Christmas in July: Plan Now for Your Most Organized & Profitable Holiday Baking Season Yet
It might be 90 degrees and sunny out, but now is the perfect time to start planning your holiday bakery menu. Christmas in July isn’t just a quirky celebration—it’s your golden opportunity to get organized, maximize profits, and avoid the December burnout that leaves so many bakers feeling less than merry by Christmas morning.
If last year you found yourself scrambling around in October trying to throw together a half-baked menu (pun very much intended), then this article is for you!
I’ve also created this Holiday Menu Planner—a fillable, step-by-step tool to help you plan your holiday menu, map out production, and hit your holiday sales goals without the burnout. Get it here and read along to learn why starting your Q4 business planning in July will set you up for your most joyful—and profitable—holiday season yet.
You Can Start Building Buzz Early
When you plan your holiday menu now, you’re giving yourself the gift of time. This means you can:
- Start teasing your seasonal offerings in newsletters and on social media as early as September. (Cue the festive emojis and behind-the-scenes shots of your gingerbread recipe testing.)
- Open preorders before other bakeries even post a single gingerbread cookie photo. That means you’ll be first in your customers’ minds—and on their holiday tables.
July Is Quiet—Use It to Your Advantage
Many bakeries experience a natural summer lull. Instead of waiting for the storm to hit, use this quieter time to:
- Test and taste. You’ll finally have time to test those cranberry-orange scones—or the bourbon pecan pie you’ve been dreaming about—instead of throwing them together the night before a market and crossing your fingers.
- Dial in your packaging. Festive boxes, branded ribbons, or custom stickers can turn your treats into giftable showstoppers.
- Build a smart production calendar with breathing room so you’re not baking at 2 a.m. every night in December.
Get Your Pricing Right (So You Actually Make Money)
It’s easy to underestimate the time and cost involved in labor-heavy holiday bakes like pies, decorated cookies, and bread wreaths.
By planning in July, you can:
- Factor in ingredients, packaging, overhead, labor, and market fees—before you post your first holiday pre-order menu.
- Set prices with confidence, not panic.
- Avoid undercharging “just to get orders.”
Need more in depth help with pricing? I’ve got you:
💡 Spoiler alert: You’re probably undercharging. Let’s fix that
Avoid Holiday Burnout—And Make Space for Joy
Every December, I coach bakers who are completely burnt out. They’ve pulled 16-hour days, taken on too many (barely profitable) orders, and by Christmas Eve, they’re too tired to wrap gifts, let alone enjoy the season with their families.
Planning your holiday menu now helps you:
- Set order cutoff dates that protect your mental health.
- Schedule prep days and batch bake smarter—not harder.
- Plan ahead to take time off in December without guilt (yes, it’s possible!).
- Wake up Christmas morning with enough energy to make cinnamon rolls for your own family—not just everyone else’s.
Because you deserve a sweet holiday, too.
Ready to Make This Your Best Season Yet?
Christmas in July isn’t just cute. It’s strategic.
Start now, and by the time the leaves change, you’ll be steps ahead.
More orders. More confidence. More joy.
👉 Get the Holiday Menu Planner
👉 Take the Menu Planning for Profit Course
👉 Book a 1:1 Coaching Call
And hey—maybe Santa will leave that commercial mixer you’ve been dreaming of under the tree this year!
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