With Christmas just days away, holiday dessert tables and festive drink menus are under the spotlight, and new data shows Mississippians are sticking with classic seasonal favorites.
Target analyzed holiday cookie sales across all 50 states and found gingerbread cookies dominating the national map. According to the retailer, Gingerbread was the top-purchased holiday cookie in 38 states, making it the unofficial cookie of the 2025 holiday season.
Mississippi followed the national trend, with shoppers reaching for Gingerbread cookies more than any other holiday treat. Target says the results reflect longstanding holiday traditions, even as each state brings its own personality to seasonal celebration. The company has released a state-by-state holiday cookie map along with festive visuals highlighting regional preferences.
Festive drinks are telling a similar story.
A new study from Coffeeness, which analyzed Google Trends data, found hot chocolate to be the most popular holiday beverage in the country, leading in 13 states, including Mississippi. Researchers say the classic drink continues to resonate as a comfort staple during the winter season.
Apple cider and the espresso martini tied for second place nationally, each topping the list in 11 states. Other notable favorites included the French 75 and the Amaretto Sour, which emerged as popular choices in several regions.
The study notes that regional drink preferences range from traditional warm beverages to more modern cocktail options, highlighting how Americans celebrate the holidays differently across the country.
Taken together, the data suggest that while trends may evolve, Mississippians continue to favor familiar holiday flavors from gingerbread cookies to a warm cup of hot chocolate, as the Christmas season reaches its peak.
