The holidays are upon us and that means a seemingly unending supply of treats and holiday goodies to sample. Which ones are playing a bigger role in expanding waistlines as we head into 2022? Here is a very unscientific list of the favorite holiday treats from the At Home Daily editorial staff.
Pumpkin Pie
This is really more of a Thanksgiving treat to me, but it got plenty of support as a favorite for the Christmas season as well. As a kid, I was not a fan, but at some point, my tastes changed and I have to admit this is one of my favorites now. But, it needs to be chilled and topped with whipped cream. It’s just not as good when it’s room temperature.
Eggnog
There was no real consensus about whether this was the alcoholic or non-alcoholic variety, so we’ll leave that open to interpretation. Candidly, this was not on my list. I’m not personally a fan of drinking eggs - and yes, the recipe typically contains egg whites and yolks. That feels a bit too much like a scene from Rocky or from lifting weights in the days before you could get reasonably good-tasting protein shake mixes. So, it’s a hard pass for me, but many of the rest of the staff really likes it. I know, their taste is now questionable.
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint and milk chocolate (or white chocolate). Nothing wrong with that combination and that was confirmed by our informal poll. I’m personally partial to the brand you can buy from Williams-Sonoma, but you can make it at home or get it from any number of retailers. Definitely best served chilled, so the bark has a little crunch. Ugh, now I’m craving peppermint bark writing this article. LOL!
Gingerbread
Not everyone loves gingerbread. It’s a unique taste combination of sweet and a bit tangy from the ginger. But, if that combo floats your boat, as it does with a lot of our editorial team, then you know why this makes the list. I’m definitely a fan myself. A good gingerbread muffin or other soft version is my favorite. But a crunch Gingerbread Man is still perfectly acceptable. This is a flavor that definitely brings out the holiday spirit.
Candy Canes
Now to be clear, we’re talking about a decent candy cane and not some cheap version that you can get 10 for a $1 at the grocery store. But, the candy cane flavor is pretty synonymous with the Christmas season, and our crew agrees. They also make nice Christmas Tree ornaments that you end up eating, instead of just throwing back in the decoration box every year.
Christmas Cookies
This is a bit of a catch-all as we couldn’t really agree on what a ‘Christmas Cookie’ entailed. In my opinion, this generally means a sugar cookie that is decorated with some holiday theme. Maybe it’s cut out in the shape of a Christmas Tree or a reindeer or has a Santa image in icing on top. But, the basis is usually a simple sugar cookie that is then elevated with sprinkles, icing, or some other overly sweet add-ons.
Hot Chocolate
This is most popular in places where it gets cold during the holiday season for obvious reasons, but a nice steaming cup of hot chocolate is a welcome addition to just about anything holiday-related. What I tend to envision is coming off the ski slope and grabbing a cup of hot chocolate to warm up.
What’s Missing?
I’m sure some favorites are missing from this very arbitrary list. Which ones come to mind?
Fruitcake - Yes, we discussed it and it was unanimously rejected. I know there are fruitcake fans out there… somewhere. But, not among the AHD team.
Mimosas! This came up several times as a favorite Christmas morning beverage. But, we’re keeping the list kid-friendly, so we decided to leave it off. But, it does indeed show up at every Christmas morning at my house. :-)
