To help you make the most of your Christmas cake counter, we’ve paired each of our six bakes with drinks that bring out the very best in every festive flavour, helping you serve up a little extra magic this season.
FESTIVE CAKE AND DRINK PAIRINGS
WHITE CHOCOLATE & ORANGE X BLENDSMITHS JAPANESE MATCHA
Bright, sweet and earthy, this pairing has a bit of everything, with zesty orange and creamy white chocolate meeting smooth matcha and a gentle hint of sweet cinnamon.
BLACK FOREST YULE X BLENDSMITHS HOUSE BLEND HOT CHOCOLATE
Double the chocolate, double the festive vibes. Rich, creamy, indulgent, the dark chocolate sponge and juicy, tart cherries in our Black Forest Yule pair deliciously with a House Blend Hot Chocolate by Blendsmiths.
MINCE PIE BAKEWELL X JOE’S TEA EVER-SO-ENGLISH EVERYDAY
The classic Christmas bake deserves a classic brew. Joe’s Tea Ever-So-English Everyday has a satisfying malty depth and gentle sweetness that just works alongside fruity mincemeat and almond frangipane.
HAZELNUT PRALINE X ALCHEMY TURMERIC ELIXIR LATTE
A golden duo. Buttery, nutty hazelnut chocolate notes with a warming spiced turmeric latte. Aromatic ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and vanilla give the latte a lively little kick against all that silky praline sweetness.
STICKY TOFFEE COOKIE X BLENDSMITHS HOJICHA HOT CHOCOLATE
Luxuriously sticky, chewy and creamy toffee cookie with a slight crunch is the perfect match for a nutty Hojicha Hot Chocolate. This roasted Japanese tea brings smooth, toasty depth to your hot chocolate, making every caramel-filled bite feel extra cosy. Combine with Blendsmiths 35% Cacao Original Hot Chocolate, or their Dark Chocolate blend which uses Ivory Coast cacao for an even richer drink.
HOJICHA HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 2g Blendsmiths Pure Hojicha
- 20g Blendsmiths 35% Chocolate
- 230ml milk of your choice
Method:
- Whisk the chocolate and pure Hojicha together with a dash of hot water in a cup
- Top with steamed milk
STICKY GINGERBREAD BUN X JEEVES & JERICHO CHAI
Double up on the spice for a truly comforting winter warmer. The combination of Jeeves & Jericho small batch Assam Chai with our Sticky Gingerbread Bun offers flavours of molasses, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, with a sticky treacle finish.
DECK THE COUNTER: FESTIVE SEASON CAKE DISPLAY TIPS
A little seasonal sparkle goes a long way. Whether you’ve got a cosy corner or a cake counter with room for the whole festive gang, here’s how to make your Christmas bakes the ones customers can’t walk past.
- Small counter? Start with two or three seasonal bakes alongside your trusty classics, then see what flies off the counter. Got a little more room? Give our White Chocolate & Orange round or Hazelnut Praline pride of place for a showstopping centrepiece.
- Keep things moving. Give your display a shuffle as the day unfolds. Put easy-to-grab favourites like Mince Pie Bakewell and Sticky Gingerbread Buns front and centre for the breakfast and brunch crowd, then let your bigger bakes take the afternoon spotlight.
- Bring on the festive flourishes. Get creative with handwritten messages and little seasonal doodles on blank product cards and takeaway boxes. Frame your display with fairy lights and a touch of fir (keeping decorations well clear of the bakes). The cake’s still the star, after all.
- Make it a sip-and-slice occasion. Pop a suggested drink pairing on each display card or add your favourite duos to the menu to give customers a delicious reason to add a slice to their drinks order.
READY FOR THE SPARKLING NEW SEASON?
Christmas only comes around once a year, so make the most of every sip, slice and sale. With six seasonal bakes, delicious drink pairings and a few simple display touches, you'll have everything you need to create a counter customers can't resist.
