Pizza becomes Britain’s favourite festive picky bit

Move over, Stilton! There’s a new star at the top of the Christmas tree this year.

In a festive twist that’s shaking up dinner tables across the UK, new research reveals that pizza has officially become the nation’s favorite modern “picky bit.”

While the classic cheeseboard has long reigned supreme, its crown is slipping.

According to a nationwide study by Dr. Oetker, the traditional spread is being edged out by a slice of something more doughy. More than one in three Brits (34%) now include pizza in their Christmas feast, leaving scotch eggs (22%) and crudités (18%) out in the cold.

While formal sit-down dinners still hold a 59% share of our hearts, the “relaxed buffet” is gaining ground fast. 34% of hosts now prefer a casual picky-bit spread, and pizza is the undisputed champion of the shareable snack.

Why the sudden shift from Brie to Basil? It’s all about keeping the “merry” in Merry Christmas:

• Crowd pleaser: 50% of respondents say pizza is a guaranteed hit with guests.
• Stress-free: 40% choose it because it’s quicker and less stressful to prepare.
• Space saver: with fridge space at a premium, the freezer is the secret weapon for festive hosting.

“Hosting at Christmas is changing,” says Amy Beresford, senior brand manager at Dr. Oetker. “People want food that everyone enjoys and that doesn’t take hours to prepare.”

From Naples to Your Freezer

Dr. Oetker recognises the call for restaurant-quality slices with its new Suprema range  bringing Neapolitan artistry to the freezer aisle. These aren’t your average frozen pizzas; they are the result of thousands of hours of “dough-mastery,” the brand says.

The Suprema secret sauce

• The dough: a 24-hour triple-fermented sourdough recipe.
• The heat: baked on a hot stone at 400°C for that authentic, charred, airy crust.
• The toppings: featuring Emilia Romagna tomato passata for a sweet, vibrant finish.

Whether you’re team La Margherita, La Calabria, or La Romana, it seems the UK is ready to trade the crackers for crusts this December.