National Boston Cream Pie Day

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Food
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every October 23
Holiday emoji:: 🍰

National Boston Cream Pie Day arrives every October 23, celebrating the iconic dessert that’s famously a cake, not a pie. This delightful treat features a golden butter cake, a rich custard filling, and a decadent chocolate glaze. Indulge in a slice, bake your own, or discover its fascinating history.

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Expected National Boston Cream Pie Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that bakeries and restaurants often roll out special deals for National Boston Cream Pie Day. Look for discounts at local patisseries and cafes, or even limited-time offerings at larger chains. In past years, brands like Dunkin’ have featured Boston Cream donuts, while specialty bakeries such as Magnolia Bakery and Carlo’s Bakery might offer unique takes on the classic. Grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and Wegmans often highlight their in-house versions. Keep an eye on social media from dessert brands like Hostess and Pepperidge Farm for potential promotions on their packaged treats. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 23 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Boston Cream Pie Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #BostonCreamPieDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your homemade or store-bought Boston cream pie creations.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #BostonCreamPieDay. Film a quick recipe tutorial, a taste test, or a fun video celebrating this delicious dessert.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #BostonCreamPieDay. Share your favorite Boston cream pie memories or local bakery recommendations with your community.

National Boston Cream Pie Day Hero

Chef M. Sanzian

Chef M. Sanzian, a French chef at Boston's Parker House Hotel, is credited with inventing the Boston Cream Pie in 1856. He originally called it 'Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie.' His innovative combination of a sponge cake, pastry cream, and chocolate glaze quickly became a signature dessert, solidifying its place in American culinary history. Sanzian's creation transformed the traditional pie format into a layered cake, forever changing the dessert landscape.

History of National Boston Cream Pie Day

Well, when the Boston cream pie was first invented, cakes and pies were baked with the same kinds of pans, and even the words were used interchangeably. As a result, the Boston cream pie kept its old-fashioned name, in addition to its delicious flavor. It was first invented in 1856, by an Armenian-French chef named Sanzian. At the time, chocolate frosting was a fairly new idea, so the delicious dessert took the world by storm. And to this day, it remains a popular menu selection. It’s even the official dessert of Massachusetts! So get your fork at the ready—let’s eat!

Back then the dish consisted of French butter sponge cake filled with thick custard and brushed with a rum syrup. The same custard overlaid with toasted sliced almonds coated the sides, while chocolate fondant topped it all off. While other custard cakes may have existed at that time, baking chocolate as a coating was a new process, making it unique and a popular choice on the menu.

According to the website, What’s Cooking America,: “Cooks in New England and Pennsylvania Dutch regions were known for their cakes and pies and the dividing line between them was very thin. This cake was probably called a pie because in the mid-19th century, pie tins were more common than cake pans. The first versions might have been baked in pie tins. Boston Cream Pie is a remake of the early American”Pudding-cake pie.”

National Boston Cream Pie Day timeline

1856

A world pie premiere

French chef Sanzian invents the Boston cream pie for The Parker House Hotel (now the Omni Parker House Hotel) in, ummm, Boston.

1996

It's Official

Massachusetts names the Boston cream pie as the official “state dessert.” A civics class from Norton High School sponsored the bill. The pie beat out other candidates, including the toll- house cookie and Indian pudding.

2010

Want seconds?

Students at Southern New Hampshire University created the world’s largest Boston Cream Pie — measuring 10 feet wide and 1.5 feet high

2015

History of New England Pies

Author Robert Cox publishes the definitive history of New England pie making. Discover the “revolutionary” roots of the Boston cream pie.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day

Local bakeries and cafes can celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day by offering special discounts on slices or whole pies, creating limited-edition flavors, or hosting a ‘bake-off’ contest. Restaurants could feature a Boston cream pie dessert special on their menu, perhaps with a modern twist. Food bloggers and culinary schools might offer workshops or online tutorials on baking the perfect Boston cream pie, engaging their audience with the history and techniques behind this beloved dessert.

National Boston Cream Pie Day FAQs

When is National Boston Cream Pie Day?

National Boston Cream Pie Day 2026 falls on Friday, October 23, giving everyone a sweet reason to kick off the weekend with this classic dessert.

What is the origin of Boston Cream Pie?

The Boston Cream Pie was created in 1856 by Chef M. Sanzian at the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston. It was originally known as ‘Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie’ and quickly became a signature dish.

Is Boston Cream Pie a pie or a cake?

Despite its name, Boston Cream Pie is definitively a cake. It features two layers of sponge cake, a rich custard filling, and a chocolate glaze, fitting the definition of a layered cake rather than a traditional pie.

How popular is Boston Cream Pie?

Boston Cream Pie remains a beloved classic, especially in New England, and is recognized as the official dessert of Massachusetts. Its popularity extends nationwide through various bakery versions and snack cake interpretations.

National Boston Cream Pie Day Activities

Bake your own
If you’re someone who loves to bake, then this is the perfect opportunity to give a delicious dessert a try. If you’re trying it for the first time, or if you’re improving on an old favorite, baking your own Boston cream pie is the perfect way to celebrate.
Throw a Boston cream party
Invite your fellow cake enthusiasts to join you in celebrating Massachusetts’ official dessert. Bring along other Boston-themed foods as well — such as clam chowder, lobster, and Sam Adams beer (if your guests are of age). And if you really want to give it that revolutionary vibe, invite your guests to party in period-style clothing!
Go to Boston
Well, what better place to get an authentic Boston cream pie than in its official birthplace? And while you’re there, check out some of the other excellent experiences that Boston has to offer.

Why We Love National Boston Cream Pie Day

It’s delicious
The recipe is so simple — you really only need three ingredients — and yet there's something about the combination of chocolate, cake, and custard that's so comforting and tasty. Not only that, but the simplicity of the ingredients gives you a lot of room to experiment. How many ways can you jazz up a Boston cream pie?
It’s got a rich history
Boston has always been a rich cultural hub. It was the site of some of the most important events in the Revolutionary War, and has continued to be the birthplace of American traditions ever since. With every bite of a Boston cream pie, you are continuing a tradition of wicked Bostonian trend-setting and innovation that's 260 years strong.
Let us eat cake
You don't really need an excuse to eat cake — but it's handy to have one sometimes. So go ahead and treat yourself.