National Dessert Day, observed annually on October 14th, serves as a designated opportunity for consumers to access discounted and complimentary sweet treats from a variety of restaurant chains and food retailers. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Tuesday, prompting numerous brands to release promotional offers spanning free items with purchase, percentage-based discounts, and BOGO (buy one, get one) incentives. These offers are largely structured through loyalty programs and mobile applications, requiring specific consumer actions to redeem rewards.
The scope of participation varies by brand, with some offers valid exclusively on October 14th, while others extend throughout the surrounding week. Eligibility requirements differ; some promotions are universally available, while others mandate enrollment in rewards programs or specific purchase thresholds.
Confirmed Freebies and Discounted Offers
Based on available promotional materials for the 2025 observance, several major food chains have outlined specific terms for National Dessert Day. The following offers have been verified through official brand announcements and promotional landing pages.
Burger King
Burger King offers a complimentary order of Cini Minis with a minimum purchase of $3.00. This promotion is valid for National Dessert Day on October 14th. The offer requires a transaction value of at least $3.00 to trigger the free item.
Taco Cabana
Taco Cabana provides a free small order of sopapillas to customers who purchase two or more tacos on October 14th. This offer is restricted to members of the "My TC!" rewards program. The free sopapillas are available only with the purchase of the requisite taco items.
Tijuana Flats
Tijuana Flats offers a free 3-piece cookie dough flautas item with the purchase of any adult entrée. This promotion is valid through October 18th, 2025. To redeem the offer, customers must use the promo code "DESSERTS25."
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory offers half-priced desserts (including slices of cheesecake, cake, or ice cream) for members of the Cheesecake Rewards® program. This promotion is valid from October 13th through October 16th, 2025. Rewards members may redeem the offer via dine-in, online pickup, or delivery through DoorDash.
McAlister’s Deli
McAlister’s Deli provides a complimentary dessert with a minimum purchase of $5.00 (excluding taxes and fees) to new members of the McAlister’s Rewards program. The sign-up window for this offer is October 8th through October 14th, 2025. The reward appears in the "My Rewards" section of the McAlister’s app under "Special Offers." The offer is single-use, valid only at participating locations, and cannot be combined with other offers or third-party delivery orders. A service fee applies to online and in-app orders.
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box offers a free order of mini churros with a purchase of at least $1.00. This deal is available on National Dessert Day.
KFC
KFC offers a free four-piece order of Cherry Pie Poppers with a purchase of $1.00 or more. This offer is valid only when ordering online or through the KFC app.
Zaxby’s
Zaxby’s is offering half-price discounts on all shakes (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Birthday Cake flavors) through October 26th, 2025. This promotion extends beyond the specific holiday date.
Beef-A-Roo
Beef-A-Roo offers all desserts for $1.00 on October 14th, 2025. This is a flat-rate discount valid for one day only.
Bruster’s
Bruster’s offers $2.00 off sundaes on October 14th, 2025. This discount is valid for one day only.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Nothing Bundt Cakes offers a BOGO (Buy One, Get One) free deal on Bundtlets through October 19th, 2025. Customers must use the promo code "OCTBOGO25" to access this offer.
Baskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins offers a free regular-sized scoop of ice cream. To redeem this offer, consumers must download the Baskin-Robbins mobile application. This offer is available to California consumers based on the source data, though national availability of app-based rewards is common.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen offers a free small Blizzard Treat. Similar to Baskin-Robbins, this offer requires the download of the Dairy Queen mobile application to access deals.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme offers a free doughnut to consumers who sign up for the "Simple & Sweet" rewards program. This offer is available to new enrollees.
Mimi’s Cafe
Mimi’s Cafe offers a free two-pack of muffins or croissants to customers who join the Mimi’s eClub. This offer is available to new members of the email club.
Loyalty Program Requirements and Redemption Rules
A significant portion of National Dessert Day offers are gated behind loyalty program enrollment or mobile app usage. Brands utilize these platforms to track consumer behavior and incentivize digital engagement.
