National Boston Cream Pie Day, celebrated every year on October 23, pays tribute to a dessert that’s part cake, part pie, and completely irresistible. The Boston cream pie isn’t really a pie at all—it’s a soft sponge cake layered with smooth vanilla custard and topped with a glossy chocolate coating. The name goes back to the mid-1800s, when cakes and pies were baked in the same type of pans, and the terms were often used interchangeably.
The dessert was first made in 1856 by Chef Augustine François Anezin at Boston’s Parker House Hotel. His creation—two layers of buttery sponge cake filled with rich custard, brushed with rum syrup, and finished with chocolate fondant—was unlike anything diners had tasted before. At a time when chocolate was mostly used in drinks and puddings, using it as a glaze on a cake was a bold new idea. Guests loved it, and the dessert quickly became known as the hotel’s signature “Boston Cream Pie.”
Over time, the pie became a symbol of Boston’s sweet side and eventually earned the title of official state dessert of Massachusetts in 1996. Its popularity even inspired the Boston cream doughnut, filled with custard and topped with chocolate icing—a favorite across the U.S. and Canada.
So when October 23 rolls around, it’s the perfect excuse to enjoy a slice (or two) of this New England delicacy.
When Is National Boston Cream Pie Day?
National Boston Cream Pie Day is observed every year on October 23. The date remains the same each year, giving dessert lovers a consistent moment to honor this classic New England creation.
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | October 23 | Thursday |
| 2026 | October 23 | Friday |
| 2027 | October 23 | Saturday |
| 2028 | October 23 | Monday |
| 2029 | October 23 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | October 23 | Wednesday |
5 Ways to Celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day
- Enjoy a Slice at a Local Bakery – Visit a nearby café or bakery and treat yourself to a fresh slice of Boston cream pie. Many New England bakeries still use the traditional Parker House recipe.
- Bake Your Own at Home – Try making the classic version from scratch: layers of sponge cake, vanilla custard filling, and a smooth chocolate topping. It’s a fun weekend baking project.
- Visit the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston – If you’re in the area, stop by the hotel where the dessert was born in 1856 and taste the original Boston cream pie in its historic setting.
- Make Mini Versions – Prepare Boston cream cupcakes or mini pies for family or friends. They’re easy to share and perfect for dessert tables or office treats.
- Try the Doughnut Version – Pick up a Boston cream doughnut for a quick and portable way to join the celebration. It offers the same custard-and-chocolate flavor in a simpler form.
Fun Facts About Boston Cream Pie
- A boxed mix made it famous. Betty Crocker turned it into a household favorite in 1958 when the company released a cake mix version.
- It’s not a pie at all. The “pie” in its name comes from the 1800s, when cakes and pies were baked in the same pans and often called by the same name.
- The original recipe included rum and almonds. Chef Anezin’s 1856 version used rum syrup to brush the cake layers and covered the sides with toasted almonds.
- Massachusetts made it official. In 1996, the Boston Cream Pie became the official state dessert, beating out chocolate chip cookies and Indian pudding.
- There’s a doughnut too. The Boston Cream Doughnut was named the state doughnut of Massachusetts in 2003.
- It once broke a record. In 2010, the largest Boston Cream Pie ever made weighed more than 2,000 pounds and measured 10 feet wide.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, celiac & gluten-free days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025-2026 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
