simpleek

One of the things people love about the holidays is the food. From Thanksgiving up until Christmas Day, you will inevitably see plenty of stores and restaurants offering specific foods and drinks to get you in the mood for the holiday you’re about to celebrate, such as pumpkin or peppermint flavored everything. I’m one of those people who has to have certain foods you’ll only find around the holidays. Because it’s only once a year you get to consume pumpkin pie or grandma’s special eggnog, it’s the perfect time to indulge in these delectable goodies until next November and December again. On this Christmas Eve, I list some of my favorite holiday sweets I absolutely must have at least once every year.

1. Hot Chocolate

I know hot chocolate isn’t really a drink you only have around the holidays, but plenty of my local coffee shops and restaurants sell special holiday flavored hot chocolate, like peppermint or gingerbread. Whenever I’m not particularly in the mood for coffee or tea, I always grab one of these seasonal drinks on the go. It keeps me warm and builds up my anticipation for the coming of Christmas Day.

2. Eggnog

Eggnog is most definitely a drink I only see around the Christmas season, which makes it harder to come by on other days of the year. While my family doesn’t really make this drink around the holidays, I usually like to get my eggnog fix either at a place in the city that makes it or from a friend who prepares a killer eggnog with a pinch of cinnamon that makes it absolutely divine.

3. Christmas Cookies

Whether it’s your traditional gingerbread or sugar cookies shaped and decorated into little Christmas trees or candy canes, these are the kind of cookies that scream Christmastime and are fun to make as part of a family holiday activity to do together. I’m more partial to chocolate chip cookies on a regular day, but I’m not opposed to having a sugar cookie or two that’s resplendent in its holiday best.

4. Candy Canes

Maybe candy canes have become too ubiquitous and not everyone’s favorite candy to eat during this time of the year. In fact, I think it may be considered one of the worst holiday candy to ever exist alongside candy corn and Peeps. But whenever I receive a candy cane as part of a Christmas card or gift, I’ll gladly take my time savoring the minty goodness one of these bring me. Sure, after a while I get sick of candy canes like the next person, but just one is enough to satisfy that holiday craving.

5. Peppermint Bark

Milk chocolate or white chocolate, peppermint bark combines two of the things I love to eat around the holidays—chocolate and peppermint! I don’t know what it is about minty candy, but it always makes me think of ice skating, snow, and pine trees. Peppermint bark is also a great alternative to candy canes when you want that minty taste but in smaller doses, thanks in part by the chocolate melting in your mouth.

What are some of your favorite holiday sweets?