The Christmas food trends to add to your basket in 2024
Feel like stepping away from the norm this festive period? These are the off-grid 2024 seasonal food crazes you might want to consider…
Christmas supermarket delivery slots are mainly booked up, and now is the time to start thinking about what to put in those shopping baskets. Will you be sticking to the classics this year, or is it time to be more imaginative?
My family and I are eating out on Xmas day, so we can all pick our own choices, because not everyone enjoys a traditional Turkey for their Xmas dinner.
I’ve rounded up some festive food trends of 2024 if you fancy a change this year.
Christmas party ideas
According to Tesco, ‘the cheeseboard is the UK’s most popular festive party food, with nearly a fifth placing it as top choice (17%)’, but what else will fill the buffet table?
Grazing boards
On Instagram alone there are 6.3million posts with either the hashtag #charcuterie or #charcuterieboard.
Look at any of the supermarket Christmas food guides and they’ll all have charcuterie boards – or plays on them. And the wonderful thing about charcuterie boards? You can personalise them to your tastes.
Baked camembert
The trend for baked camembert is going up a notch this year. Recipes and retailers are creating versions with interesting toppings and there are also versions of camembert with ingredients baked around them, creating a sunshine-esque design.
Among other retailers, this is something Asda is doing, with a pigs in blankets wreath surrounding their camembert.
While many cheeses would work, camembert makes an obvious choice because of its shape and general appeal. There’s been a 92% increase in searches on the Asda website for ‘camembert’ in the two weeks leading up to Christmas.
Miniature mains
Whether you’re assembling a ‘picky bits’ ensemble to nibble on during the days between Christmas and New Year or going the whole ‘fine dining’ hog with a party, the trend for miniature mains like mini Yorkshire’s filled with beef and horseradish is growing.
Retailers are upping their offerings with topped miniature crumpets, mini fish and chips, burgers, pies and even miniature toasties on sale.
The main event
According to Tesco research, 44% of people say Christmas dinner is the one food moment they most look forward to during the holiday season. But what will you serve up this year?
Beef on the big day
While turkey is the traditional choice, supermarkets are witnessing an increase in people opting for beef. In late October, when Ocado’s Christmas slots had been open for a month, their beef sales for Christmas were growing faster than turkey and there was a 33% increase in non-turkey centrepieces compared to 2023.
Beef’s both indulgent and versatile. It brings a sense of celebration to the table that easily matches turkey. It’s also perfect to eat hot on Christmas Day or serve cold as part of a Boxing Day buffet.
Sainsburys have also spotted an unusual trend for December involving beef. They’ve found 17% of Brits are planning to host a barbeque party during the festive period.
“We’ve seen a 74% year-on-year (YoY) increase in customers buying our premium range burgers in December,” says Sainsbury’s product development manager.
While 40% of Brits eat the same thing every Christmas, it appears that others want to shake up their dining experience and embrace quirky new ideas.
Luxury fish
Scallops, crabs, lobsters and even three fish roasts are on the menu this year, according to experts.
Searches for salmon caviar, tinned fish and fish pie are up over 240%, 200% and 190% respectively on the Waitrose website compared to the same time last year – i.e. customers are looking for more luxury options when it comes to fish, says Waitrose.
Talking of fish, one dish is making a big comeback this festive season, behold the prawn cocktail! Everyone loves a slice of nostalgia and prawn cocktail is a trend that keeps coming back around.
Prawn cocktails are back!
The starter associated with the ’70s and ’80s seems to be on the rise again. But why now?
Millennials are taking the reins for festive hosting and have a hankering for a bit of nostalgia, as 60% are planning to buy food that sparks childhood memories. As families pass the hosting torch (and traditions) to younger generations, more people are opting for retro dishes from their childhood.
Sweet tooth?
Previous research by Sainsbury’s found 36% of people don’t like Christmas pudding, but which desserts will be popular this year?
Mince pies with a twist
All the major retailers have quirky mince pie options this year, including those infused with alcohol, chocolate, different fruits, spices and toppings. But what’s driving this trend?
Younger customers in particular tend to prefer alternatives to the classic spiced mincemeat, which is heavy on dried fruit and seasonal spices. These shoppers are drawn to lighter, citrus-type flavours and novel pairings that feel more refreshing, explained the senior product development manager at Co-op.
Citrus zing
Limoncello is growing in popularity – and you can expect to see it infused into puddings this year.
Italian cuisine is booming on social media and we’ve seen searches for limoncello increase over 250% compared to the same time last year,” says Waitrose. They – like others – are using it in novel ways. “It complements the festive flavours of panettone extremely well, bringing a fresh citrusy zing.”
Whichever culinary journey you decide to take this year, the key is to go for what you love, whether that’s traditional offerings or dishes with a twist. To make your festive feasts memorable for all the right reasons.