- App-Exclusive Offers: Brands such as Baskin-Robbins, Dairy Queen, KFC, and McAlister’s Deli require the use of their proprietary mobile applications to access free items or discounts. Consumers must download the app, create an account, and locate the offer in the "Rewards" or "Special Offers" section.
- Sign-Up Deadlines: McAlister’s Deli imposes a specific sign-up window (October 8th – October 14th) for their National Dessert Day reward. Consumers attempting to join the program after October 14th will not receive the specific holiday dessert reward.
- Redemption Methods: The Cheesecake Factory allows rewards members to redeem half-priced desserts through multiple channels: in-store dining, online pickup, or third-party delivery (DoorDash). Conversely, McAlister’s Deli excludes third-party delivery services from their promotional offer.
- Purchase Thresholds: Many offers require a minimum financial commitment to trigger the freebie. For example, Burger King requires a $3.00 purchase, Taco Cabana requires the purchase of two tacos, and Zaxby’s requires a $5.00 purchase for their funnel cake promotion (though the shake discount is standalone).
Extended Promotions and Sweepstakes
Some National Dessert Day promotions extend beyond a single day or involve sweepstakes elements rather than direct point-of-sale discounts.
Kilwins Sweepstakes
Kilwins is hosting an Instagram-based sweepstakes from October 14th through October 19th, 2025. Participants who follow the official @Kilwins account and tag a friend in a comment on the official sweepstakes post are entered to win. Ten winners will receive a $50 Kilwins eGift Card.
Edwards Desserts Giveaway
Edwards Desserts is running a contest through October 14th, offering participants a chance to win 25,000 free slices of pie. Entries are submitted via the Edwards website.
Tijuana Flats Cookie Dough Flautas
While Tijuana Flats offers the cookie dough flautas as a free item with entrée purchase, the validity period extends through October 18th, allowing consumers to redeem the deal after the actual holiday date.
Geographical and Participating Location Variations
The provided source data highlights that promotional availability can vary by region and specific location. Consumers are advised to verify participation before traveling to a specific venue.
- California Specifics: Source data regarding Baskin-Robbins, Dairy Queen, and Mimi’s Cafe originates from a California-centric news report. While these brands operate nationally, the specific "free scoop" or "free Blizzard" mechanics described were noted in the context of California consumers downloading the app.
- Participating Locations: McAlister’s Deli explicitly states that their dessert offer is valid only at "participating locations." The Cheesecake Factory offer is valid at locations offering Cheesecake Rewards® participation.
- Local Verification: Consumers are encouraged to contact local stores or check the specific landing pages for the "Find a Location" features to ensure their local franchise is honoring the national promotion.
Exclusions and Limitations
Several offers come with specific exclusions that limit their utility. Understanding these terms is necessary to avoid confusion at the point of sale.
- Tax and Fee Exclusions: The McAlister’s Deli free dessert offer requires a $5.00 purchase "excluding taxes and fees." This means the subtotal of eligible food items must reach $5.00, but the tax and service fees do not count toward the threshold.
- Service Fees: McAlister’s Deli notes that a service fee applies to online and in-app orders, which is separate from the promotional value of the free dessert.
- Combining Offers: McAlister’s Deli prohibits combining the free dessert offer with other offers or rewards. The Cheesecake Factory offer is exclusive to rewards members and cannot be combined with other coupons unless specified.
- Third-Party Delivery: McAlister’s Deli explicitly excludes third-party delivery services (like UberEats or DoorDash) from their National Dessert Day promotion, even though The Cheesecake Factory allows DoorDash redemption.
Conclusion
National Dessert Day 2025 offers a diverse array of promotional opportunities, ranging from app-based free scoops of ice cream to BOGO deals on bundt cakes and significant discounts on sit-down restaurant desserts. The most valuable offers—such as the complimentary dessert at McAlister’s Deli and the half-priced slices at The Cheesecake Factory—are tied strictly to loyalty program membership, necessitating advance registration or app download. Consumers looking to maximize these deals should prioritize signing up for rewards programs prior to October 14th, verify that their local locations are participating, and carefully review purchase thresholds and exclusion policies.