diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/config/schema/datetime.schema.yml b/core/modules/datetime/config/schema/datetime.schema.yml
index 4074ff2..05e9fc8 100644
--- a/core/modules/datetime/config/schema/datetime.schema.yml
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/config/schema/datetime.schema.yml
@@ -9,15 +9,10 @@ field.datetime.settings:
       label: 'Date type'
 
 field.datetime.instance_settings:
-  type: mapping
-  label: 'Datetime settings'
-  mapping:
-    default_value:
-      type: string
-      label: 'Default date'
-    user_register_form:
-      type: boolean
-      label: 'Display on user registration form.'
+  type: sequence
+  label: 'Settings'
+  sequence:
+    - type: string
 
 field.datetime.value:
   type: sequence
diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/datetime.module b/core/modules/datetime/datetime.module
index 78f1874..ccf1a0c 100644
--- a/core/modules/datetime/datetime.module
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/datetime.module
@@ -168,48 +168,6 @@ function datetime_datelist_widget_validate(&$element, &$form_state) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Sets a default value for an empty date field.
- *
- * Callback for $instance['default_value_function'], as implemented by
- * Drupal\datetime\Plugin\Field\FieldWidget\DateTimeDatepicker.
- *
- * @param $entity_type
- *
- * @param $entity
- *
- * @param array $field
- *
- * @param array $instance
- *
- * @param $langcode
- *
- *
- * @return array
- *
- */
-function datetime_default_value($entity, $field, $instance, $langcode) {
-
-  $value = '';
-  $date = '';
-  if ($instance->getFieldSetting('default_value') == 'now') {
-    // A default value should be in the format and timezone used for date
-    // storage.
-    $date = new DrupalDateTime('now', DATETIME_STORAGE_TIMEZONE);
-    $storage_format = $field->getFieldSetting('datetime_type') == 'date' ? DATETIME_DATE_STORAGE_FORMAT: DATETIME_DATETIME_STORAGE_FORMAT;
-    $value = $date->format($storage_format);
-  }
-
-  // We only provide a default value for the first item, as do all fields.
-  // Otherwise, there is no way to clear out unwanted values on multiple value
-  // fields.
-  $item = array();
-  $item[0]['value'] = $value;
-  $item[0]['date'] = $date;
-
-  return $item;
-}
-
-/**
  * Sets a consistent time on a date without time.
  *
  * The default time for a date without time can be anything, so long as it is
diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeFieldItemList.php b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeFieldItemList.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9602621
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeFieldItemList.php
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Contains \Drupal\datetime\Plugin\Field\FieldType\DateTimeFieldItemList.
+ */
+
+namespace Drupal\datetime\Plugin\Field\FieldType;
+
+use Drupal\Core\Datetime\DrupalDateTime;
+use Drupal\Core\Field\ConfigFieldItemList;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a configurable entity datetime field.
+ */
+class DateTimeFieldItemList extends ConfigFieldItemList {
+
+  /**
+   * Defines the default value as now.
+   */
+  const DEFAULT_VALUE_NOW = 'now';
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function defaultValuesForm(array &$form, array &$form_state) {
+    if (empty($this->getFieldDefinition()->default_value_function)) {
+      $default_value = $this->getFieldDefinition()->default_value;
+
+      $element = array(
+        '#parents' => array('default_value_input'),
+        'default_date' => array(
+          '#type' => 'select',
+          '#title' => t('Default date'),
+          '#description' => t('Set a default value for this date.'),
+          '#default_value' => isset($default_value[0]['default_date']) ? $default_value[0]['default_date'] : '',
+          '#options' => array(static::DEFAULT_VALUE_NOW => t('The current date')),
+          '#empty_value' => '',
+        )
+      );
+
+      return $element;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function defaultValuesFormValidate(array $element, array &$form, array &$form_state) { }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function defaultValuesFormSubmit(array $element, array &$form, array &$form_state) {
+    if ($form_state['values']['default_value_input']['default_date']) {
+      return array($form_state['values']['default_value_input']);
+    }
+    return array();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function getDefaultValue() {
+    $default_value = parent::getDefaultValue();
+
+    if (isset($default_value[0]['default_date']) && $default_value[0]['default_date'] == static::DEFAULT_VALUE_NOW) {
+      // A default value should be in the format and timezone used for date
+      // storage.
+      $date = new DrupalDateTime('now', DATETIME_STORAGE_TIMEZONE);
+      $storage_format = $this->getFieldDefinition()->getFieldSetting('datetime_type') == DateTimeItem::DATETIME_TYPE_DATE ? DATETIME_DATE_STORAGE_FORMAT: DATETIME_DATETIME_STORAGE_FORMAT;
+      $value = $date->format($storage_format);
+      // We only provide a default value for the first item, as do all fields.
+      // Otherwise, there is no way to clear out unwanted values on multiple value
+      // fields.
+      $default_value =  array(
+        array(
+          'value' => $value,
+          'date' => $date,
+        )
+      );
+    }
+    return $default_value;
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeItem.php b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeItem.php
index 3fbcca1..dc2c201 100644
--- a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeItem.php
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldType/DateTimeItem.php
@@ -23,16 +23,24 @@
  *   settings = {
  *     "datetime_type" = "datetime"
  *   },
- *   instance_settings = {
- *     "default_value" = "now"
- *   },
  *   default_widget = "datetime_default",
- *   default_formatter = "datetime_default"
+ *   default_formatter = "datetime_default",
+ *   list_class = "\Drupal\datetime\Plugin\Field\FieldType\DateTimeFieldItemList"
  * )
  */
 class DateTimeItem extends ConfigFieldItemBase implements PrepareCacheInterface {
 
