What Everyone’s Cooking, Posting, Sipping, & “Hacking” Right Now
Nostalgia Is Trending (Again, But Louder)
Classic recipes are dominating holiday search trends, especially cookies and comfort-forward dishes that feel familiar but still photograph well.
Peanut butter blossoms, for example, are one of the most searched holiday cookies this year. They fall squarely into the same nostalgic lane as a lot of older SSTH baking and comfort-food content—think cozy, unfussy, and indulgent.
If you’re already in that mindset, it pairs perfectly with revisiting the blog’s broader love affair with flavor-driven comfort cooking, like this deep dive on brines and flavor layering:
👉 Internal link: https://see-sip-taste-hear.blogspot.com/2025/11/brines-for-meat.html
Salt, sugar, patience… same emotional support system, different course.
What Everyone’s Cooking, Posting, Sipping, & “Hacking” Right Now
Holiday food culture in 2025 is equal parts comfort, chaos, and content. Classic recipes are back, but they’ve been through TikTok, Instagram Reels, and a 4K slow-motion filter. Some trends are genuinely great. Some should come with a fire extinguisher.
This is a full-spectrum deep dive into what’s trending right now—from top holiday recipes to viral TikTok food hacks—with links so you can follow the rabbit holes yourself.
Big Picture: The 2025 Holiday Food Mood
Nostalgia, But Make It Clickable
Classic cookies and casseroles are dominating holiday search trends, especially recipes tied to childhood comfort and minimal effort.
Peanut butter blossoms are one of the most searched holiday cookies this season, according to Google trend reporting via major food publications.
Source:
https://www.today.com/food/holidays/most-searched-holiday-recipes-rcna185747Make-ahead breakfast casseroles are trending hard because nobody wants to cook while unwrapping chaos.
Source:
https://www.southernliving.com/holiday-breakfast-casseroles-8779481
Top Trending Holiday Desserts
Peanut Butter Blossoms (The Algorithm’s Favorite Cookie)
This cookie refuses to die—and frankly, we love that for it.
Why it’s trending
Consistently ranks in top holiday cookie searches
Hits nostalgia + chocolate + peanut butter in one bite
Source:
https://www.today.com/food/holidays/most-searched-holiday-recipes-rcna185747
Classic Recipe (Quick Refresher)
Butter, peanut butter, sugar, egg, flour
Bake, press chocolate kiss, cool, repeat until shame
Trend Upgrade: flaky salt on top. Suddenly it’s “elevated.”
Candied (“Popping”) Cranberries
If your holiday table doesn’t sparkle, did you even host?
Candied cranberries are everywhere right now—on cakes, cheese boards, cocktails, and straight out of the bowl.
Why they’re trending
Visually dramatic
Crunchy exterior + tart center
Extremely TikTok-able
Sources:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10813/candied-cranberries/
https://food52.com/recipes/14745-candied-cranberries
https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas/a25411338/candied-cranberries-recipe/
Basic Method
Soak cranberries overnight in juice
Roll in sugar
Dry until frosted
Eat half before guests arrive
Holiday Breakfast & Brunch Trends
Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles
This trend is about regaining control of your morning.
Why it’s trending
Assemble the night before
Feeds a crowd
Reheats beautifully
Sources:
https://www.southernliving.com/holiday-breakfast-casseroles-8779481
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/make-ahead-breakfast-casserole
Popular Variations
Sausage + egg + cheese
Spinach + mushroom + gruyère
Croissant-based casseroles (because we’re not here to diet)
Holiday Sides & Hosting Shortcuts
Ina Garten’s “Hot-Rodded” Cranberry Sauce
Store-bought, but with confidence.
Ina’s philosophy—start with something good, then make it better—is trending because it’s realistic and doesn’t require martyrdom.
Source:
https://www.today.com/food/holidays/ina-garten-cranberry-sauce-upgrades-rcna184232
Common Add-Ins
Orange zest
Grated apple
Raisins or dried cherries
Toasted nuts
Serve it chilled and let people assume effort.
Holiday Drinks: Cocktails & Mocktails
The Poinsettia Cocktail
The easiest festive drink with the highest visual payoff.
Why it’s trending
Three ingredients
Champagne-adjacent
Batch-friendly
Source:
https://www.foodandwine.com/poinsettia-cocktail-recipe-8415963
Build
Prosecco
Cranberry juice
Orange liqueur
It looks expensive. It is not.
Maximalist Holiday Cocktails
We’re officially in our “extra garnish” era.
Think rosemary sprigs, sugared rims, blood orange slices, dramatic glassware.
Sources:
https://www.foodandwine.com/holiday-cocktail-trends-2025-8765123
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/dining/drinks/holiday-cocktails.html
Tip: One dramatic drink is charming. Five is a lifestyle choice.
Mocktails Are No Longer an Afterthought
Nonalcoholic holiday drinks are being treated like real cocktails—and finally, about time.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/15/dining/mocktail-holiday-drinks.html
Popular flavors:
Cranberry
Citrus
Rosemary
Bitter syrups
Your sober friends will thank you. Quietly. With sparkle.
TikTok Holiday Food Hacks: Ranked by Sanity
Actually Useful
Candied cranberries
Make-ahead casseroles
Batch cocktails
Sources:
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/candied-cranberries
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/make-ahead-holiday-recipes
Proceed With Caution
Over-styled cocktails at home
Hyper-complicated garnish builds
Fun to watch. Questionable to execute.
Absolutely Do Not Do This
The viral “smoked tinned fish using a burning wet paper towel” trend.
It’s being actively called out as dangerous.
Source:
https://www.today.com/food/trends/tiktok-smoked-tuna-hack-dangerous-rcna186021
Holiday rule: no fires that weren’t invited.
Hosting Cheat Sheet (Trend-Forward & Low Stress)
Arrival
Poinsettias or mocktail spritzes
Cheese board + candied cranberries
Dinner
One impressive main
One make-ahead side
One “hot-rodded” store-bought element
Dessert
Peanut butter blossoms
Sparkly garnish snacks
Next Morning
Breakfast casserole
Coffee
Silence
What’s Coming Next (Early 2026 Signals)
Wellness-adjacent food trends like fiber-forward comfort food are gaining momentum.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/20/well/fiber-food-trend.html
Expect:
Beans
Greens
Cabbage
Still delicious, just slightly more virtuous
If there’s one thing this holiday season confirms, it’s that food content isn’t just about recipes anymore. It’s about storytelling, culture, and flavor-forward experiences that people actually want to engage with, cook from, and share. That’s always been the heartbeat of See Sip Taste Hear—chasing taste, travel, and the moments around the table that make all of it stick.
If you’re a brand, destination, product, or event looking to collaborate on paid content, sponsored features, UGC, or long-form editorial that feels authentic (and performs), I’m always open to the right fit. You can explore past collaborations, media stats, and partnership opportunities here:
👉 Work with Collie / Brand Deals & Press:
https://see-sip-taste-hear.blogspot.com/p/work-with-collie-brand-deals-ugc-press.html
For a broader look at my creative work across food, travel, video, social, and branded storytelling, you can also find me at:
👉 https://colliepixels.com
Good food deserves good stories. If you’ve got something worth sharing, let’s talk.
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