Pastries are a great choice to celebrate National Dessert Day. While this cake may be from Breka Bakery in Vancouver, B.C. similar options can be baked and bought in Calgary, AB.
October 14th is National Dessert Day. A day to celebrate the world’s diverse selection of sweet treats. Whether your personal favourite is a slice of apple pie or a scoop of rich ice cream, this holiday is the perfect time to sit down, relax and indulge. With this week (October 12-18 2026) being MRU’s Fall Reading Break, students are working hard on studies, research and assignments. To help lighten the mood, a survey was posted on social media to explore which dessert takes the cake as the most popular treat among Mount Royal’s student body, and to remind students about this fun upcoming holiday. Over the course of the last week, MRU students voted for their favourite sugary concoction .
History of Dessert
Michael Krondl, Food writer and former chef, published a book in 2011 called “Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert.” In his book, Krondl says that the earliest desserts were typically natural sweets such as honey, dates, fruit and nuts. As civilizations evolved, specifically in Ancient India, sugarcane started to expand and become widely available across the world. Thus producing the creation of sugar, treats and desserts. National Dessert Day falls into the Autumn season. A great time for confections to thrive in the cozy, snug fall atmosphere.
Observing National Dessert Day
The National Day Calendar gives some great tips and tricks to help dessert lovers participate in this exciting holiday. Amy Monette, the author of the article, breaks it down,
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Order Dessert First! Break the rules! Go to your favourite restaurant and start with dessert. You won’t regret it.
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Embark on a “Dessert Crawl.” Grab some friends and visit a few local bakeries, ice cream parlours, or chocolate shops. Sample a small treat from each one to find the best sweets in town.
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Host a Dessert Potluck. Who doesn’t want to go to a party that serves desserts only? Invite everyone to bring their signature dessert to share. It’s a wonderful way to taste a wide variety of treats and maybe even discover a new favourite recipe.
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Bake! Have you always wanted to make macarons, a perfect cheesecake, or a fancy crème brûlée? Today is the day to conquer that recipe!
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Share the Love. Bake a batch of your famous cookies and share them with neighbours, coworkers, or first responders. A sweet gift is a guaranteed way to brighten someone’s day.
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Share your sweet celebrations online using the hashtag #NationalDessertDay!
(Amy Monette, National Day Calendar. 2026.)
The Survey
Over 50 students at Mount Royal University chose to take part in our delectable assessment. All they had to do was answer one simple question: “What is your favourite dessert?”
Methods
Many desserts are commonly eaten in our society. These treats were chosen due to their popularity. Since no one should feel left out on this special day, an “Other” option was added for individuals missing their favourite morsel. The survey had eight answer options for students to choose from.
- Ice Cream
- Pie
- Cake
- Cookies
- Tiramisu
- Chocolate
- Candy
- Other: _______
The survey was open from Tuesday, October 6, 2026, to Saturday, October 9, 2026.
Results
The survey came back with a total participant count of 59 people. In the “Other” category, brownies, creme brûlée and cheesecake were added to the mix. Let’s take a look at which dessert takes the cake in popularity:
- Each with one response (1.7 per cent): Brownies, cheesecake and creme brûlée
- Each with three responses (5.1 per cent): Candy and pie
- Fifth place, with a total of six responses (10.2 per cent): Chocolate
- Fourth place, with a total of seven responses (11.9 per cent): Cake
- Third place, with a total of eight responses (13.6 per cent): Tiramisu
- Second place, with a total of 11 responses (18.6 per cent): Cookies
- First place, with a total of 18 responses (30.5 per cent): Ice Cream
Based on the results, Ice Cream is the most popular among students at Mount Royal. For more detailed insight, feel free to look at the detailed sheet summarizing the survey.
Summary
Take a break from life’s overstimulating problems and celebrate National Dessert Day on October 14th, 2026. Even though MRU chose ice cream as its overall favourite dessert, that doesn’t mean you have to eat it to participate. Put down your laptop, take a deep breath and go get that delicious delicacy. When that sugar hits your taste buds, suddenly your shoulders will loosen up, and you’ll feel relaxed. Happy National Dessert Day, MRU. Don’t forget to use #NationalDessertDay! on social media.
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