   /**
+   * Value for the 'datetime_type' setting: store only a date.
+   */
+  const DATETIME_TYPE_DATE = 'date';
+
+  /**
+   * Value for the 'datetime_type' setting: store a date and time.
+   */
+  const DATETIME_TYPE_DATETIME = 'datetime';
+
+  /**
    * Field definitions of the contained properties.
    *
    * @var array
@@ -89,8 +97,8 @@ public function settingsForm(array $form, array &$form_state, $has_data) {
       '#description' => t('Choose the type of date to create.'),
       '#default_value' => $this->getFieldSetting('datetime_type'),
       '#options' => array(
-        'datetime' => t('Date and time'),
-        'date' => t('Date only'),
+        static::DATETIME_TYPE_DATETIME => t('Date and time'),
+        static::DATETIME_TYPE_DATE => t('Date only'),
       ),
     );
 
@@ -100,24 +108,6 @@ public function settingsForm(array $form, array &$form_state, $has_data) {
   /**
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
-  public function instanceSettingsForm(array $form, array &$form_state) {
-    $element = array();
-
-    $element['default_value'] = array(
-      '#type' => 'select',
-      '#title' => t('Default date'),
-      '#description' => t('Set a default value for this date.'),
-      '#default_value' => $this->getFieldSetting('default_value'),
-      '#options' => array('blank' => t('No default value'), 'now' => t('The current date')),
-      '#weight' => 1,
-    );
-
-    return $element;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc}
-   */
   public function getCacheData() {
     $data = $this->getValue();
     // The function generates a Date object for each field early so that it is
diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDatelistWidget.php b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDatelistWidget.php
index 667fbff..98c3f05 100644
--- a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDatelistWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDatelistWidget.php
@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@
 
 use Drupal\Core\Field\FieldItemListInterface;
 use Drupal\Core\Field\WidgetBase;
-use Drupal\Core\Field\FieldDefinitionInterface;
-use Drupal\field\FieldInstanceInterface;
-use Drupal\datetime\DateHelper;
+use Drupal\datetime\Plugin\Field\FieldType\DateTimeItem;
 
 /**
  * Plugin implementation of the 'datetime_datelist' widget.
@@ -33,29 +31,6 @@ class DateTimeDatelistWidget extends WidgetBase {
   /**
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
-  public function __construct($plugin_id, array $plugin_definition, FieldDefinitionInterface $field_definition, array $settings) {
-    // Identify the function used to set the default value.
-    // @todo Make this work for both configurable and nonconfigurable fields:
-    //   https://drupal.org/node/1989468.
-    if ($field_definition instanceof FieldInstanceInterface) {
-      $field_definition->default_value_function = $this->defaultValueFunction();
-    }
-    parent::__construct($plugin_id, $plugin_definition, $field_definition, $settings);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Returns the callback used to set a date default value.
-   *
-   * @return string
-   *   The name of the callback to use when setting a default date value.
-   */
-  public function defaultValueFunction() {
-    return 'datetime_default_value';
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc}
-   */
   public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $element, array &$form, array &$form_state) {
     $date_order = $this->getSetting('date_order');
     $time_type = $this->getSetting('time_type');
@@ -74,7 +49,7 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
 
