The Top Holiday Food and Drink Choices According to America

Hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies top the list of favorite holiday foods and drinks in a national survey.

As the holiday season kicks into high gear, people are filled with excitement to see family and friends, and kitchens begin to buzz with the familiar aroma of festive dishes.

According to a recent Instacart survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults by The Harris Poll, 88% are gearing up to cook festive meals for occasions like Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve.

This report explores the food and drink trends surrounding Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s using Instacart purchase data from the 2023 holiday season—as well as a recent Harris Poll survey.

Top holiday drinks

Photo credit: iStock/Ksenia Valyavina

Fun beverages can add to the festive atmosphere of the holidays—and hot chocolate is the clear frontrunner warming the hearts of Americans everywhere. According to the survey findings, here are the top five seasonal sippers Americans say are among their favorite winter holiday beverages:

  1. Hot chocolate – 58%
  2. Eggnog – 42%
  3. Cider – 26%
  4. Mulled wine – 13%
  5. Hot toddy – 13%

Top holiday treats

A plate of holiday cookies.
Photo provided by Instacart

For many, the holidays aren’t complete without a batch of festive cookies. In fact, 41% of Americans look forward to them each year. But which cookie is the real crowd-pleaser? According to this survey, the top five favorite holiday cookies are:

  1. Chocolate chip – 57%
  2. Sugar – 52%
  3. Peanut butter – 40%
  4. Gingerbread – 33%
  5. Snickerdoodle – 32%

While some cookies may fly off the plate at a holiday party, some tend to linger a bit longer. Our survey found that the least favorite cookies are:

  1. Oatmeal raisin – 21%
  2. Molasses – 19%
  3. Peppermint or mint chocolate – 17%
  4. Meringues – 16%
  5. Biscotti – 15%

Survey method

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Instacart from September 19-23, 2024, among 2,077 adults ages 18 and older.

The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

This story was produced by Instacart and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.


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Metro Parent Editorial Team
Metro Parent Editorial Team
Since 1986, the Metro Parent editorial team is trained to be the go-to source for metro Detroit families, offering a rich blend of expert advice, compelling stories, and the top local activities for kids. Renowned for their award-winning content, the team of editors and writers are dedicated to enriching family life by connecting parents with the finest resources and experiences our community has to offer.

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