National Indian Pudding Day 2026

History & origins

National Indian Pudding Day falls on November 13. It is an informal U.S. food observance rather than an official government holiday, and the exact founder is unclear.

Indian pudding is a New England baked pudding made with cornmeal (historically called “Indian meal” in English colonial usage because maize came from Indigenous agriculture), milk or cream, molasses, and spices such as ginger or cinnamon, baked long and low until thick. The name reflects colonial English vocabulary for cornmeal dishes, not a specific Indigenous recipe trademark — and the dish as printed in early American cookbooks is a settler adaptation using molasses from Atlantic trade. It is unrelated to the cuisine of India the country.

The November date fits the cool-weather dessert season. Do not invent a royal proclamation; the food day is informal.

Why it matters

Indian pudding is regional memory food — slow, molasses-dark, and easy to skip if you only know pumpkin pie. The day keeps a New England classic on the menu.

How to celebrate

Bake a casserole of cornmeal, milk, molasses, and spice for several hours at low heat, or order it at a New England restaurant that still serves it. Top with vanilla ice cream — a common modern pairing. Read a historic recipe side by side with a modern one. Explain the “Indian meal” cornmeal naming carefully and respectfully.

Facts

• Indian pudding is a New England baked dessert of cornmeal, milk, and molasses
• “Indian meal” in colonial English referred to cornmeal from maize
• The dish is not a dessert from the country of India
• The food-day founder is unclear; the observance is informal
• It is not a U.S. federal holiday

Upcoming dates

• Friday, November 13, 2026
• Saturday, November 13, 2027
• Monday, November 13, 2028
• Tuesday, November 13, 2029
• Wednesday, November 13, 2030