Bell-shaped chocolate mousse, chocolate pastry with a soldier as icing, the traditional rum-and-raisin cake, and plum cakes are the flavour of the season with Christmas knocking on the door.

The demand for the delicacies has been good so far, said those running big confectioneries as well as small entrepreneurs who don the chef's hat during this time of the year to bake cakes and cookies.

Some confectioneries have introduced new items in keeping with demands from children and adults alike, while many families are making a beeline for traditional Christmas cakes they have been ordering year after year.

On Sunday, Bemvinda Pereira had to say "no" to many late callers as she could not accommodate any more orders.

Orders are "exploding" this year, said Pereira, who bakes only during Christmas. "I cannot accept last-minute requests this time," said Pereira, who has already baked 500 pounds of Christmas cakes.

"My supply is way below the demand. People want rose cookies and kulkul and I had to refuse because I have run out of material," she said.

"I give them a deadline but despite that people call in the last minute. Usually, these are repeat orders."

At Flurys, the Christmas sale started picking up in the middle of December.

"Usually, every year the demand for Christmas cakes picks up around December 20. This year it started at least five days earlier," said Chiranjib Maity, manager, Flurys.

"The demand for Christmas cakes is at least 15 per cent more compared with last year. We are running out of stock of rum-and-raisin cakes. The chef is having to replenish the stock every day."

Maity spoke about an increased demand for dine-in as well. "The Christmas-special turkey menu for lunch and dinner is a hit," he said.

Like most years, Kookie Jar has introduced special items for Christmas. Children swear by their cookies and candies that replicate Christmas trees, bells and stockings.

"The red stocking cookies (of Kookie Jar) are my favourite this year. I bought some for my cousins and myself," said a Class II girl on Sunday evening.

December started well, said Lovey Kapur, the owner of Kookie Jar.

"After Covid, this is the best (season) so far and we hope it sustains at least a week after New Year," said Kapur. "Our staff are putting in double time to manage orders. Since ours is a skilled activity, we cannot hire new hands."

In a house in Picnic Garden, Shelley Joseph had a busy Sunday coordinating orders, baking cakes and attending to phone calls from delivery boys.

"I take orders for cakes, salt meat and homemade wines. We always make a little extra so that we can deliver those who give orders at the last moment. This year orders are coming thick and fast," said Joseph, who works in a school.