As November gives way to December, sweet LTO specials transition from pumpkin to peppermint. Thank God. (Bye bye Pumpkin. Please don’t come back.) And so, already we’re seeing our fair share of peppermint candy bits, like in Dutch Bros.’ Candy Cane Mocha and Next Level Burger’s Organic Candy Cane Shake.
But more broadly, I find it interesting that the last season of the calendar year closes with a grand finale of sugary candy and cookies infused into everything. It’s as if the creative-license gates have opened for R&D chefs to deliver a spectacular end to the year—before January New Year’s resolutions wipe the sweet slate clean and brussels sprouts and kale take back the spotlight.
Running parallel, manufacturers are supporting this trend with appropriate syrups, making cookie and candy flavoring a simple proposition. For example, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf just launched a Gingerbread Cookie Latte made with Espresso, steamed milk and gingerbread cookie flavor. How simple is that? Through the winter, Sonic offers Sparking Sugar Cookie Dr. Pepper. The cookie concoction combines Dr. Pepper, caramel soda mixed with sugar cookie syrup and sweet cream. And doesn’t Toffee Crunch Latte with Mac Milk sound lavishly indulgent? The Human Bean is offering it, and it’s simply Espresso with hazelnut and English toffee flavors topped with frothed macadamia nut milk.
Syrup aside, there’s plenty of opportunity to fold in crushed cookies before January comes demanding a course correction. IHOP’s holiday French Toast is stuffed with cookie butter and topped with vanilla sauce and cookie crumbles. Jack in the Box has sprinkled Biscoff cookies around its menu—using cute names. There’s the Noggy or Nice Biscoff Shake—simply a vanilla shake blended with eggnog flavor and Biscoff cookie crumbles finished with whipped topping. But why stop there? It also has Noggy or Nice Biscoff Sweet Cream Iced Coffee. Coffee gets a sugar rush with sweetened cream and eggnog flavors over ice topped with whipped topping and Biscoff cookie crumbles. The crumbles also appear in the Biscoff Donut Holes, which is an order of three fried dough balls tossed in the crumbles.
And what about shortbread cookies during the holidays? Shake Shack has that covered with its Christmas Cookie Shake. You have a sugar cookie flavored frozen custard shake topped with whipped cream, crumbled shortbread cookies and holiday sprinkles.
These are all nice. But there are cookie and candy opportunities beyond beverages and dessert. Here are some ideas to experiment with:
- How about a Caesar salad with nut brittle pieces sprinkled on top?
- You could play around with shortbread breadcrumb stuffed mushrooms. Instead of coating the mushrooms with breadcrumbs, use finely crushed shortbread. Stuff the shrooms with such savory items as garlic, Parmesan and herbs.
- Instead of a cheese and cracker plate, how about pairing cheese and cookies? For example, blue cheese paired with ginger snaps; brie with almond cookies or simple butter cookies; sharp cheddar with oatmeal cookies or cookies with a hint of apple or pear. Elevate it with a small drizzle of honey or some nuts on top of the cheese.
So let’s toast to a season filled with delicious twists of cookies and candy—enjoy them now, because January’s greens are just around the corner!
Jody
