, as this cut of meat cooks in the same amount of time as the raw vegetables and its juice produces wonderful gravy. Many reincarnations of the Cornish pasty have sprung up in recent years, with fruit pasties, chicken pasties and all manner of vegetarian alternatives proving popular.
However, for us, nothing can beat the comforting taste of a proper Cornish pasty made in the traditional way, served piping hot straight from the oven in a paper bag (no cutlery or sauces required). If you’re considering which food to enjoy on St Piran’s Day, you won’t go far wrong with this delicious Cornish masterpiece.
2. Stargazy Pie
Perhaps the most visually striking dish in Cornwall’s culinary repertoire, Stargazy Pie is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the stomach, and would make a delicious addition to the St Piran’s Day food table.
The fish are designed to poke through the pastry top to seemingly ‘gaze at the stars’ and don’t worry – you don’t have to eat the heads. Legend has it this Cornish recipe was created after a brave fisherman, Tom Bawcock, ventured out into stormy seas to fish when the townsfolk of Mousehole were facing starvation. He returned triumphantly with an abundance of seven types of fish, which were cooked up in a pie and served to the community.
Beneath its eye-catching presentation lies a delicious filling of fish, potatoes, eggs, cider and bacon, all bathed in a creamy sauce infused with the flavours of the sea. Stargazy Pie represents the true spirit of Cornwall – bold, distinctive, and unashamedly unique. Best served on its own or with fresh crusty bread for a truly impressive St Piran’s Day feast.
3. Saffron Buns
A saffron bun, sometimes called a Cornish tea treat bun or revel bun, stands as one of Cornwall’s most cherished sweet indulgences. Golden, plump and delicious, saffron buns have graced Cornish tables for generations, particularly during celebrations such as St Piran’s Day.
These traditional Cornish spiced buns embody Cornwall’s historical prosperity through maritime trade, which brought exotic spices to our shores. Saffron was once more precious than gold, and these delicious bakes are infused with a touch of saffron which gives them their distinctive golden colour and subtle aromatic flavour.
If you’re planning on baking some traditional saffron buns for St Piran’s Day, we suggest serving them warm from the oven and slathered with clotted cream or golden Cornish butter for a celebratory Cornish treat to be proud of.
4. Cornish Cream Tea
St Piran’s Day is all about embracing Cornish traditions, and what could be more quintessentially Cornish than our beloved cream tea? There’s simply no better way to honour St Piran and our rich Cornish food heritage than with this classic Cornish treat.
The traditional Cornish cream tea involves freshly baked scones, still warm from the oven, split and generously topped with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam, all paired with a pot of steaming Cornish tea.
At Trewithen Dairy, we take particular pride in our role in creating the star of the show – that thick, golden clotted cream with its distinctive crust. Unlike our neighbours in Devon, true Cornish tradition dictates that jam goes first, then a dollop of our velvety clotted cream on top. Never the other way around!
5. Hevva Cake
Cornish hevva cake (or ‘heavy cake’ as it is sometimes known) is a traditional Cornish recipe which was originally made by fishermen’s wives to welcome their husbands home from a successful fishing trip in the 17th century. The word ‘hevva’ is a Cornish word meaning ‘here they are!’, and was shouted by clifftop lookouts (huers) when they spotted pilchard shoals approaching the shore, and also by the fishermans’ wives when they spotted their boats coming home.
Traditionally crisscrossed on top to represent the pilchard nets and was eaten when fish were plentiful and families could afford the ingredients. The celebratory nature of hevva cake makes it a brilliant food for St Piran’s Day served warm with a cup of tea.
6. A Traditional Hevva Cake Recipe
This traditional hevva cake recipe comes from Margaret Stevens- President of St Ives Old Cornwall Society.
Ingredients
- 8oz (200g) flour
- 2oz (50g) butter
- 2 oz (50g) lard
- 3 / 4oz (100g) sugar
- 6 oz (150g) currants (or mixed fruit)
- Approx 3 tablespoons milk to mix
Method
- Rub the fat into flour (can be done in a mixer, but not too long!)
- Add sugar and fruit
- Mix with the milk
- Shape and roll out on a floured board (or on greaseproof paper – for ease of transferring to a baking tray) to an oval/oblong to fit baking tray about ½ “to ¾ ” thick
- Score a fine mesh net over the surface. Brush with milk
- Bake for 15 / 20 minutes in the centre of oven at 190°C (375°F). Gas mark 6.
