It's the most wonderful time of the year, the lights fill the streets and spread cheer, the bells jingle and everyone is in the mood for a special treat!
As food services reach their busiest season, join us in getting into the swing of Christmas and festive season fever with our collection of festive recipes for 2024. Innovative and elegant culinary creations that can make your menu stand out during this magical time. According to social listening, Christmas popped up early this year, in October before November1. Consumers are excited about this year after a previous frustrating year of inflation and economic uncertainty.
What are our expectations for consumers’ spending and trends for the holiday season?
As the holidays approach, understanding consumer spending patterns and expectations can help foodservice providers tailor their offerings. Let’s explore the key factors driving purchasing decisions for the 2024 holiday season.
Value for money: Despite the ease in inflation, consumers will be cautious about what to buy relatively to value (price and quality). 69% of Americans are worried about their ability to buy the items they want while2 49% of French people believe that inflation will impact their festive plans3.
Experience matters: Globally, shoppers are ready to loosen their pockets this year and increase their spending by 8% compared to last year focusing on getting “the experience” rather than focusing on goods. More than 16% versus last year are prioritizing holiday events and socializing with loved ones4.
Food-based learning experiences: consumers desire to engage with food and drinks they can learn more about in which they are interested. Meal kits and recipes are a great example of inspiration for an impressive Christmas menu5.
Preference for online shopping: the top motivator will be the search for online discounts and free shipping6
In light of these trends, it’s clear that this holiday season will be defined by a mix of cautious spending, a thirst for unique experiences, and a strong preference for convenience. But how can foodservice providers meet these expectations while staying competitive and creative during the holiday season? Well, first and foremost by offering a menu that meets current trends, consumer expectations and strikes the right balance between innovation and convenience.
Food Trends for Christmas 2024: Shaping a relevant menu
As we dive into the 2024 food trends, it's clear that Christmas menus are all about blending the familiar with the unexpected. To craft a standout holiday offering, consider incorporating these trends and consumer preferences into your dishes.
Let's start by observing what's happening on social media to understand consumers' taste expectations.
What are the bakery recipes that have already started to make a buzz?
So far, patisserie with cakes,desserts and cookies are on top of conversations this Christmas in followed by puff pastry and sourdough7. It’s all about Christmassy shapes and warm flavours:
This year, brownie pinecones are all the rage on social media, a fun variation on the shape, with a crunchy cereal topping.
For starters, there are puff pastry Christmas trees, perfect for any gathering or as an appetizer. You can vary the filling with pesto, mushrooms or truffles, for example.
A gourmet version features Camembert roasted in a large loaf. An ideal dish to share with family or friends in a pretty setting. You can also offer breadstick for easy eating.
In the biscuits and cakes category, you'll find gingerbread biscuits and cinnamon-spiced biscuits for sweet seasonal flavours, as well as Christmas Cake Pops, which are a festive version of fruitcake, covered in chocolate and decorated with little decorations for an even more attractive look.
For sharing formats that can be found in coffee shops, apple pie remains one of the internet's comforting snacks.
Innovative Recipes for the Festive Season
By revisiting classic dishes with a modern twist or introducing new flavors, you can offer a unique culinary experience. Here are some creative recipe ideas that could perfectly complement your menu for the festive season :
Delight your customers with our Mini Savory Croissants featuring delicate fillings like truffle-scrambled eggs, smoked trout with dill cream, or creamy butternut squash and parmesan. These savory, refined bites will add a gourmet touch to your appetizers or buffets.
For an even more refined surprise, the Gift Cube Croissant is the perfect choice. This cube-shaped pastry, filled with pistachio paste and raspberry jam, is a true treat. Served on a plate or to take away, you'll be offering your customers a wonderful tasting experience.
Bring a festive touch to your table with a Christmas Chalet, a charming winter scene made from soft cinnamon buns. These little houses, decorated with royal icing, will warm your guests' hearts while brightening up their festive table.
These recipes demonstrate how classic French pastries can be reimagined in inventive ways, breathing new life into traditional favorites. By transforming them into unexpected forms, you can turn simple viennoiseries into something new and trendy.
FESTIVE GUIDE FOR FESTIVE OCCASION
Take the opportunity to customise your products and give them the colours of the season.
We've created a guide with some quick and easy recipe ideas. Your customers are sure to love them!
Easy tips for a festive menu
And if our recipes aren't enough for you, we've got some simple tips for bringing more festivity to your establishment.
For example, adding a decorative touch to a classic recipe - such as a dessert or pastry simply topped with a little icing sugar using a stencil. It's quick and easy, and yet it will change the way your customers look at it.
You can also play around with the ingredients, using more noble ingredients, twisting your usual recipes by adding a little smoked salmon, or grating a little truffle on top. For those on a smaller budget, make star shapes in the puff pastry with sesame seeds on top and add one to your plates: guaranteed effect.
In addition, incorporating the Christmas colour palette into your plates not only enhances visual appeal, but also creates a consistent and festive dining experience that resonates with customers. By combining innovation with tradition, you can create a menu that is both visually stunning and delicious.
The love for the festive season should shine through your menu items!
Chef's tips: For your desserts, don't hesitate to add gourmet touches like whipped cream or melted chocolate!
Engage and Enchant: Elevate your restaurant’s Holiday appeal
Create an atmosphere in your restaurant
Creating an inviting atmosphere in your restaurant for Christmas 2024 can significantly enhance the overall dining experience for your customers, as well as attract new ones.
Start by aligning your restaurant's décor with the latest Christmas trends. The color palette for 2024 is a combination of deep plum purples and rich greens, which adds a sophisticated touch. Don't shy away from experimenting with textures; velvet plum pillows could be a great addition.
In keeping with the ‘beauty of nature’ trend, introduce sustainable and natural elements into the design of your restaurant. This can mean using eco-friendly materials for decoration. You don't need to spend a lot of money, just take a walk in nature and collect branches, wood, pine cones and Christmas trees. Adding natural elements will make your decoration warmer. You can also create handmade decorations, pretty paper garlands, use wooden boxes and rope.
Finally, don't forget to make your Christmas tree beautifully decorated, with personal touches, sparkling disco balls, light garlands and natural colours.
With a little ingenuity, you can make your restaurant the place to be this season!
Tips: you can decorate your window by making pretty handmade ornaments with snowflakes, stars or even leaves.
Customize social media
Since festive bakery creations make waves this Christmas, let’s dive into how you can showcase them on your social networks to create a truly engaging consumer experience. Boost your online presence this holiday season by creating festive recipe reels that showcase your holiday specialties in action.
Remember, your goal is to create a buzz around your restaurant and entice people to visit and enjoy your offerings so don't hesitate to be original!
Sources :
1Délifrance x Synthesio social listening, (2024): Christmas (07/07/2024-08/11/2024) | 2 Surveymonkey, (2024): 2024 holiday insights and shopping trends: 100+ key stats | 3Into the minds, (2024): Christmas 2024: trends and forecasts | 4Deloitte, (2024): Deloitte holiday retail survey | 5 Just-food, (2024): What will shape Europe’s shopping lists this Christmas? | 6 Rakuten, (2024): Holiday Shopping 2024: Key Trends and Predictions | 7 Délifrance x Synthesio social listening, (2024): Christmas (08/08/2024-08/11/2024)