National Pie Day 2027 is on Saturday, January 23, 2027. It is a food celebration, not a public holiday, and its only rule is a delicious one: bake, buy, share, or simply eat a slice of pie. The day is fixed on January 23 every year, so it never moves — and in 2027 it lands on a Saturday, which makes a pie tasting, a bake-off, or a bakery visit especially easy to plan.
If you enjoy food celebrations, you may also like National Popcorn Day 2027 and National Brownie Day 2026, and for the festive season, see Best Christmas Movies and the site’s Christmas 2026 main guide.
In This Article
When Is National Pie Day 2027?
National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23. Here are the next few dates:
| 2027 — January 23, Saturday |
| 2028 — January 23, Sunday |
| 2029 — January 23, Tuesday |
Because the date is fixed, you can plan ahead. It is not a federal holiday, so schools, offices, and shops follow their normal hours on the day.
The Birthday Story Behind January 23
National Pie Day did not start in a boardroom. In the mid-1970s, Charlie Papazian — a nuclear engineer turned elementary school teacher in Boulder, Colorado — told his students that he preferred pie to cake on his birthday.
He declared his own birthday, January 23, to be National Pie Day, purely for fun, and registered it with Chase’s Calendar of Events. Registration needed a sponsoring organization, so Papazian wrote in a name he invented on the spot: the American Pie Council, with his own home telephone number as its contact.
The council later became a real organization, and it is widely cited as having sponsored and promoted National Pie Day since 1986. That 1986 date is the one most listings repeat; the day itself, though, is older — a classroom joke from the 1970s that stuck.
Papazian went on to become far better known for something else: he founded the American Homebrewers Association and wrote The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, a book that helped spark American craft brewing. Pie was his side passion — and, fittingly, the one that gave January a dessert holiday.
National Pie Day Is Not Pi Day
This is the mix-up to clear up first, because it comes up every January. National Pie Day on January 23 celebrates the food: crust, filling, and a slice on a plate. Pi Day on March 14 celebrates the mathematical constant pi (3.14), and it just happens to inspire a lot of pie puns as well. So: January 23 is for eating pie. March 14 is for maths — with pie on the side if you like. They are two different days, and neither replaces the other.
Sweet or Savory? A Quick Map of Pies Worth Trying
One reason the day works so well is that “pie” covers almost every taste.
- Apple pie — the classic, especially with a lattice top, cinnamon, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Cherry pie — tart, bright, and best with sour cherries when you can find them.
- Pecan pie — rich, sweet, and unmistakably Southern.
- Pumpkin pie — a winter favorite that carries well past the holidays into January.
- Key lime pie — cool, tangy, and a good contrast to a cold January day.
- Chicken pot pie — the savory answer: flaky crust over chicken, vegetables, and gravy.
- Shepherd’s pie and quiche — savory cousins that count in spirit, even if purists debate the crust.
If you only try one thing on National Pie Day 2027, make it the pie you have never baked before. The day rewards curiosity more than perfection.
How to Celebrate National Pie Day 2027
- Bake one pie from scratch. Start with a single-crust fruit pie if you are new to pastry. Keep the butter cold, add ice water a spoonful at a time, do not overwork the dough, and let it rest in the fridge before rolling. A slightly imperfect crust still tastes wonderful warm from the oven.
- Host a small pie tasting. Ask each guest to bring a different pie, label them, and score them on crust, filling, and creativity. Three to five pies is plenty for a tasting.
- Swap recipes, not just slices. Old family recipe cards often say things like “bake until done.” Testing one together, and writing down what actually worked, is a lovely way to preserve a family method.
- Support a local bakery. January is a slow month for many small bakeries. Buying a whole pie, or a few slices to share at work, supports a local baker and lets you try a filling you would never make at home, such as sour cherry, sweet potato, or butterscotch.
- Share slices beyond your table. Deliver a pie to neighbours, teachers, coworkers, or a local community group. Pie travels well, freezes well, and is an easy kindness in midwinter.
- Run a friendly bake-off. Categories that keep it fun: best crust, most creative filling, best savory pie, and best first attempt. Judge by taste, not by looks alone.
- Post it with a pun. If you share a photo, #NationalPieDay is the hashtag most people use. Captions that work: “Cutie pie reporting for duty,” “You’re the apple of my pie,” and “In crust we trust” — the American Pie Council’s old slogan.
A Simple Apple Pie Outline for Beginners
You do not need a complicated recipe to join in. This outline covers the shape of a classic double-crust apple pie:
- Make or buy pastry for a double crust, and chill it.
- Peel, core, and slice about six to seven apples; toss with sugar, cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, lemon juice, and a spoonful of flour or cornstarch.
- Line a pie dish with the bottom crust, fill it with the apples, and dot with small pieces of butter.
- Top with a second crust or a lattice, crimp the edges, and cut vents if you use a full top.
- Bake until the crust is deep golden and the filling bubbles — usually around an hour at a moderate oven temperature, following your chosen recipe’s exact time and temperature.
- Cool before slicing, or the filling will run. Serve warm, ideally with ice cream or cream.
That is the whole idea: fruit, spice, crust, heat, patience.
National Pie Day Wishes, Messages, and Captions
Short, sweet, and ready to send on January 23: “Happy National Pie Day! May your crust be flaky and your filling be generous.” / “Life is short — eat the pie first.” / “Wishing you a slice of happiness on National Pie Day 2027.” / “You are the apple of my pie — happy January 23!” / “In crust we trust. Happy National Pie Day!” / “Sending you warm pie and warmer wishes today.”
National Pie Day 2027: Deals and Offers
No 2027 National Pie Day deals or offers are listed here, because none were verified from official sources at the time of writing (November 4, 2026). Chain and bakery promotions for January 23 are usually announced much closer to the date, so check your local bakery or favorite pie shop in January 2027 rather than trusting an unverified list now. If a deal is not confirmed on the seller’s own site or menu, treat it as a rumor, not a promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Pie Day 2027? Saturday, January 23, 2027. The day is fixed on January 23 every year.
Who created National Pie Day? Charlie Papazian, a Boulder, Colorado teacher, declared his January 23 birthday to be National Pie Day in the mid-1970s. The American Pie Council later sponsored and promoted it.
Is National Pie Day a public holiday? No. It is an unofficial food observance. Workplaces, schools, and shops keep normal hours on January 23.
Is National Pie Day the same as Pi Day? No. National Pie Day (January 23) celebrates the food. Pi Day (March 14) celebrates the mathematical constant pi.
Do savory pies count on National Pie Day? Yes. Sweet pies get most of the attention, but chicken pot pie, quiche, and other savory pies are fully part of the day.
What is the most popular pie in America? Apple pie is the classic answer, and the one most associated with the day — but cherry, pecan, and pumpkin all have strong followings, and the “most popular” title varies by survey and region, so pick your own favorite.
What is the best way to celebrate National Pie Day? Bake a pie, share slices, visit a local bakery, or host a tasting. The simplest celebration — one pie, shared with people you like — is also the best.