9 Fun Leap Day Recipe Ideas To Try On Your Extra Day Of Cooking

Leap Day is because Julius Caesar thought an extra day every year would be nice, but then he screwed up the math. (Men.) So take that Caesar energy and put it into this amazing homemade Caesar salad recipe from Gimme Some Oven. The dressing is incredible.

If you want to give your kids a little spiel on the Roman empire and Rome itself while discussing Leap Year, go ahead and whip up an Italian classic: cacio e pepe. This recipe is super simple, but incredibly delicious, and a great comfort food that the whole family will love.

With all of the flavors in this incredible cake from Half-Baked Harvest, it’s no wonder it’s perfect for Leap Day, what with its half-Winterish, half-Springish vibes. But you can make this coconut pecan caramel butter cake to celebrate Leap Day because it also has four layers, just like Leap Day has four layers of years to get through.

I know, another pasta dish, but this one is so beyond good, you’ll literally lick the plate clean. From Pinch of Yum, this creamy garlic sun-dried tomato pasta has both Roman ties for Leap Day, but also, this pasta literally bounces. It’s such a fun spiral shape, and it’s perfect for leaping on Feb. 29.

There is some myth that says Leap Day was also the one day where women could propose to men after Saint Bridget complained to Saint Patrick and he designated the day as so. Honor all of that Irish folklore (it is getting close to St. Paddy’s Day, after all) with this super easy baked corned beef and cabbage recipe.

Another dish that has two separate meanings? These pork belly burnt ends from Averie Cooks. You can consider burnt ends a great Leap Day choice because it represents the end of the month, but there’s also a spot in Texas and across the border in New Mexico known for all of the Leap Day babies born in their area, so they celebrate with a great big barbecue. Yum.

If you really want to eat like the Romans, load up on some figs, nuts, and cheese for a seriously decadent dish. But this recipe for a dessert cheese plate is also great for Leap Day, because the day itself feels so special, you can totally get away with eating something like this for dinner. (Plus nuts, fruit, cheese, and chocolate? That’s the power of four, baby.)

Embrace the four! Make this enormous platter of baked chicken wings from FoodieCrush with four different sauces to represent the four years in between each Leap Day. There’s a bite on here for every member of the family, and it makes for a nice, easy dinner when everyone can just serve themselves.

For another Irish nod, you can whip up some shepherd’s pie, but since Leap Day is an extension of February, try making it a sweet potato shepherd’s pie to honor the root vegetable that does some of her best work this time of year. This recipe from A Cozy Kitchen is an easy crowd-pleaser, and is nice and hearty and healthy.