December is such a bittersweet month — yay for the holiday season, but boo for finals. It’s like having a Christmas tree without any ornaments; it’s festive but sad. What keeps me going during these chilly times are cozy seasonal treats. I’ve made peppermint hot chocolate more times than I can count this week; it’s the perfect cure for the frigid cold. These small seasonal foods keep up my feliz navidad mood while also giving me cramming fuel as I’m typing away on my Mac. Starting with hot chocolate — it keeps your hands warm and cozy while stopping your throat from getting scratchy. The last thing you want to do is get sick during finals week. And really, what says “holidays” like a rich, creamy cup of hot chocolate? If you’re looking for options, Bluestone Café serves high-quality, richer hot chocolate for a more bougie experience. Bwe Kafe is a cute spot for quick, reliable hot chocolate, often with latte art that adds a little cuteness to the cup. And for the fastest option without battling the bustling winds, America’s Cup is right on campus. Hot chocolate is just one of those seasonal treats that make finals week a little less dreary and a lot more cheery.
I have already written about Paris Baguette, but you should buy their seasonal cakes. These cakes deserve to be framed in a museum because they are absolute works of art. They have four seasonal cakes available right now, starting with the Nutcracker strawberry soft cream cake. It’s a whimsical treat adorned with strawberries, dollops of whipped cream, and a Nutcracker figurine. It’s similar to their regular strawberry soft cream cake, but this one has a little sign that says “season’s greetings.” It’s light, merry, and just so cute. Let’s talk about the holiday red velvet cake, though. It’s layered with soft cream frosting and topped with wintery decorations like tiny trees and a little red truck carrying gifts in its trunk. It’s such a perfect balance of cozy and elegant. The following two cakes are also available on Grubhub, making ordering easy. The winter village chocolate hazelnut cake with Nutella reminds me of the snowy house drawings found on holiday cards. This one screams winter wonderland with its picturesque “village” decorations — a little cottage house with snow. The cake itself is rich with a chocolate hazelnut base and layering Nutella. And then there’s my personal favorite: the penguin pond chocolate cake. This one takes me back to my childhood when I used to watch Pingu as my comfort show. It’s the cutest cake, with silly penguin figurines sliding around a blue chocolate pond. It’s so whimsical and playful. Paris Baguette knows how to make the holidays special, and buying these cakes can increase your serotonin levels during finals week.
If you don’t feel like committing to a big cake, you should check out Baked by Melissa; the cupcakes are godly. There’s just something about their tiny, dime-sized cupcakes that makes you want to eat more and more until the whole box is gone. Baked by Melissa has festive cupcake options for the holidays that melt in your mouth. The Christmas sugar cookie cupcake delivers that soft, buttery sweetness that reminds you of freshly baked sugar cookies. Then there’s the Brookie cupcake — the lovechild of a cookie and a brownie. If you are a s’mores fan, the snowcap cupcake is a must-try, loaded with marshmallow and chocolate goodness. And finally, the vanilla fluff cupcake is pure marshmallow heaven, topped with green and red sprinkles for that perfect holiday vibe. I hope these seasonal treats are the perfect way to fuel through finals and make the stress a little more manageable. Anyways, peace out, fellow foodies. Maybe I’ll see you again. If not, I’ll live on in memory as a true foodie, or as my friend calls me, “Big Back.”
