Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the beloved cream puff

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It may come as a surprise, since it's Jan. 2, but it is National Cream Puff Day. 

Cream puffs are usually associated with the Wisconsin State Fair, so we asked the fair's cream puff production director why cream puff day is today. 

"You know it's funny, I'm not sure why. I think it'd be kind of a way to break up the monotony of eating cream puffs in the summertime," said Colton Grebe, cream puff production director with the Wisconsin State Fair. 

Colton Grebe tells us cream puffs have been part of the fair since 1924, so this year marks their 100th anniversary. 

According to several sources we checked, cream puffs go back way farther than that -- perhaps to France in the 16th Century. Their earliest known appearance in an American restaurant, dates back to around 1850. 

Colton Grebe says the fair's combination of agriculture and dairy make cream puffs a natural fit. 

"Cream puffs are a big deal here because it's two Wisconsin industries coming together. And we always like to say that here in Wisconsin, it is the bakery belt so it's no reason why it's the signature dessert," Grebe said. 

You can't get cream puffs at State Fair today, and it's not easy to find some around town. CBS 58 was able to find some at Sciortino's Bakery on Milwaukee's east side. 

State Fair is offering some deals on future cream puff purchases. CLICK HERE for more.