Mark your calendars, sweet tooths of the world: October 14th is National Dessert Day.
That’s right—there’s an entire day dedicated to the best part of any meal, and honestly, we should all be taking this way more seriously than we do.
Why Dessert Deserves Its Own Holiday
Let’s be real: dessert is the main character. It’s the reason you power through that mediocre salad. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re stuck in back-to-back meetings. It’s the ultimate comfort food, celebration centerpiece, and “treat yourself” moment all rolled into one delicious package.
And yet, dessert gets a bad rap. People act like wanting a slice of chocolate cake makes you some kind of hedonist. We’re told to “save room” for dessert like it’s an afterthought instead of the grand finale it deserves to be.
Well, not on October 14th. On National Dessert Day, dessert takes center stage, judgment-free.
A Brief History Lesson (Don’t Worry, It’s Sweet)
The word “dessert” comes from the French word desservir, which means “to clear the table.” Basically, it’s the victory lap of dining. Ancient civilizations were already onto something good—Egyptians enjoyed honey-sweetened cakes, Romans had their custards and pastries, and medieval Europeans were going hard on fruit tarts and sweetmeats.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve got an embarrassment of riches: towering layer cakes, artisanal ice cream flavors that sound like indie band names, molecular gastronomy desserts that look like science experiments (in the best way), and everything in between.
How to Celebrate Like a Champion
Option 1: Go All Out Hit up that bakery you’ve been eyeing on Instagram. You know the one—with the croissants that look like they were handcrafted by angels and the cakes that are almost too pretty to eat. (Almost.) Order the most extra thing on the menu. Get it in multiple flavors. Live your best life.
Option 2: DIY It Pull up TikTok or YouTube and find a recipe that speaks to your soul. Maybe it’s those viral baked oats that taste like cookie dough. Maybe it’s a no-bake cheesecake because you respect your time. Maybe it’s a full-on three-layer cake because you’re feeling ambitious. The kitchen is your playground today.
Option 3: The Sampler Method Why choose one dessert when you can have five? Create your own dessert charcuterie board. Hit up multiple spots. Get a scoop of ice cream here, a cookie there, maybe a slice of pie for good measure. Variety is the spice of life, and on October 14th, that variety should be sugar-based.
Option 4: Breakfast Dessert (Yes, Really) Who made the rule that dessert comes after dinner? Not on National Dessert Day. Pancakes with whipped cream and berries. French toast with ice cream. That leftover birthday cake in your fridge. It’s all fair game before noon.
The Ultimate Dessert Power Rankings
Everyone has opinions, but here are some objective truths (okay, subjective, but I’ll die on these hills):
S-Tier: Warm chocolate chip cookies, quality tiramisu, anything involving salted caramel, fresh fruit tarts from actual bakeries, properly made crème brûlée with that satisfying crack
A-Tier: Cheesecake (all varieties), brownies (especially the fudgy ones), ice cream sundaes with the works, churros with chocolate sauce, lemon bars that make your face scrunch up in the best way
B-Tier: Cupcakes (when they’re good, they’re great; when they’re bad, they’re just disappointing), mousse, bread pudding, panna cotta, most grocery store cakes (we’ve all been there)
Controversial Take Tier: Black licorice anything (either you’re obsessed or you think it tastes like punishment), fruitcake (has a bad reputation but some versions actually slap), anything with fondant (pretty but does it taste good?)
Desserts Around the World Worth Trying
If you really want to celebrate, go international:
Japan: Mochi ice cream, fluffy Japanese cheesecake, or matcha anything France: Macarons, éclairs, or a proper tarte tatin Italy: Gelato (superior to regular ice cream, fight me), cannoli, or panna cotta Middle East: Baklava, kunafa, or halva Mexico: Tres leches cake, churros, or flan India: Gulab jamun, rasmalai, or kulfi USA: Apple pie, New York cheesecake, or basically any regional specialty that involves sugar
The Philosophy of Dessert
Here’s the thing: life is short, and it’s also kind of hard sometimes. Work is stressful. School is exhausting. The world is… a lot. So if a piece of cake or a scoop of ice cream brings you a moment of genuine joy, that matters.
National Dessert Day isn’t just about the food (though the food is pretty great). It’s about giving yourself permission to enjoy something purely for pleasure. It’s about sharing something sweet with people you care about. It’s about that little dopamine hit when you take the first bite of something absolutely delicious.
No Guilt, Just Vibes
Can we please retire the phrases “guilty pleasure” and “cheat day” when it comes to dessert? You’re not committing a crime by eating a brownie. You’re not cheating on anything. You’re literally just… eating food you enjoy. Revolutionary concept, I know.
Balance is important, sure. But balance also means not treating yourself like a villain every time you want something sweet. One day of dessert celebration isn’t going to derail anything. And honestly? Enjoying your food without shame is actually the healthiest mindset.
Make It Count
So here’s your assignment for October 14th: eat a dessert that makes you genuinely happy. Not something you feel like you “should” eat. Not something you’re only having because it’s “healthy.” Something that tastes absolutely incredible and makes you do that little happy dance in your seat.
Take a picture for the ‘gram if you want. Share it with friends. Eat it alone while watching your favorite show. However you choose to celebrate, just make sure you actually enjoy it.
Because National Dessert Day comes once a year, but the philosophy behind it—treating yourself with kindness and allowing yourself moments of pure enjoyment—that’s something we could all use a little more of, every single day.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some very important plans with a slice of chocolate cake that’s been calling my name.
What’s your go-to dessert? Drop your favorites in the comments and let’s settle the age-old debate: cake or pie? (Hint: the correct answer is both.)
Salt + Cedar Collective 