- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- BakingDessertFood
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every December 8
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍫
National Brownie Day arrives every December 8, inviting dessert lovers to celebrate the rich, fudgy squares. Whether you prefer them chewy, cakey, or gooey, this is the perfect day to bake a batch, share with friends, or seek out your favorite bakery’s best. Indulge in the decadent delight and spread some sweet joy!
Want to sponsor National Brownie Day? Learn how
Expected National Brownie Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that National Brownie Day reliably brings sweet deals from various brands. Look for special offers from major chains like Starbucks, which often features brownie-based treats, and McDonald’s with their popular McFlurry additions. Specialty bakeries such as Fairytale Brownies and Ghirardelli Chocolate Company are likely to offer discounts on their gourmet brownie assortments and baking mixes. Keep an eye on local cafes and dessert shops like Insomnia Cookies and Crumbl Cookies, which may roll out limited-time brownie flavors or BOGO deals. Grocery stores, including Kroger and Whole Foods Market, often have sales on brownie mixes and ingredients, encouraging home baking. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 8 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Brownie Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalBrownieDay. Film a quick recipe tutorial for fudgy brownies or a taste test of different brownie types.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBrownieDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your homemade brownies or a visit to your favorite local bakery.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalBrownieDay. Post a poll asking friends about their favorite brownie add-ins or share a classic family recipe.
National Brownie Day Hero
Bertha Palmer
History of National Brownie Day
Legend has it that the creation of brownies hales from the Palmer House Hotel in 1893. Bertha Palmer, a prominent Chicago socialite whose husband owed the hotel, asked a pastry chef for a dessert suitable for ladies attending the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. She requested a cake-like delicacy small enough to be included in boxed lunches. The result was the Palmer House Brownie with walnuts and an apricot glaze. The modern Palmer House Hotel serves a dessert to patrons made from the same recipe. The name was given to the dessert sometime after 1893, but was not used by cook books or journals at the time.
By 1907 the brownie was well established in a recognizable form, appearing in Lowney’s Cook Book by Maria Willet Howard as an adaptation of the Boston Cooking School recipe for a “Bangor Brownie”. It added an extra egg and an additional square of chocolate, creating a richer dessert. The name “Bangor Brownie” derives from the town of Bangor, Maine, which legend states was the hometown of a housewife who created the original brownie recipe. Maine food educator and columnist Mildred Brown Schrumpf was the predominant proponent of the theory that brownies were invented in Bangor. While “The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink” refuted Schrumpf’s premise that “Bangor housewives” created the brownie, “The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America” said it had discovered evidence to support Schrumpf’s claim, in the form of several 1904 cookbooks that included a recipe for “Bangor Brownies.”
National Brownie Day timeline
The Palmer House Hotel created the Palmer House Brownie with walnuts and an apricot glaze
Closer to the brownies we know and love today, Bangor Brownies were invented by housewives in Bangor, Maine.
The Girl Scout Brownies group, originally called Rosebuds, was organized in 1914 by Lord Baden-Powell.
The Washburn Crosby Company created the character Betty Crocker to answer thousands of customer questions about baking.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Brownie Day
Local businesses can sweeten their offerings for National Brownie Day by featuring special brownie desserts. Bakeries and cafes can create limited-edition brownie flavors, such as salted caramel or peppermint swirl, or offer ‘buy one, get one free’ deals. Restaurants might add a gourmet brownie sundae to their menu or offer a complimentary mini-brownie with every meal. Retail stores could host a brownie baking contest for employees or customers, while offices can treat their staff to a brownie bar, boosting morale with a delicious perk.
National Brownie Day Stats
2 billion brownies
Are we surprised? Definitely not. Brownies can be consumed on any occasion, and making these bad boys at home is only part of the fun. 1988 knew what they were doing when they gobbled down 2 billion of these tasty treats, and with so many ways to customize and create your “perfect brownie”, there’s endless ways to enjoy it without getting tired of the chocolatey goodness!
60% of people go nutless
Whether it be a nut allergy, an aversion to nuts, or simply being a brownie purest, 60% of brownie lovers prefer their brownies nut free. The magical thing about brownies is no matter how you eat them, they’re always delicious. So if you like it purely gooey and chewy, or if you prefer a little crunch in your munch, you’re doing the right thing already just by eating a brownie. The only way you can be wrong is by not liking brownies at all! But those people don’t exist…right?
36% of love those corners
A little resistance in your brownie doesn’t hurt, and what better way to get that magical texture than by biting into a deliciously baked end piece? Of course, we don’t want the entire brownie to have that texture, there is such thing as too much of a good thing. But saving that small bit of something special for the end of your brownie consumption is definitely the way to go!
National Brownie Day FAQs
When is National Brownie Day?
National Brownie Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, December 8, inviting everyone to indulge in the rich, chocolatey goodness of this beloved dessert.
What is the origin of the brownie?
The brownie’s origin is most famously attributed to Bertha Palmer, a prominent Chicago socialite. In 1893, she requested a cake-like dessert that could be easily eaten from boxed lunches for the World’s Columbian Exposition, leading to the creation of the first brownie at the Palmer House Hotel.
How many types of brownies are there?
Brownies come in a delightful array of textures and flavors, typically categorized as fudgy, chewy, or cakey. Beyond these, variations include blondies (without chocolate), cream cheese brownies, and those loaded with nuts, caramel, or various chocolate types.
Is a brownie a cake or a cookie?
A brownie is often considered a hybrid dessert, bridging the gap between a cake and a cookie. It shares the moist, rich texture of a dense cake but is typically eaten by hand like a cookie, making it a unique category all its own.
National Brownie Day Activities
Stuff your face
Obviously that would be our go-to choice. In all honesty, what else would you expect for a day dedicated to something as amazing as this? Take the day to try new kinds of brownies that you've never tasted, and don't forget to bring milk!
Share your brownies
Spread the word that today is National Brownie day by posting your best pictures on social media. Inspire your followers to get out there and try new brownies for themselves.
Brownie bar
As mentioned above, there are a variety of brownie recipes our there. Invite your pals over for a night of brownie taste testing. Supply a brownie bar of different kinds. We recommend double fudge, Oreo, mint, walnut and caramel brownies.
Why We Love National Brownie Day
They're delicious!
Ding ding ding! Vanna, show them what they've won! Brownies are rich in flavor and definitely a guilty pleasure of ours. No matter hot or cold, they are delicious. Don't believe us? We dare you to tell us otherwise.
They are fun to make
Watch me whip, watch me bake, bake! Aren't baking brownies a blast? Always remember, that preparation is key. Pick your favorite ingredients and use some of the amazing recipes below in the content section!
They make you happy
Think about those movie scenes of dealing with break ups by eating chocolate. Why do you think that is? It's because they make you happy! And, ya know, release the mood enhancing chemical, serotonin. So don't cheat yourself, treat yourself to some delicious brownies!
National Brownie Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 8 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | December 8 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | December 8 | Friday |
| 2029 | December 8 | Saturday |
| 2030 | December 8 | Sunday |
Social Media Tips for National Brownie Day
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