As Christmas (December 25) approaches, bakeries in Koreatown, Los Angeles, are pitching in to promote Christmas cakes.
COIN DE RUE bakery and cafe, located on Western Avenue in Koreatown, has introduced a variety of Christmas-themed cakes. These include a log-shaped Bûche de Noël, a vanilla chiffon cake with festive icing, and a Hokkaido cheesecake.
The Santa, Rudolph, and snowman character cakes, favorites among younger customers, are priced between $40 and $48. The bakery also offers a new single tree cake, catering to the growing demographic of single-person households, affordably priced at just $12.
“Our cake sales increase by 10 to 20 times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” said Hyosang Lee. “We use ‘Bio Flour’, developed and patented in Korea, to make our gluten-free and low-sugar whipped cream, so even patients with diabetes can enjoy it.”
Customers who reserve a Christmas cake at COIN DE RUE by December 22 will receive a 30% discount. Additionally, those purchasing a cake on the 22nd will get a complimentary Korean-style croissant, a thinly sliced croissant crust baked with maple syrup and sugar. The bakery is also offering free cake topper decorations and the option for a personalized message on the cake.
Paris Baguette’s top sellers this year include the Winter Village Chocolate Strawberry Soft Cream Cake and the Snowman Strawberry Soft Cream Cake, with a total of 14 Christmas cakes available. Prices range from $40 to $50, with larger sizes and two-tiered cakes priced between $85 and $100.
“During the Christmas and New Year’s season, our cake sales increase by about 20 times, and our pre-orders go up by 50%,” said an owner of Paris Baguette Western. “We prepare between 850 and 1,000 Christmas cakes as they are particularly popular.”
TOUS les JOURS offers 21 Christmas cake varieties, including the Winter Christmas Cake, a Holiday Party Cake, and a Bûche de Noël, with prices ranging from $45 to $50.
“As the number of consumers willing to spend on food has increased, we’ve significantly upped our cake orders,” noted Soojung Yang, representative of TOUS les JOURS’s California Market store. “Notably, there’s a high demand for buttercream cakes among customers of various ethnicities.”
Petit Bon Bon, specializing in handmade custom cakes, is selling gift sets of macarons shaped like Santa, Rudolph, and a tree for Christmas. They are also offering small handmade Christmas lunchbox cakes and holiday cakes adorned with bows on the tree.
BY HAEUN CHUNG, JUNHAN PARK [chung.haeun@koreadaily.com]
