I know we’re still in October, but over here at Dot’s Petite Bakery Co., Christmas is already on my mind.
And yes, I know. We haven’t even made it through Halloween yet. 😂
But one thing I’m learning about running a small bakery is that you can’t always wait until the season arrives to start preparing for it.
Between working full-time, testing recipes, figuring out packaging, and creating content, I have to give myself enough time to get everything together.
So lately, I’ve been thinking about what I want the holiday season to look like for Dot’s.
I don’t want an overwhelming menu with 15 different desserts. I want a small collection of treats that are delicious, festive, and have that homemade, nostalgic feeling that inspired me to start this bakery in the first place.
And today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what I’m planning and testing for the 2026 holiday menu
From Fall Cobblers to Christmas Treats
It feels like I was just in the kitchen preparing my first customer order of mini peach cobblers.
And now I’m already thinking about marshmallows, chocolate, Christmas sprinkles, and holiday packaging.
That’s one thing I’m discovering about having a seasonal bakery. You’re usually preparing for the next season while you’re still enjoying the current one.
My fall menu featured cozy desserts like mini peach cobblers and sweet potato pies, but for Christmas, I want to do something a little different.
Something fun.
Something that could be enjoyed during a Christmas movie night, given as a small gift, or shared with family and friends.
And since Dot’s is all about creating memories through desserts, I think the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to bring that vision to life.
What’s Being Tested for the 2026 Holiday Menu?
I’ve narrowed my ideas down to four different treats.
Some are familiar favorites with a holiday twist, and others are things I’ve been wanting to experiment with for a while.
Nothing is officially finalized yet, but here’s what’s currently on my testing list.
1. S’mores Cakesicles — A Little Christmas Nostalgia
If there’s one flavor that reminds me of cozy nights, it’s s’mores.
Chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers just belong together.
For this holiday version, I’m starting with a vanilla cake base and incorporating those classic s’mores flavors into a cakesicle.
The goal is to create something that tastes like a s’more but feels a little more special than the traditional campfire treat.
I’m experimenting with the cake filling, chocolate coating, and decorations to figure out the best combination.
And of course, they have to look cute too.
I’m imagining something festive enough for a Christmas dessert box but still simple enough that the flavor is the star.
2. Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars — Simple but So Good
Sometimes the simplest desserts are the ones everybody loves.
That’s exactly what I’m hoping for with these Christmas sugar cookie bars.
Instead of making traditional cutout sugar cookies, I’m testing a soft, buttery cookie bar with festive decorations.
I’m starting with a sugar cookie mix and making a few adjustments to get the flavor and texture I’m looking for.
I want something soft in the center, easy to slice, and pretty enough to include in a holiday treat box.
Plus, I love the idea of having a dessert that feels homemade without requiring hours of rolling, cutting, and decorating individual cookies.
Because let’s be real, sometimes simple is better.
3. Hot Cocoa Bombs — Because Christmas Needs Chocolate
I’ve been wanting to experiment with hot cocoa bombs, and I think Christmas is the perfect time.
There’s something about dropping a chocolate sphere into a warm mug of milk and watching it open up that makes the whole experience feel special.
I’m planning to test a few flavors, including a s’mores-inspired cocoa bomb and a coffee-inspired version.
The s’mores version will bring together chocolate, marshmallows, and graham cracker flavors.
For the coffee version, I’m thinking of something cozy for the adults who love a warm coffee drink during the holidays.
I’m still figuring out the best chocolate shells, fillings, and decorations.
And I’m especially interested in making sure they taste just as good as they look.
Because a pretty dessert is nice, but a delicious dessert is what brings people back.
4. Holiday Cake Pucks — Little Bites of Something Sweet
Cake pucks are another treat I want to include in my holiday testing.
They’re similar to cake pops, but instead of being on a stick, they’re shaped into little rounds and coated in chocolate.
I love that they’re easy to customize with different flavors, colors, and decorations.
For Christmas, I’m thinking festive chocolate coatings, holiday sprinkles, and maybe a few flavor combinations that remind people of their favorite holiday desserts.
The biggest thing I’m testing is the balance between the cake filling and chocolate coating.
I don’t want the chocolate to overpower the cake.
I want every bite to have a little bit of both.
The Part You Don’t Always See: Recipe Testing
I think one of the things people don’t always realize about running a bakery is how much happens before a product ever makes it onto the menu.
There’s the initial idea.
Then buying ingredients.
Making the first batch.
Tasting it.
Changing something.
Making another batch.
And sometimes realizing that what sounded amazing in your head needs a little more work in real life.
That’s exactly why I’m starting my holiday preparations early.
I want enough time to test everything without feeling rushed.
I’m also paying attention to how long each treat takes to make, how well it holds up after packaging, and whether it makes sense for my bakery.
Because as much as I love baking, I also have to be realistic about what I can manage.
Planning a Holiday Menu That Makes Sense
One thing I’ve been intentional about with Dot’s is keeping things manageable.
I’m building this bakery while working a full-time job, and I don’t want to create a menu that leaves me overwhelmed before the holiday season even starts.
That’s why I’m focusing on a smaller selection of treats instead of trying to offer everything.
I’m also thinking about how the products could work together.
For example, instead of customers having to choose only one dessert, I love the idea of creating a holiday treat box with a little variety.
Something you could take to a holiday gathering, gift to a coworker, or enjoy at home during a Christmas movie night.
I’m still working through the details, but that’s the direction I’m leaning.
And honestly, I think a holiday box would fit the Dot’s brand perfectly.
The Packaging Has to Feel Like Christmas Too
Of course, I can’t forget about packaging.
I want the holiday treats to feel special from the moment someone receives them.
I’m thinking cozy Christmas colors, pretty ribbons, festive labels, and packaging that feels like a little gift.
Nothing overly complicated.
Just those small details that make a dessert feel a little more memorable.
Because when someone orders from Dot’s, I want them to feel like care went into the entire experience, not just the baking.
What’s Next for Dot’s Petite Bakery Co.?
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be spending time testing recipes, deciding which treats make the final menu, and figuring out how everything will come together.
I’ll also be sharing little glimpses of the process on Instagram and TikTok.
The good batches.
The experiments.
And probably a few things that don’t turn out exactly how I planned. 😂
That’s part of the fun of building something from scratch.
I don’t have everything figured out, but I do have a vision for what I want Dot’s to become.
And every new recipe, every customer order, and every seasonal menu gets me a little closer.
A Little Christmas Magic Is Coming
If there’s one thing I want people to feel when they enjoy something from Dot’s, it’s a sense of comfort and nostalgia.
The kind of feeling you get when you remember baking cookies with family, drinking hot chocolate during Christmas movies, or sneaking a dessert before holiday dinner.
Those are the little memories I want my desserts to bring back.
And that’s exactly what I’m hoping to create with this year’s holiday menu.
So stay tuned.
The Christmas baking is just getting started. 🤎
Want to be among the first to know when holiday preorders open?
Follow @dotspetitebakery on Instagram and TikTok, and visit dotspetitebakery.com for updates.
Where Every Bite Brings Back a Memory.
— Dot’s Petite Bakery Co.