- Serve warm. The old saying goes: – “A bit of hot Hevva touched up light is rich.”
6. Cornish Fairings
No St Piran’s Day celebration would be complete without a batch of traditional Cornish Fairings gracing your table. These spiced, ginger biscuits have been a beloved part of Cornwall’s foodie heritage for generations. With their distinctive cracked tops and perfect balance of warming spices, Fairings offer a deliciously fiery ginger snap perfect for your St Piran’s Day festivities.
Originally sold at fairs across Cornwall (hence their name “fairings”), these treats were often purchased by young men as tokens of affection for their sweethearts. Their rustic appearance belies the complex medley of flavours that unfolds with each bite – sweet, spicy, and subtly molasses-rich. The magic of Fairings lies in their unique texture: crisp around the edges yet maintaining a slight chewiness in the centre.
At Trewithen Dairy, we recommend enjoying these spiced biscuits alongside a generous dollop of our Cornish clotted cream for a truly indulgent St Piran’s Day treat that honours our region’s proud culinary traditions.
7. Traditional Cornish Yarg
St Piran’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate one of Cornwall’s most distinctive cheese creations – Cornish Yarg. This semi-hard cow’s milk cheese represents the innovative spirit of Cornish food production that we at Trewithen Dairy so admire.
Despite its ancient-sounding name, Yarg has relatively recent origins, created in the 1980s and named by simply reversing its creator’s surname, “Gray.” What makes this cheese truly special is its distinctive wrapping of nettle leaves, which not only creates its striking appearance but also imparts subtle flavours as the cheese matures. Beneath this natural rind lies a creamy, ivory-coloured cheese with a fresh, tangy flavour and crumbly texture toward the centre that becomes increasingly creamy near the edible rind.
For St Piran’s Day, a wedge of Yarg on your cheeseboard honours Cornwall’s dairy excellence and agricultural heritage. Pair it with local apple chutney and Cornish ale for a truly celebratory tribute to our patron saint and the bounty of our beloved county.
Conclusion
From the practical pasty that sustained our miners to the luxurious clotted cream that showcases our dairy excellence, each of these St Piran’s Day dishes tells a story about the people, landscape, and traditions that make Cornwall so special.
Here at Trewithen Dairy, we’re proud to be part of Cornwall’s ongoing food story, continuing the legacy of quality and craftsmanship that defines Cornish produce. Whether you’re celebrating St Piran’s Day with family, and friends, or simply treating yourself, incorporating these traditional foods connects you to centuries of Cornish heritage and the enduring spirit of St Piran himself. Raise a Cornish flag and a very happy St Piran’s Day from all of us at Trewithen Dairy, Gool Peran Lowen!
FAQs
When is St Piran’s Day and why do we celebrate it?
St Piran’s Day falls on March 5th each year. We celebrate this special day to honour Cornwall’s patron saint, St Piran, who brought Christianity to Cornwall in the 5th century.
Where can I buy authentic Cornish clotted cream in Cornwall?
You can find our genuine Trewithen Dairy Cornish clotted cream in shops and supermarkets throughout Cornwall. We’re proud that our cream is made right here in the heart of Cornwall using milk from local farms within a 25-mile radius of our dairy.
Is there a traditional order for serving Cornish dishes on St Piran’s Day?
While there’s no strict traditional order, many Cornish families build their St Piran’s Day celebrations around key dishes. Often, the day might start with a hearty breakfast featuring hevva cake or saffron buns. For lunch, a traditional Cornish pasty makes the perfect main course. Afternoon celebrations typically include a Cornish cream tea with scones, jam, and our famous clotted cream. Evening meals might feature stargazy pie or a cheeseboard with Cornish Yarg.
What makes a Cornish pasty officially ‘Cornish’?
A Cornish pasty can only be called “Cornish” if it adheres to the strict requirements of its Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. To be officially Cornish, the pasty must be made in Cornwall and contain only beef, potato, swede, onion, salt, and pepper – no other meats, vegetables, or seasonings are allowed. The ingredients must be raw when the pasty is assembled before being slowly baked. Perhaps most distinctively, the edge must be sealed using the traditional Cornish crimping technique, creating that characteristic D-shape.