Fall and Holiday Ice Cream Flavors: How to Plan Your Case for the Season
October 20, 2026 | By Yummy Ice Cream Factory
Once the evenings get cooler, a lot of shop owners start asking us the same thing: what should go in the case for fall and the holidays? It's a good question, and it's worth answering before November, not after. Here's how we think about it from our side of the counter, as a family ice cream factory in Morgan Hill that makes 3-gallon tubs for shops from San Mateo down to Hollister.
People still want ice cream when it gets cold
It's easy to assume business slows down for good after Labor Day. Some of it does. But here in the Bay Area we get plenty of sunny afternoons in October and even November, and people don't stop wanting dessert just because they pulled out a jacket.
What changes is the reason they walk in. In summer, ice cream is about cooling off. In fall, it's more about a treat they can only get for a few weeks. A seasonal flavor gives your regulars a reason to come back, and it gives you something new to post about, put on a sign and talk about at the register.
Our seasonal flavors for fall and winter
We make three seasonal flavors in 3-gallon tubs:
Pumpkin Mascarpone. This is our fall flavor, and it fits right in from October through Thanksgiving. It's a good one to put out first.
Eggnog. A holiday classic. It works well in a scoop shop, and it's a nice extra for cafes that already serve a lot of warm drinks in December.
Peppermint Stick. Bright, cool and festive. It looks great in a dipping cabinet and it's an easy pick for families during winter break.
You don't need to build the whole case around these. A lot of our year round flavors already feel cozy when the weather turns. Butter Pecan, Café Caramelo, Double Chocolate Fudge, Horchata and Kona Mocha Chip all sit nicely next to a seasonal tub. You can see the full list on our ice cream flavors page.
How many seasonal tubs to carry
Our honest advice is to start small. One or two seasonal flavors is plenty for most shops. If you have room for twelve flavors, swap out one of your slower summer flavors and keep your best sellers right where they are. Your regulars still want their usual scoop.
For the first order, go a little lighter than you think you need. See how it moves for a week or two, then reorder. Because we make everything here in Morgan Hill, a reorder doesn't have to come from across the country. If you want to know how our ordering and delivery work, we wrote about it in wholesale delivery from our Morgan Hill factory.
It also helps to plan the switch. Pumpkin Mascarpone makes sense now. Around the start of December, you might trade it for Eggnog or Peppermint Stick so the case still feels fresh through the holidays.
Make the seasonal flavor easy to notice
A great flavor sitting in the back corner of the cabinet won't sell itself. A few small things make a real difference.
Put the seasonal tub up front, where people look first. Write it on your chalkboard or menu with a simple note like "here for the season." Offer tasting spoons, because a lot of people are curious about a flavor like Pumpkin Mascarpone but won't order a full scoop without trying it.
If you run a cafe or a restaurant, think about pairings. A scoop of Eggnog next to a shot of espresso is a simple holiday dessert. Pumpkin Mascarpone sits nicely beside a slice of pie. Peppermint Stick and hot chocolate are made for each other.
A tip from the factory: When a seasonal tub gets down to the last third, put up a small "almost gone for the year" note. It's a friendly nudge for anyone who has been meaning to try it.
Take care of the tubs
This part isn't exciting, but it matters. Keep your backup tubs in a cold storage freezer and move the next tub into the dipping cabinet ahead of time, so it has a chance to soften to scooping texture. Try not to let tubs thaw and refreeze, because that's what turns smooth ice cream icy. If you'd like the storage and scooping temperatures we recommend, just ask and we'll walk you through it.
Don't forget the soft-serve machine
If you also run soft serve, the holidays are a good time to give it a little attention too. Our soft-serve yogurt mixes come in 2.5-gallon bladders, and a plain base like our Vanilla Custard goes well with seasonal toppings such as crushed peppermint or a caramel drizzle. You can order tubs and soft-serve mix together, which keeps things simple.
Let's plan your holiday case
If you're an ice cream shop, yogurt shop, cafe or restaurant anywhere from San Mateo to Hollister, we'd love to help you plan the season. Tell us how many flavors you carry and what sells best, and we'll suggest a mix of seasonal and year round tubs that fits your space.
Call us at 408.306.6129, email yumiyogurtco@gmail.com, or request wholesale pricing here. We're always happy to talk flavors.