     // Identify the type of date and time elements to use.
     switch ($this->getFieldSetting('datetime_type')) {
-      case 'date':
+      case DateTimeItem::DATETIME_TYPE_DATE:
         $storage_format = DATETIME_DATE_STORAGE_FORMAT;
         $type_type = 'none';
         break;
diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDefaultWidget.php b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDefaultWidget.php
index 7f9708a..9389a71 100644
--- a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDefaultWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/DatetimeDefaultWidget.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 use Drupal\Core\Field\FieldItemListInterface;
 use Drupal\Core\Field\WidgetBase;
 use Drupal\Core\Field\FieldDefinitionInterface;
-use Drupal\field\FieldInstanceInterface;
+use Drupal\datetime\Plugin\Field\FieldType\DateTimeItem;
 
 /**
  * Plugin implementation of the 'datetime_default' widget.
@@ -35,12 +35,6 @@ class DateTimeDefaultWidget extends WidgetBase {
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   public function __construct($plugin_id, array $plugin_definition, FieldDefinitionInterface $field_definition, array $settings) {
-    // Identify the function used to set the default value.
-    // @todo Make this work for both configurable and nonconfigurable fields:
-    //   https://drupal.org/node/1989468.
-    if ($field_definition instanceof FieldInstanceInterface) {
-      $field_definition->default_value_function = $this->defaultValueFunction();
-    }
     parent::__construct($plugin_id, $plugin_definition, $field_definition, $settings);
 
     // @todo Inject this once https://drupal.org/node/2035317 is in.
@@ -48,16 +42,6 @@ public function __construct($plugin_id, array $plugin_definition, FieldDefinitio
   }
 
   /**
-   * Return the callback used to set a date default value.
-   *
-   * @return string
-   *   The name of the callback to use when setting a default date value.
-   */
-  public function defaultValueFunction() {
-    return 'datetime_default_value';
-  }
-
-  /**
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $element, array &$form, array &$form_state) {
@@ -75,7 +59,7 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
 
     // Identify the type of date and time elements to use.
     switch ($this->getFieldSetting('datetime_type')) {
-      case 'date':
+      case DateTimeItem::DATETIME_TYPE_DATE:
         $date_type = 'date';
         $time_type = 'none';
         $date_format = $this->dateStorage->load('html_date')->getPattern($format_type);
@@ -117,7 +101,7 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
       // The date was created and verified during field_load(), so it is safe to
       // use without further inspection.
       $date->setTimezone(new \DateTimeZone($element['value']['#date_timezone']));
-      if ($this->getFieldSetting('datetime_type') == 'date') {
+      if ($this->getFieldSetting('datetime_type') == DateTimeItem::DATETIME_TYPE_DATE) {
         // A date without time will pick up the current time, use the default
         // time.
         datetime_date_default_time($date);
diff --git a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Tests/DatetimeFieldTest.php b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Tests/DateTimeFieldTest.php
similarity index 82%
rename from core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Tests/DatetimeFieldTest.php
rename to core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Tests/DateTimeFieldTest.php
index 5bee2e3..c2ec068 100644
--- a/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Tests/DatetimeFieldTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/datetime/lib/Drupal/datetime/Tests/DateTimeFieldTest.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 /**
  * Tests Datetime field functionality.
  */
-class DatetimeFieldTest extends WebTestBase {
+class DateTimeFieldTest extends WebTestBase {
 
   /**
    * Modules to enable.
@@ -48,9 +48,11 @@ function setUp() {
     parent::setUp();
 
     $web_user = $this->drupalCreateUser(array(
+      'access content',
       'view test entity',
       'administer entity_test content',
       'administer content types',
+      'administer node fields',
     ));
     $this->drupalLogin($web_user);
 
@@ -66,9 +68,6 @@ function setUp() {
       'field_name' => $this->field->name,
       'entity_type' => 'entity_test',
       'bundle' => 'entity_test',
-      'settings' => array(
-        'default_value' => 'blank',
-      ),
     ));
     $this->instance->save();
 
@@ -292,40 +291,67 @@ function testDatelistWidget() {
    * Test default value functionality.
    */
   function testDefaultValue() {
+    // Create a test content type.
+    $this->drupalCreateContentType(array('type' => 'date_content'));
 
