Baskin-Robbins' December 2021 Flavor Is Inspired By This Holiday Treat

With its new flavor of the month, Baskin-Robbins has perfected the art of constantly promising excitement for consumers. So, if you don't like the current flavor of Snickerdoodle Chai, you can look forward to December's flavor: Gingerbread House. Of course, the flavor celebrates the classic Christmas treat. According to a press release, it features gingerbread flavored ice cream with gingersnap cookie bits and peppermint pieces scattered throughout. "Dessert is one of the best things about the holiday season, and this year, like every year, we're excited to give the gift of ice cream to our guests," said Charlie Nutting, brand marketing and insights director at Inspire Brands.

But we still have a couple of weeks before we can delve into the new holiday flavor, so you might as well ramp up your holiday celebration with snickerdoodle chai. As Baskin-Robbins explains in a blog post about the flavor, the combination of snickerdoodle dough, vanilla chai ice cream, and cinnamon streusel ribbons was designed to impart people with the cozy feelings of the impending holiday season.

Gingerbread houses are undeniably a Christmas-time treat. If someone were to make a Fourth of July diorama out of gingerbread, they would probably be applauded for their ingenuity before people promptly ignore the display in favor of hot dogs. In fact, gingerbread, as it was originally used, would have been appropriate for the Fourth of July. As PBS explains, Elizabeth I would have gingerbread figures decorated to resemble visiting dignitaries, and over time, people would make gingerbread cookies to resemble whatever season it happened to be. As for why it developed a Christmas association, Bustle suggests that it is because ginger's medicinal qualities would calm stomachs after overeating. Elsewhere, a flavorist noted to The Takeout that ginger is a warm flavor, and it makes more sense to gravitate toward warm flavors when the weather is cold than in the sweltering days of summer.

The tradition of gingerbread houses, however, goes back to Germany. Indeed, immigrants from the country brought the desserts to the Americas in the 19th century. In addition, Smithsonian Magazine credits the German story of Hansel and Gretel — in which the two children are almost eaten by a witch who lured them with her candy house — with popularizing the tradition of making gingerbread houses. For those who want to skip the effort, though, Baskin-Robbins will offer its ice cream.