KANSAS CITY, MO — Pop culture has proven to be a profitable source of inspiration for retail bakers. Blockbuster movies like Barbie, face-freezing NFL playoff games, and epic events such as Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour have sparked creativity and helped bakeries increase sales, brick-and-mortar foot traffic, and their social media following.
What may be seen as the year’s biggest pop culture event — the 2024 US presidential election — is just weeks away on Nov. 5. In anticipation of election night watch parties, retail bakers are adding limited-timed election-themed baked goods to their online menus and bakery cases.
Here’s how a few bakeries are helping their customers get into watch party planning mode.
Lochel’s Bakery
The Hatboro, PA, bakery has baked its Famous Election Cookies — and kept an informal poll based on orders — since 2012. This year, the 6-count cookie packs feature red sprinkles with “Trump 2024” and blue sprinkles with “Harris 2024.”
Three Brothers Bakery
The “Vote your tastebuds!” customer engagement campaign from this Houston bakery is part of its Presidential Cookie Poll tradition. Customers can order Royal iced sugar cookies featuring an edible scan of their favorite candidate or Gingy the Gingerbread person (for the undecided). The bakery tracks its online and brick-and-mortar cookie orders and regularly shares “poll” results on its Facebook page.
Whipped Bake Shop
Patriotic Election Cupcakes from this bakery in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, feature a mix of chocolate, vanilla chocolate chip, and red velvet cupcakes iced with blue and white vanilla meringue buttercream and patriotic sprinkles. There’s also an option to fill the cupcakes with blue or red icing.
Freedom Bakery
This aptly named Watsonville, CA, bakery puts creativity in the hands of its customers with its Election Day Cookies, which feature patriotic themes and space for a customized message.
Pastries by Randolph
In addition to patriotic-themed cupcakes and cake bites, this Arlington, VA, bakery also counts its Apple and Cherry Puff Pastry Logs, Fresh Strawberry Fruit Tart and Patriotic Napoleon — puff pastry dough layered with lightened pastry cream and topped with red, white and blue fondant icing — among its watch-party worthy menu items.
Breadsmith
Cranberries and blueberries add an understated patriotic touch to the Freedom Bread made by this Whitefish Bay, WI, bakery.
Prantl’s Bakery
While Elephant Ears are a menu staple at this Pittsburgh, PA, bakery, the puff pastry sweet treat may attract customers who are Harris supporters.
Old School Election Cake
Bakers wanting to forge their own path and offer their customers a back-to-the-basics election watch party showstopper can apply their skills and creativity to making Election Cake, a truly nostalgic, long-forgotten baked good dating back to the American Revolution, when Election Day was recognized as a national holiday.
Meanwhile, in England …
The Brits have their eyes on the election, too. Across the pond in London, Jack and Beyond’s US Election Cakes & Treats Collection includes:
- Donald Trump and Kamala Harris decorated shortbread cookies
- Cupcakes with edible print designs of the candidates’ faces in red velvet, lemon, Victoria sponge, carrot and vanilla, and double chocolate, as well as a couple of vegan and gluten-free options
- A Celebration Cake topped with an election-themed edible print design available in two sizes and various flavors
The upcoming 2024 US presidential election presents retail bakers with opportunities to get a little creative, elevate their menus and increase sales with LTOs, while also helping customers host the ultimate election night watch party.