-    // Change the field to a datetime field.
-    $this->field->settings['datetime_type'] = 'datetime';
-    $this->field->save();
-    $field_name = $this->field->name;
+    // Create a field with settings to validate.
+    $field = entity_create('field_entity', array(
+      'name' => drupal_strtolower($this->randomName()),
+      'entity_type' => 'node',
+      'type' => 'datetime',
+      'settings' => array('datetime_type' => 'date'),
+    ));
+    $field->save();
 
-    // Set the default value to 'now'.
-    $this->instance->settings['default_value'] = 'now';
-    $this->instance->default_value_function = 'datetime_default_value';
-    $this->instance->save();
+    $instance = entity_create('field_instance', array(
+      'field_name' => $field->name,
+      'entity_type' => 'node',
+      'bundle' => 'date_content',
+    ));
+    $instance->save();
 
-    // Display creation form.
-    $date = new DrupalDateTime();
-    $date_format = 'Y-m-d';
-    $this->drupalGet('entity_test/add');
+    // Set now as default_value.
+    $instance_edit = array(
+      'default_value_input[default_date]' => 'now',
+    );
+    $this->drupalPostForm('admin/structure/types/manage/date_content/fields/node.date_content.' . $field->name, $instance_edit, t('Save settings'));
 
-    // See if current date is set. We cannot test for the precise time because
-    // it may be a few seconds between the time the comparison date is created
-    // and the form date, so we just test the date and that the time is not
-    // empty.
-    $this->assertFieldByName("{$field_name}[0][value][date]", $date->format($date_format), 'Date element found.');
-    $this->assertNoFieldByName("{$field_name}[0][value][time]", '', 'Time element found.');
+    // Check that default value is selected in default value form.
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/structure/types/manage/date_content/fields/node.date_content.' . $field->name);
+    $this->assertRaw('<option value="now" selected="selected">The current date</option>', 'The default value is selected in instance settings page');
 
-    // Set the default value to 'blank'.
-    $this->instance->settings['default_value'] = 'blank';
-    $this->instance->default_value_function = 'datetime_default_value';
-    $this->instance->save();
+    // Check if default_date has been stored successfully.
+    $config_entity = $this->container->get('config.factory')->get('field.instance.node.date_content.' . $field->name)->get();
+    $this->assertEqual($config_entity['default_value'][0]['default_date'], 'now', 'Default value has been stored succesfully');
 
-    // Display creation form.
-    $this->drupalGet('entity_test/add');
+    // Clean field_info cache in order to avoid stale cache values.
+    field_info_cache_clear();
 
-    // See that no date is set.
-    $this->assertFieldByName("{$field_name}[0][value][date]", '', 'Date element found.');
-    $this->assertFieldByName("{$field_name}[0][value][time]", '', 'Time element found.');
+    // Create a new node to check that datetime field default value is today.
+    $new_node = entity_create('node', array('type' => 'date_content'));
+    $expected_date = new DrupalDateTime('now', DATETIME_STORAGE_TIMEZONE);
+    $this->assertEqual($new_node->get($field->name)->offsetGet(0)->value, $expected_date->format(DATETIME_DATE_STORAGE_FORMAT));
+
+    // Remove default value.
+    $instance_edit = array(
+      'default_value_input[default_date]' => '',
+    );
+    $this->drupalPostForm('admin/structure/types/manage/date_content/fields/node.date_content.' . $field->name, $instance_edit, t('Save settings'));
+
+    // Check that default value is selected in default value form.
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/structure/types/manage/date_content/fields/node.date_content.' . $field->name);
+    $this->assertRaw('<option value="" selected="selected">' . t('- None -') . '</option>', 'The default value is selected in instance settings page');
+
+    // Check if default_date has been stored successfully.
+    $config_entity = $this->container->get('config.factory')->get('field.instance.node.date_content.' . $field->name)->get();
+    $this->assertTrue(empty($config_entity['default_value']), 'Empty default value has been stored succesfully');
+
+    // Clean field_info cache in order to avoid stale cache values.
+    field_info_cache_clear();
+
+    // Create a new node to check that datetime field default value is today.
+    $new_node = entity_create('node', array('type' => 'date_content'));
+    $this->assertNull($new_node->get($field->name)->offsetGet(0)->value, 'Default value is not set');
   }
 
   /**