Twas the night before Christmas, and every house across America was filled with the intoxicating smell of roast turkey. Well, not exactly. When it comes to Christmas food, there’s no one-size-fits-all in the United States.
In a recent survey, 2,174 Americans revealed the most popular Christmas foods across different states.
Americans agree on one dish as the ultimate festive favorite: roasted potatoes, with 96% choosing it as a holiday staple.
Here are the most popular Christmas foods in 40 states (Editor’s note: Due to insufficient survey responses, nine states — Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming — are not included):
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Alabama
Most popular food: Fruit cake
It turns out that the mercilessly mocked festive food is not a joke in Alabama. The dense, nutty fruit cake is a Christmas favorite among Alabamians.
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Arizona
Most popular food: Christmas nuts
It’s a hard day’s night for nutcrackers in Arizona, as this state eats the most Christmas nuts during the festive season. But, according to the survey, 76% of the nation also goes nuts for this snack, ranking it as the 6th most popular festive food.
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Arkansas
Most popular food: Cranberries
In Arkansas, the love for cranberries doesn’t end with Thanksgiving, they carry it right through to Christmas dinner, making it the state’s festive favorite.
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California
Most popular food: Brie
Californians are all about going a little bit French for the holidays, with brie being the favorite Christmas food in the state. We only presume it’s combined with a good wine, possibly from Napa.
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Colorado
Most popular food: Peppermint bark
When the weather outside is frightful, Coloradans choose to cozy up with some peppermint bark delight during Christmas, voted as the favorite festive food in the state.
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Connecticut
Most popular food: Peppermint bark
Peppermint bark is also big on the East Coast, as Connecticut chose the minty, chocolate treat as a holiday staple.
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Florida
Most popular food: Lamb
In Florida, Christmas is all about indulgence, as the Sunshine State opts for roasted lamb for Christmas. It’s only fair to assume that they marinate the lamb in orange juice.
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Georgia
Most popular food: Lamb
Georgia, too, looks forward to indulging in a feast over the holidays, with lamb being the unanimous choice for the top Christmas food.
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Illinois
Most popular food: Prime rib
Nothing says indulgent Christmas more in Illinois than a juicy medium rare prime rib.
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Indiana
Most popular food: Pigs in a blanket
Pigs in a blanket are a must-have on many Christmas dinner tables across Indiana, chosen as the “it food” for the holidays.
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Iowa
Most popular food: Fruit cake
Iowa chose fruitcake as the most popular Christmas food in the state, but we still don’t know if they are actually eating it or using it as a doorstop.
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Kansas
Most popular food: Fish
Kansas opts for a lighter option during the holidays, choosing fish as the state’s favorite during the festive season.
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Kentucky
Most popular food: Scalloped potatoes
In Kentucky, scalloped potatoes are a no-fuss favorite for the holidays—creamy and cheesy, the kind of comfort food that always hits the spot. Kansas is not alone in its love for scalloped potatoes, with 83% choosing it as a Christmas favorite, the creamy dish ranks second on the list.
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Louisiana
Most popular food: Duck
Luisianians go big for the holidays and opt for the rich taste of duck, often prepared with a Cajun or Creole twist.
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Maine
Most popular food: Brie
You might expect lobster to be Maine’s Christmas favorite, but surprisingly, Mainers chose the soft cheese as a festive go-to.
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Maryland
Most popular food: Fruit cake
Maryland is another state who doesn’t take fruitcake as a joke, voting the dessert as the state’s favorite for the holidays.
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Massachusetts
Most popular food: Lamb
Bay Staters ditch the state’s classic clam chowder during the holidays in favor of a fancier option: a juicy stack of lamb.
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Michigan
Most popular food: Pigs in a blanket
Michigan is another state that favors classic comfort food as the king of the Christmas dinner table.
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Minnesota
Most popular food: Lamb
Minnesotans opt for lamb, a meat that’s as comforting in a stew as it is impressive when roasted.
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Mississippi
Most popular food: Candy canes
Mississippi has quite a sweet tooth during the holidays, choosing candy canes as the state’s favorite Christmas food.
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Missouri
Most popular food: Roast beef
Missouri goes all traditional Christmas at your grandma’s by opting for the classic roast beef as a holiday staple.
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Nebraska
Most popular food: Red velvet cake
In Nebraska, red velvet cake is the go-to for Christmas. It’s rich, it’s velvety, and it’s just what everyone wants after dinner.
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Nevada
Most popular food: Cranberries
Cranberries are more than a side dish in Nevada, they’re a holiday centerpiece, winning the prize of the most popular Christmas food in the state.
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New Jersey
Most popular food: Cranberries
New Jersey is another state that has a berry Christmas, choosing cranberries as a festive favorite.
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New Mexico
Most popular food: Cranberries
Here is yet another state that chose Cranberries as the most favorite Christmas food. New Mexico indluges in the berry delicious fruit for a merry holiday.
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New York
Most popular food: Pigs in a blanket
Fuhgeddaboudit — nothing beats the classic pigs in a blanket in New York for Christmastime, being the state’s favorite festive food.
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North Carolina
Most popular food: Pigs in a blanket
North Carolinians also indulge in this delightful snack, making it a favorite at their holiday gatherings too.
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Ohio
Most popular food: Candy canes
Here’s another state that opts for a sugar rush for Christmas. Ohio chose candy canes as the top food during the holidays.
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Oklahoma
Most popular food: Red velvet cake
In Oklahoma, Christmas is all about the finer things, so they pamper themselves with sweet red velvet cake during the holidays, being the state’s favorite festive food.
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Oregon
Most popular food: Brie
Go cheese or go home, is the game in Orgeon during Christmastime. The Beaver state chose brie as favorite holiday food.
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Pennsylvania
Most popular food: Roast beef
Pennsylvania goes simple but traditional for the holidays, choosing roast beef as favorite Christmas food in the state.
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Rhode Island
Most popular food: Persimmon pudding
Here’s a first. Rhode Island has a refined taste for the holidays, choosing persimmon pudding as a Christmas favorite. Interstingly, persimmon ranks second in the least favorite Christmas foods with only 13% of Americans opting for the sweet dessert.
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South Carolina
Most popular food: Red velvet cake
South Carolina is another state who goes for the classic Southern dessert, choosing Red Velvet cake as favorite Christmas food.
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Tennessee
Most popular food: Candy canes
In Tennessee, sugar canes are the name of the game at the Christmas dinner table, being the most popular festive food in the state.
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Texas
Most popular food: Prime rib
If anyone knows a thing or two about cooking meat, it’s Texans. Unsurprisingly, the most favorite Christmas food in the state is prime rib.
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Utah
Most popular food: Peppermint bark
Utahns welcome the holiday season with peppermint bark, voting it as a festive favorite in the state.
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Virginia
Most popular food: Brie
Virginians have a refined palate choosing the soft cheese as a holiday favorite.
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Washington
Most popular food: Red velvet cake
In Washington, red velvet cake is a holiday must-have on every Christmas dinner table.
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West Virginia
Most popular food: Ham
West Virgina opts for a classic that never disappoints—roast ham is on the Christmas menu across the state. And across the nation as well— voted by 76% of Americans as favorite Christmas food.
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Wisconsin
Most popular food: Duck
We are surprised it’s not ‘something cheese’ that’s a favorite in the Dairy State; rather, in Wisconsin, they go all fancy and opt for roast duck as the Christmas favorite.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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