10 Easy Christmas Dessert Ideas to Attract More Customers at Your Bakery

TLDR

It's the season of sweetness! Christmas is all about indulging in colorful cookies, classic pies, and chocolate-filled cupcakes. But why stop there? As a bakery or sweets shop owner, wrap up the year on a sweet note by offering your customers a lineup of irresistible Christmas desserts. With Per Diem, make it a breeze for customers to savor these mouthwatering treats through easy pick-up or delivery. Let your bakery become the go-to destination this festive season, creating lasting memories for your customers.

Traditional Christmas Desserts Your Customers Will Love

Traditional Christmas desserts are a sure way to attract customers and spread holiday cheer. Offering classics like fruitcakes, cookies, and trifle will tap into nostalgia and warm memories of Christmases past.

Fruitcake, though divisive, is a quintessential holiday treat. Upscale bakeries like Florian Bellanger and Bouchon Bakery offer delectable versions bursting with candied fruit and nuts. Promote your fruitcake through social media and in-store displays.

Chocolate chip cookies are a universal favorite. Nothing says “welcome” like the smell of fresh-baked cookies. Bakeries such as Levain and Mrs. Fields gained fame through their cookie recipes. Run promotions where customers get a free cookie with any purchase.

Trifle, a layered dessert of cake, custard, and fruit, is a showstopper. As seen at Eileen's Special Cheesecake and The Cheesecake Factory, a trifle heaped with berries and topped with whipped cream is irresistible. Offer mini trifles for customers to sample in-store.

Doughnuts, brittle, chocolate babka, and hand pies also make wonderful Christmas treats. Use a user-friendly mobile app to promote your holiday menu. Send regular push updates for flash sales and coupons to drive customers to pre-order these desserts even before Christmas night arrives. 

With a menu featuring cherished Christmas classics and a smart marketing strategy, your bakery can spread sweetness to more customers this season. Whip up some holiday magic and watch your sales rise. After all, ‘tis the season for traditions, togetherness, and treats meant for sharing!

Easy Holiday Dessert Ideas From Famous Chains Like Carlo's and Chip City Cookies

No need to plan everything from scratch. Follow the lead of famous chains like Carlo’s and Chip City by featuring easy yet memorable options on your menu.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Red velvet cake sandwiched between two chocolate cookies—what's not to love? Carlo's Bakery offers red velvet whoopie pies that would be perfect for your Christmas menu. The festive color and familiar yet unique flavor will attract new and returning customers. You can even run a promotion offering a discount when customers buy a certain number.

Candy Corn Cookie

The ooey-gooey orange-colored sugar cookie with a yellow center, topped with vanilla glaze and candy corn is a crowd favorite. Chip City offers a weekly holiday-themed menu with a range of options. Promote your version on social media and offer samples in-store. Customers won't be able to resist!

Peppermint Bark Cheesecake

A peppermint cheesecake swirled with chocolate bark pieces is sure to get customers in the holiday spirit. The combination of cool peppermint and rich chocolate pairs perfectly with the creamy cheesecake base. Use the online ordering feature in the Per Diem app to enable customers to pre-order whole cheesecakes for holiday gatherings. Offer a discount or free delivery to incentivize pre-orders.

Eggnog Cupcakes

Buttery yellow cake soaked in eggnog and topped with eggnog buttercream—these cupcakes scream Christmas. The familiar yet decadent flavors of eggnog in cupcake form will have customers coming back for more. Capture photos of your eggnog cupcakes and share them on your platforms for some free advertising around the holidays. Your customers won't be able to resist these boozy little cakes!

Simple Christmas Menu Additions to Drive Sales

The Christmas season is the perfect time to attract new customers with irresistible holiday desserts. Adding a few simple but memorable options to your menu can drive sales and spread good cheer.

Classic Christmas Cookies

What’s more nostalgic than homemade Christmas cookies? Offer holiday cookie platters, gift boxes, or by-the-pound options featuring classics like sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, or gingerbread men. Decorate them on-site for an interactive experience customers will love sharing on social media. 

Peppermint Bark

Dark chocolate and peppermint are a match made in holiday heaven. Offer peppermint bark with layers of dark and white chocolate topped with crushed peppermint candy. Package it in Christmas-themed containers for easy gifting. Run a promotion on your app offering a free small coffee or hot chocolate with every peppermint bark order.

Yule Log

A classic Yule log or bûche de Noël makes a stunning centerpiece. Offer a Yule log made from chocolate sponge cake rolled with chocolate buttercream or ganache and decorated to look like a log. Top it off with powdered sugar ‘snow’, meringue mushrooms, and marzipan holly leaves. Run an in-app promotion for 10% off all whole Yule logs ordered before December 20th for the perfect Christmas crowning glory.

Simple yet memorable, these classic menu additions are sure to drive sales and spread good cheer this holiday season. 

Run an In-App Holiday Promotion Campaign

Being well-prepared for the holiday season goes beyond mastering your dishes. Success during the holidays involves implementing clever promotion strategies well before Christmas day. Here are some easily adoptable strategies that you can implement using your app.

Mastering The Menu

The app enables you to customize your menu featuring photos and descriptions of your holiday desserts like:

• Gingerbread Bundt Cake: A festive bundt cake flavored with molasses, ginger, and warm spices, topped with a sweet gingerbread glaze and crushed candy canes.
• Peppermint Bark Cheesecake: A creamy cheesecake swirled with peppermint bark and topped with a rich dark chocolate ganache.
• Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies: Homemade sugar cookies cut in the shape of Christmas trees, decorated with colorful icing for the holidays.

‍Clever Promotion Strategies

You can promote your Christmas menu through the app with features like push notifications and in-app promotional banners. Timely and consistent messages will keep the customers waiting for your holiday deals. 

‍First Purchase Perks

To attract new customers, offer an appetizing promotion like 15% off on all Christmas dessert pre-orders placed through the app or a free cookie on your first download. These types of digital marketing campaigns, combined with an easy mobile ordering experience, will drive more sales and help you make the most of the Christmas season.

Make this Christmas season sweeter than ever by showcasing your special holiday menu to more customers online and in-store with the Per Diem mobile app.

FAQs

1. ‍Do holiday desserts increase sales?

Absolutely! Introducing seasonal items not only adds a festive touch but also gives customers a compelling reason to choose your restaurant.

2. ‍How much should I charge?

To optimize your profit margin, aim for a 20-30% markup from the cost of ingredients. This ensures a balance between profitability and affordability.

3. ‍What are the most popular holiday desserts?

Customer favorites during the holidays include cheesecake, pie, cookies, brownies, and candy. Offering these classics can draw in a wide range of dessert enthusiasts.

4. ‍How long should I offer holiday desserts?

For maximum impact, make your holiday desserts available from December 1st through the end of the year. This extended period allows you to capture the festive spirit throughout the holiday season.

5. ‍How can we keep up with the demand for the season without getting overwhelmed?

Determine what desserts can be made in advance. Some desserts like Christmas pudding, mince pies, and stollen can be made weeks ahead of time. Prepare and freeze them. This frees up space in your kitchen during the busy season.

Final Thoughts

You now have 10 delicious dessert options to make this Christmas season memorable for your customers. With delicious options like chocolate yule logs, peppermint bark, and Christmas macarons, you’re sure to have something for everyone. Do not forget to promote your special holiday menu on social media, in-app, in newsletters, and with in-store displays. Keep things running smoothly by preparing ingredients in advance and training staff on these new menu items. The holidays only come once a year, so make the most of this opportunity to connect with your customers over a sweet treat. Here’s to a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

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