We're Saying It: Christmas Cake Is NOT The Only December Bake That Matters

Come December, and everyone begins talking about their love for the ever-so-popular Christmas cake. It’s the MVP of all desserts, I get it. Why? It’s popular, boozy, nutty and indulgent – so it’s got everything you want. But is December all about just that one dessert? Or are we so blinded by our love for it that we’ve blissfully forgotten, or shall I say, ignored, all other offerings our vast country has in store? Come on…this is India. And we never ever have just one of something. If anything, we have variations of everything (and in abundance).

Let’s get one thing straight – I do not hate the Christmas cake. I’m just not particularly fond of all the space it takes on the shelves of bakeries and family tables…almost as if it’s here to loudly (and proudly) declare itself the winner. The sole contender in the December bake-off. Because let’s be honest, how much time have you really spent researching any other dessert that matters?

Let’s go on a mini tour-de-India, the Christmas edition.

From Goa, With Love 

My family roots lie on the beautiful Konkan coast. You will find my origins scattered across Sawantwadi, Vengurla, and possibly Mangao…so I best know a thing or two about what happens in and around Goa.

In Indian homes, especially in Goa, Christmas has never been only about slicing a loaf. It’s about weeks of preparation, decision-making, going over family recipes and, perhaps, modifying a few along the way. So what do we really have in store here?

Let’s start with Bebinca- a dear old Goan dessert that practically everyone loves. It is Goa’s most iconic Christmas dessert. Layer after layer, cooked patiently under heat, one ladle at a time. Coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and ghee; fairly simple ingredients transformed through time and years of expertise. Bebinca doesn’t perform. It waits. And in a season supposedly about care and generosity, it feels quietly profound. Unlike the Christmas cake, it doesn’t make a thunderous entry; it just waits for you to come to it. It’s secure and knows that you will come back for more. 

Then there’s Goan jaggery Dodol. It’s dark, glossy, and endlessly stirred until it becomes chewy and intense. And don’t forget Kormolas, those golden, crunchy curls that vanish almost as fast as they’re made. These are not plated desserts. These are just blissfully wonderful festive delights that are shared with family and friends, sneaked in and had when no one’s watching, couriered off to family far away and, surprisingly, made in abundance but never quite enough. 

Fun Christmas Traditions Around The World You Should Know About

This Christmas, look South

In the south, almost everything is aesthetic and comes with a bit of a backstory. The Kerala plum cake is no different. They say imitation is the best form of flattery, but this is no imitation of the OG Christmas cake; at best, it’s an adaptation. Kerala’s own version, if we might say so. Burnt sugar caramel, local spices, and cashews instead of almonds. Sometimes boozy, sometimes not. It’s a reminder that even borrowed traditions evolve when they land in new soil. So bite into it because you’re sure to love it. 

While in Kerala, they won’t let you go without something crunchy. Crisp rose cookies, aka achappams, are another one of the state’s most delightful offerings. Mildly sweet, beautiful and packed with nostalgia. 

Plan A Feast Well With These Famous Christmas Dishes That Are A Must Try

Taste of the East: Subtle and spectacular

If you’ve ever travelled to the East during Christmas, you will know that it’s a whole other mood. Christmas desserts change shape entirely. In Nagaland, Manipur, and Assam, the most iconic festive sweet isn’t baked at all. Known as Niekhruda, Tanghou, or Haokhamui, these sticky rice cakes are mildly sweet, chewy, and steamed in banana leaves. Made from crushed sticky rice, sugar, and sometimes just a pinch of salt, they are understated and deeply comforting. You know the best part? These delicacies weren’t developed to become “viral sensations”; these dishes were made to be shared with loved ones…warm goodness on cold days. 

So, all I’m trying to say is that this isn’t a call to cancel the Christmas cake. This is just a reminder that there’s more to Christmas desserts than the one famous bake that you know. It’s about celebrating recipes passed down orally, corrected mid-process, and learnt by watching rather than measuring. So, every bite you take becomes a celebration. Each bite taken is a reminder that in India, Christmas doesn’t just taste like one thing.