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MonOct 14

National Dessert Day – October 14, 2024

What is National Dessert Day?

“Let them eat cake!” This popular french saying holds true especially on October 14, aka National Dessert Day! Calories don’t count today, so make sure to pick up that box of donuts you’ve been thinking about all week. Cash in those kale salad points and reward yourself with the a warm sugary glaze. You’ve earned it!

 

National Dessert Day Related Holidays

National Cinnamon Roll Day


Ooey and gooey and melts in your mouth! National Cinnamon Roll Day comes around on October 4th every year. It’s the perfect day to get your hands on one of those brown sugar & cinnamon concoctions and perhaps profess your undying love for the glorious cream cheese frosting. No matter what, these batch baked beauties will brighten your day.

National Cake Day


Everyone loves a good sponge, and cake day is the best day to enjoy one. It’s a dessert that’s been there for you since the very beginning, National Cake Day is celebrated November 26! So it’s batter up (get it?) for this granddaddy of desserts. And don’t forget the buttercream icing!

National Cupcake Day


Compact and flavorful, we celebrate these tasty sweets annually on December 15. They are everything you love in cakes, just smaller. And we would argue they offer the perfect proportion of cake and icing. Bake a batch or buy a few and teach your friends the proper way to eat one (hint: break off the bottom of the cake part and put it on top to me make an icing sandwich. You’re welcome).

>> Full List of Holidays in October

When is National Dessert Day 2024?

We fulfill our sweet tooth cravings on National Dessert Day on October 14.

History of National Dessert Day

The term “dessert” originates from the French word desservir, which translates to the action “to clear the table.” This is because dessert is served after a main meal’s dishes have been cleared. However, the sweetness of dessert has existed long before there was a proper title for it. As an act of worship, ancient civilizations would offer dried fruits and honey to their gods. In Ancient Greece, a special sweet bread was made with nuts and honey to make an almost cake-like dish called plakous. It is believed the Ancient Greeks may have also invented pie, as Aristophanes mentions sweetmeats and pastries filled with fruit in his plays.

National Dessert Day timeline

776 BCE
Energy boosters

The Ancient Greeks are believed to have invented cheesecake as a sort of energy booster served to athletes during the Olympic games. Brides of the time would also cook and serve the sweet treat to their wedding guests.

1381
As American as apple pie

Though the common metaphor is used to describe the highlights of American culture, the first written recipe for apple pie came from England. 

1645
A sweet mistake

French pastry apprentice Claudius Gele accidentally invented puff pastries after adding too much butter to his bread dough.

1700s
Sugary goodness

Protestant settlers in Pennsylvania created the sugar cookies we know and love today.

Desserts By The Numbers

2,520 square feet — the length of the world’s largest gingerbread house. 

35.8 million — the number of calories in the length of the world’s largest gingerbread house. 

9,000 pounds — the weight of the world’s biggest chocolate bar made in Armenia. 

150,000 gallons — the amount of water mixed with chocolate and cream to create the chocolate river in the movie “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory.” 

2001 — the year when Jell-O was declared Utah’s official snack. 

$700 million — the worth of the pies sold every year. 

18 pounds — the amount of chocolate eaten by the average Swiss citizen. 

2 hours 45 minutes — the waiting time for buying a cronut in 2013. 

87,000 — the number of drink possibilities at Starbucks. 

 

National Dessert Day FAQs

Is there a National Candy Day? 

National Candy Day is celebrated annually on November 4. We hope your sweet tooth is ready! 

Is there a National Lemon Day?

We celebrate National Lemon Juice Day every year on August 29. Show us your sour lemon face with the hashtag #NationalLemonJuiceDay! 

Is today National Chocolate Day?

Get your personal chocolate fountain ready and running! National Chocolate Day always lands on October 28.

National Dessert Day Activities

  1. Go ahead, order the dessert

    Usually when we go to a restaurant, we restrain ourselves from picking up the dessert menu. But today is a national holiday! Don't be afraid to conquer that chocolate lava cake a la mode style! 

  2. Bake your favorite cake

    Whether from scratch or from a box, cakes always taste better when they rise in your own oven. That is, if you don't accidentally eat all the cake batter beforehand. Save us the spoon!

  3. Throw a pastry party

    Warm, flaky, baked goods are best enjoyed with friends. Have everyone bring their favorite pastry, sit around the table, and strike a harmonious "yum!" 

5 Facts About Your Favorite Desserts

  1. Made with love

    Girl Scout cookies were originally homemade.

  2. A common misconception

    Boston cream pie is actually a cake.

  3. The origins of the word ‘dessert’

    ‘Dessert’ originates from the French word desservir, meaning “to clear the table.”

  4. McDonald’s serves at weddings

    In Hong Kong, McDonald’s creates customized wedding cakes made from their Apple Pie.

  5. A fruit like no other

    Black sapote is a fruit that tastes like chocolate pudding.

Why We Love National Dessert Day

  1. Endless flavors

    Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cream cheese frosting! No matter what you like, there’s a special type of dessert dedicated to your tastebuds!

  2. It’s happiness in every bite

    Sugar is scientifically proven to aid you through breakups, heartaches, and any case of the blues. When your mouth is happy, you're happy too! 

  3. A treat for all seasons

    During summertime, you can cool off with a delicious ice cream or frozen yoghurt. In the winter, pour  that hot fudge on your crepe to make the ultimate warm and filling dessert!

National Dessert Day dates

YearDateDay
2024October 14Monday
2025October 14Tuesday
2026October 14Wednesday
2027October 14Thursday
2028October 14Saturday

Let’s get social

Here are some special hashtags for the day.

#NationalDessertDay #DessertDay #Desserts #SweetTooth #JustDesserts

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