Christmas carols are your one chance to break from holiday songs blaring from a stereo—and instead hear them from real people. But they’re a whole experience, for both singers and listeners. Neighborhoods look better with Christmas lights and they sound better with carolers. But can’t they taste better too? Here are a few foods to up your carol game.

1. Candy Canes

They’re cheap, they’re classic, they’re always welcomed. They’re just a little extra to your sing-song soirée. You can entrust any child caroler to carry the basket and hand them over to homeowners with the sweetest of smiles. If you were purchasing an online Christmas carol package experience, this would be the first level of the non-free kind.

2. Cookies

If you want these to have any kind of impact, these will have to be homemade. Cookies made in the kitchen of a local are always the way to go. Store-bought holiday cookies can be spotted a mile away, and that’s where everyone wants to keep them. They’re terrible. They taste like the secret ingredient is lukewarm awkwardness instead of love. Stop giving these to people unless you’re trying to start a hometown civil war.

3. Hot Cocoa

This is the way to do things. It’s a class-act move to pour some hot cocoa for your listeners. Some of the carolers just have to carry a thermos. If you have kids, let them offer your audience members those tiny marshmallows. The only thing that will melt faster than them are those listeners’ hearts. It puts everyone in a listening mood—nay, it forces everyone into a listening mood!

4.  Fruitcake

This is the only way you’re going to get rid of fruitcake. All of you carolers should repackage this concrete swan-dive of a holiday snack, since you each have one just kicking it indefinitely on your countertop at home. Oh, were you saving that infuriatingly irresponsible gift from a neighbor for a rainy day when you’d use it to absorb a leak? Because, otherwise, it’s time to get rid of that thing.

5. Canned Goods

Transform your seasonal carnival of song into an important act of local charity by asking your beloved all-ears listeners to donate a few canned goods. It’s taking the holiday spirit and turning it into holiday action. Sure, Christmas is about cherishing loved ones and the tiny beautiful moments that make up your golden days, but use the guilt of good nature to trick your neighbors into listening to you serenade them.

6. Soup

While you could warm the stomachs, hearts, and ears of your neighbors with soup and song, it could get a bit messy. You want them to enjoy a snack, not take down a full meal, in their doorway. However, soup is the best way to get your caroling crew back on the right track to recovery once the night has wrapped. It’s not easy trudging through the east coast snow, and it’s a bit of a setback heading through the politely crisp west coast air.

Happy caroling, whether it’s your mouths or ears at work!