Christmas is just around the corner and the average person is already thinking about their favorite festive dessert, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 Christmas-celebrating Americans found the average respondent begins fantasizing about their favorite treat three weeks before their first bite.
Whether it’s fruitcake, Kringle or cheesecake, 63 percent of people have a traditional dessert that they eat year after year, and 79 percent say their holiday spirit would be deflated without it.
Sixty-four percent cited desserts as a top reason to anticipate the holidays with other top traditions being holiday movies (64 percent), holiday music (65 percent) and decorating the Christmas tree (65 percent).
Many embrace the spirit of the season by spreading cheer — commissioned by ohdanishbakery.com and conducted by OnePoll, the survey found 65 percent frequently exchange baked goods during the holiday season, with three-quarters of exchanges being a family affair with relatives.
Others get in on the sweet action, too, with 71 percent also swapping holiday goodies with friends, and 52 percent sharing that spirit with neighbors.
“There’s something special about holiday food traditions in America and really worldwide,” said Eric Olesen of O&H Danish Bakery, which delivers traditional holiday treats around the globe. “The traditional desserts elicit wonderful memories that people want to relive, recreate for the next generation and share with others far and wide.”
The survey also looked to find the traditional holiday flavors people will be craving – and revealed them to be chocolate (51 percent), apple cinnamon (48 percent), cheese (48 percent), gingerbread (48 percent) and raspberry (45 percent).
The desserts respondents want over the holidays include sugar cookies (42 percent), carrot cake (32 percent), pumpkin pie (26 percent) and Kringle (17 percent).
“We find that people aren’t willing to forgo the food traditions, but they will take help to lessen the load of holiday stress,” Olesen added. “We’ve seen guests increasingly looking for items to contribute to their holiday host’s table or as a nod of thanks.”
The trend is a huge relief as seven in 10 respondents admit to being stressed about not having enough time to prepare food for Christmas guests and events.
Baking doesn’t come without its perils since half of Americans (48 percent) have been the victim of a holiday baking disaster.
From forgotten ingredients and oven fires to lack of cooking fuel and burnt items ‒ those are just a few of the kitchen nightmares that can breakout during the busy holiday season.
TOP CRAVED HOLIDAY FLAVORS
1. Chocolate 51%
2. Apple cinnamon 48%
3. Cheese 48%
4. Gingerbread 48%
5. Raspberry 45%
6. Pecan 38%
7. Cream cheese 38%
8. Red velvet 37%
9. Cherry 36%
10. Cinnamon 36%
11. Peppermint 36%
12. Almond 35%
13. Cranberry 35%
14. Caramel 34%
15. Eggnog 34%
REASONS TO ANTICIPATE THE HOLIDAYS
1. Time with family 79%
2. Dinners 74%
3. Parties 71%
4. Giving gifts 68%
5. Holiday music 65%
6. Decorating Christmas tree 65%
7. Holiday movies 64%
8. Dessert 64%
9. Holiday spirit 61%
10. Time off 61%
