Get Your Bakery in the Spirit for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos

October is upon us—the unofficial kick off to the end-of-year holiday season that brings not one but two highly anticipated holidays: Halloween and Dia de los Muertos! That means it’s also time to offer special experiences that celebrate these occasions and help drive traffic to your bakery business.

[Source: Dawn Foods]

Thrills, Chills and Sales

Consumers celebrate “spooky season” all month long. For many, it’s never too early to start getting in on the Halloween fun, and bakeries can take advantage of this excitement to build incremental sales.

Adding themed treats to your bakery is a key driver. According to Nielsen Byzzer, adding Halloween-themed cupcakes to your case during October can increase sales as much as 23%.¹

Focus on offerings that capture the spirit of the holiday—it can be as easy as decorating everyday treats with Halloween colors like orange, black, purple, and green. Or add candy eyeballs, spider rings, gummy worms, and candy corn decorations to baked goods for a fun trick-or-treat feel.

You can also incorporate decorations and color schemes from popular and beloved spooky-season movies or series. And iconic Halloween elements such as bats, pumpkins, and ghosts are all-ages crowd pleasers.

For even more inspiration, Dawn Foods offers a wide range of recipes for themed cakes, cupcakes, brownies, donuts and more, including:

Spooky Ghost Cake (dawnfoods.com)

Spiderweb Brownies (dawnfoods.com)

Monster Mochi Donuts (dawnfoods.com)

Candy Corn Cupcakes (dawnfoods.com)

[Source: Dawn Foods]

“Dress Up” Your Shop for the Season

Decorating your bakery for Halloween can be both fun and effective in attracting customers during the spooky season. It doesn’t take much to create a fun and inviting atmosphere—consider one or more of the following:

Set the Scene: Transform your bakery into a haunted haven with Halloween-themed decor like cobwebs, skeletons, and pumpkins. Adding a spooky window display will catch the attention of passersby.
Lighting: Add orange string lights and flickering LED candles to create an eerie ambiance.
Themed Signage: Use creative signs to label your special treats. Clever names like "Witch's Brew Brownies" or "Goblin Goodies" add to the seasonal fun.
Costumes: Encourage your staff to dress up in Halloween costumes or themed hats, pins, buttons, or accessories to add to the atmosphere and make the experience more enjoyable for customers.
Sound Effects: Play some spooky background music or haunted house sound effects to enhance the Halloween feel—this can be a subtle but powerful way to immerse your customers in the theme.

[Source: Dawn Foods]

Don’t Forget Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant and deeply rooted Mexican tradition that honors deceased loved ones. Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, this joyous holiday includes sharing favorite foods, especially sweets.

You can incorporate this cultural tradition with sugar-skull-shaped cookies, cakes, or cupcakes decorated with colorful icing and patterns. Experiment with traditional flavors like cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate to capture the essence of this festive occasion.

Keep your Millennial and Gen Z customers in mind when planning your Dia de los Muertos offerings. According to Datassential, they are the generations most likely to celebrate the occasion.²

You’ll find plenty of Dia de los Muertos recipe inspiration and instructions on how to create themed offerings from Dawn Foods:

Sugar Skull Cupcakes (dawnfoods.com)

Dia De Los Muertos Donuts (dawnfoods.com)

Sugar Skull Cake (dawnfoods.com)

Decorating for Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos provides another opportunity to transform your bakery into a vibrant and culturally rich space that attracts and delights customers. Here are some tips to help you create just the right authentic and festive atmosphere:

Colorful banners: Hang colorful papel picado banners throughout your bakery. These intricately cut paper decorations add a burst of color and movement to the space.

Orange, purple, and pink colors evoke the spirit of the celebration.

Floral arrangements: Use marigolds, the traditional flower of Dia de los Muertos, to create floral arrangements. Place them on tables, counters, and window displays.
Sugar skulls: Incorporate sugar skulls into your decorations. These can be placed on shelves, counters, and display cases. You can also use edible sugar skulls as cake toppers or cupcake decorations to tie into the theme.
Lighting: Candles to create a warm and inviting glow, and battery-operated candles are a safe alternative. Arrange them on tables and in window displays to evoke a sense of reverence and celebration.
Traditional music: Play traditional Mexican music to set the mood. Consider creating a playlist that includes mariachi, folk, and contemporary Mexican songs. The lively tunes will add to the festive atmosphere and make your bakery feel more authentic.

Build Customer Excitement with a Spirited Event

Planning Halloween and Dia de los Muertos bakery events can be a fun and exciting way to celebrate these festive occasions. Whether you're hosting a party for kids, all ages, or a gathering for adults, there are plenty of themed treats, decorations, and activities that can make it memorable.

In addition to delicious and seasonal treats, including fun activities and games can keep your guests entertained and engaged:

Halloween: Organize a costume contest where participants can showcase their creativity and win prizes. Or host a pumpkin, cookie, or cupcake decorating contest where guests can use their artistic skills to transform plain pumpkins or baked goods into spooky masterpieces.
Dia de los Muertos: Offer a workshop where customers can decorate their own sugar skulls or learn how to make traditional Dia de los Muertos crafts, like papel picado. This not only provides a unique experience but also educates them about the cultural significance of the holiday. Consider baking pan de muerto, a sweet bread typically enjoyed during Dia de los Muertos and serving traditional Mexican hot chocolate.
Interactive Elements: Turn a small corner into a seasonal photo booth with a spirited backdrop and themed props where customers can take pictures. This can be a great way to engage with your customers and encourage them to share their experiences on social media throughout the month of October. Be sure to encourage them to use fun seasonal hashtags (#SpookySeason anyone?) and tag your bakery in their posts!

Dawn Foods is your partner for all things All-idays and here to help with a wide range of products, recipe inspiration and marketing tips. Visit https://www.dawnfoods.com/our-trick-your-treat or contact your sales representative for more information.