[2] In July 2012, Scotty McCreery revealed that he was working on a Christmas album.

[3] He indicated that he had always wanted to make a Christmas album, and had talked about it for about a year before it was given the go-ahead by his label.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic thought that to release a Christmas album at this point of his career "may be a tad speedy but a festive collection is a softball pitch up the middle for McCreery, one that the cornpone singer can hit clear out of the park.

"[12] Billy Duke of Taste of Country considered it a "consistent project that takes few chances, but offers 11 pleasant recordings to easily slip into one's yearly holiday playlist.

"[13] In similar vein, Matt Bjorke of Roughstock thought the album is "largely as warm and familiar as a cup of Hot Cocoa.