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National Indian Pudding Day

Food · November 13

A day for Indian pudding, the old New England dessert of cornmeal, milk and molasses baked slowly until thick, dark and spiced.

National Indian Pudding Day falls on Friday, November 13, 2026. That is 17 days away.

Indian pudding is a baked dessert made from cornmeal, milk and molasses, usually warmed with ginger and cinnamon. It comes from New England, where early colonists adapted English hasty pudding using cornmeal, which they called Indian meal.

The texture surprises people. It is soft and loose, closer to a thick porridge than a set custard, and the color runs from amber to deep brown depending on how much molasses goes in. The flavor is earthy and sweet without being sugary, with a slight graininess from the corn.

It takes patience. Most recipes cook the cornmeal and milk on the stove first, then bake the pudding at a low temperature for a couple of hours. Some cooks pour cold milk over the top partway through, which helps keep the inside creamy. The kitchen smells like gingerbread long before it is done.

It is traditionally served warm, often with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into it or a spoonful of whipped cream. Old New England restaurants and inns sometimes keep it on the menu in colder months, and home cooks tend to bring it out in autumn.

Leftovers firm up in the refrigerator overnight, and plenty of people like a cold spoonful straight from the dish the next morning.

Ways to celebrate

• Bake a pan of Indian pudding and serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.
• Look for Indian pudding on the menu at an old-style New England restaurant.
• Ask an older relative whether they remember eating it growing up.
• Try adding a little extra ginger or nutmeg to a basic recipe.
• Share a warm bowl with a neighbor on a chilly evening.

Dates

All national days on November 13

Also on November 13

• Sadie Hawkins Day
• World Kindness Day

Categories: Food days