# Sweet Sugar Skull Cookies Starbucks is Celebrating Day of the Dead with Sugar Skull Shortbread By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2016-10-20 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sugar-skull-cookies References: [chewboom](http://www.chewboom.com/2016/09/30/starbucks-unveils-day-of-the-dead-skull-cookies-other-fall-treats/) & [starbucks](http://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/bakery/dia-de-los-muertos-cookie) Instead of limiting its menu to Halloween-themed items this October, [Starbucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2025-halloween-drinkware) is expanding its selection of seasonal treats to also include [sugar skull cookies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sugar-cookie-1) that recognize Day of the Dead celebrations. As part of its fall 2016 bakery selection, Starbucks will offer a sweet sugar cookie that celebrates the Mexican holiday 'Día de los Muertos' (also known as Day of the Dead). The cookie features a buttery shortbread base topped with a sugar skull design made from colored icing. The cookie is meant to resemble the edible skulls that are associated with [Mexico's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/don-julio-ceniza) Day of the Dead celebrations. The addition of sugar skill cookies to the Starbucks menu not only demonstrates the chain's attempt to provide more seasonal treats, but also an attempt to recognize a wider variety of cultural traditions. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Seasonal Treat Expansion:** Starbucks is expanding its selection of seasonal treats to include sugar skull cookies, reflecting a trend of offering unique and culturally relevant food items. - **Cultural Recognition:** The addition of sugar skull cookies to the Starbucks menu shows an increasing trend of recognizing and celebrating diverse cultural traditions through food. - **Customized Food Design:** The sugar skull cookie with its colored icing design represents a trend of creating visually appealing and personalized food items that can match special occasions. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry can leverage the trend of offering unique and culturally relevant treats to attract customers and enhance their overall experience. - **Hospitality:** The hospitality industry can enhance guest experiences by incorporating culturally significant food items like the sugar skull cookies into their menus, recognizing and celebrating diversity. - **Event Planning:** Event planners can tap into the trend of customized food design and offer visually appealing and thematically relevant treats, creating memorable experiences for attendees. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Whimsical Halloween Drinkware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2025-halloween-drinkware.md) - [Festive Sugar Cookie Lattes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-holiday-drink.md) - [Seasonally Spooky Shortbread Cookies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcghees-halloween-empire-biscuits.md) - [Celebratory Skull-Shaped Drink Mixes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skull-hot-chocolate-bomb.md) - [Highly Anticipated QSR Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-holiday-treats.md) - [Wintery Dessert Coffee Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-holiday-menu.md) - [Festive Día de Muertos-Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/da-de-muertos-dolls.md) - [Seasonal Holiday Coffee Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-merry-holiday-menu.md) - [Seasonal Donut Brand Cookies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-shortbread-cookie.md)