It’s the holidays, and that means holiday food. We’re talking fancy dinner parties, chocolate stocking stuffers, seasonal 4 p.m. pick-me-ups, strange handfuls of Christmas-themed snacks that you don’t actually want but you’re definitely still going to eat because, “‘tis the season!” This year, only deck the halls of your stomach with the best holiday foods.
As our gift to you (and because it’s literally our jobs), we donned our Santa hats and ugly sweaters and taste tested every category of holiday food you’ll need this season, from eggnog to pie crusts to candy canes. All you need to supply is your favorite antacid. Here are all of our rankings of the best holiday foods that we’ve tasted.
Best Eggnog
You only buy eggnog once a year (but if you choose to buy it monthly, that’s your business), so make sure you’re buying the best eggnog. This year, we updated our list to include a couple non-dairy eggnog options, including oatmilk eggnog, and even a lactose free eggnog.
Best Christmas Candy
Christmas candy deserves just as much attention as Halloween candy or Easter candy. Check out the special, seasonal treats that ranked highest on our list (which we also checked twice, much like someone else we know).
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Santa won’t mind if you give him store bought chocolate chip cookies, as long as they’re one of our top picks. And if you’re looking for the best pre-made cookie dough for semi-homemade chocolate chip cookies, we tasted and ranked those, too.
Best Gingerbread Cookies
There’s more than just gingerbread men out there. These are the best ginger cookies and ginger snaps you can buy for your holiday cookie plate.
Best Winter Beers
These holiday beers range from full-on chocolate-flavored to tastes-like-mulled-wine. So there’s something in here for everyone. This year, we even included a classic biere de noel for the real Christmas ale purists.
Best Peppermint Ice Cream
Whether you experience a not-so-cold-outside Christmas or simply want a festive ice cream treat with your holiday cookies, these peppermint ice creams (both fancy and store brand) will do the trick.
Best Holiday Coffee Creamer
These holiday creamers will put a jingle in your step every morning. Turn your morning coffee routine into a caroling session with one of these festive creamers.
Best Pie Crust
Making a holiday pie? Save your precious time for watching holiday movies and doing some last minute shopping for that cousin you always forget by using one the best pre-made, store-bought pie crusts instead of making one from scratch. And if you’re looking for pre-made gluten-free pie crust, we can help with that, too.
Grocery Store Stocking Stuffers
Get all the ingredients for your weekly meal planning and your stocking stuffers in the same place: the grocery store! Want specific store recommendations? We created holiday food gift guides for, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and Dollar Tree.
Best Cinnamon Rolls
If Christmas morning cinnamon rolls are a tradition in your house, then you need to check out our list of the best pre-made and refrigerated cinnamon rolls you can buy.
Best Candy Canes
Not all candy canes are alike. Some are much better than others. Those are the candy canes you’ll find on this list.
Best Peppermint Bark
Peppermint bark is one of the best holiday foods to come along and now a ton of companies make it. We tried them all and found the best bark you can bite.
Best Trader Joe’s Holiday Treats
Trader Joe’s is a one-stop-shop for some of the best holiday food ideas. We tasted all their most festive foods and ranked them so you don’t end up with any duds.
Best Hot Cocoa Mix
I don’t care if you only drink black coffee in the morning and whiskey at night. When the holidays are here, you drink hot cocoa. Drink the best stuff made from one of our top cocoa mix picks.
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