Who can resist a perfectly baked chocolate cupcake? Every year on October 18, National Chocolate Cupcake Day gives us the perfect excuse to indulge in this sweet, flavorful treat. Whether topped with swirls of frosting, sprinkled with fun toppings, or enjoyed plain and fresh from the oven, these bite-sized delights are loved by dessert fans everywhere. From simple homemade recipes to fancy gourmet versions, chocolate cupcakes have earned their place as a favorite all around the world.
🍫 I’ve put together the ultimate list of 79 chocolate-related national days to enjoy throughout the year, plus there are two full weeks and four entire months dedicated to this beloved treat!
➡️ For more fun food-related celebrations, check out our list of food days and similar cupcake celebrations like National Vanilla Cupcake Day, National Cupcake Day and National Muffin Day.
A Brief History of the Chocolate Cupcake
The story of the cupcake begins long before we started adding chocolate to the mix. The first known reference to “cupcake” appeared in an American cookbook in 1796, though it wasn’t quite what we know today. Back then, these tiny cakes were baked in small pottery cups or molds, giving them their name.
Cupcakes became popular in the 19th century, especially because they were convenient for bakers—they took less time to bake and used simple measurements (often in cups, hence another possible reason for their name). However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that chocolate cupcakes started to take center stage. As chocolate became more accessible and affordable, it was quickly added to cupcake recipes, transforming the humble treat into a decadent dessert favorite.
Today, chocolate cupcakes are beloved across the globe, and National Chocolate Cupcake Day allows us to celebrate just how far these small but mighty cakes have come.
When Is National Chocolate Cupcake Day Celebrated?
On October 18 each year, we celebrate National Chocolate Cupcake Day, a day dedicated to enjoying the rich, sweet delight of chocolate cupcakes. Mark your calendar and get ready to savor this indulgent treat:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | October 18, Friday |
| 2025 | October 18, Saturday |
| 2026 | October 18, Sunday |
| 2027 | October 18, Monday |
| 2028 | October 18, Wednesday |
| 2029 | October 18, Thursday |
| 2030 | October 18, Friday |
Fun Facts About Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes aren’t just a tasty treat—they’ve got some fun history and quirks, too. Here are a few to sweeten your day:
- The first mention of “cupcake” dates back to 1796 in a recipe notation for a cake to be baked in small cups.
- Cupcakes became popular in the 19th century, partly because they baked faster than larger cakes, saving time in the kitchen (and satisfying chocolate cravings sooner).
- There’s even a Guinness World Record for the largest cupcake, which weighed over 2,500 pounds!
Ways to Celebrate National Chocolate Cupcake Day
Need some ideas on how to honor this delicious holiday? Here are a few ways to enjoy:
- Bake your own batch: Get creative in the kitchen by whipping up your own chocolate cupcakes. Experiment with toppings, from classic buttercream frosting to quirky additions like edible glitter.
- Host a cupcake decorating contest: Invite friends over and see who can create the most extravagant (or funniest) chocolate cupcake design.
- Support your local bakery: Not in the mood to bake? No worries! Pop into a local bakery and pick out their best chocolate cupcakes to support small businesses.
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, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (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.
