In the spirit of the holiday season, we vow to take an extra bite of that delicious pie, reach for just one more cookie and enjoy every sip of our steaming hot peppermint mocha. We’ve scoured our favorite foodie blogs in search of the most savory and sweet recipes to satisfy our holiday sweet tooth. Photographer Shannon Blue captured a shot of her Christmas cocoa.




Every so often I check in with Stephanie, a California native, food and travel photographer, dessert designer and gal behind Desserts for Breakfast. Pictured here are her seasalt and thyme chocolate chunk cookies {recipe here}. She says, “Sometimes, I just want to slow down, take some time, stare out the window at the crisp winter days, wrap my hands around a mug of tea or hot chocolate or warm apple cider or milk while sitting by a cozy, crackling fire, listen to my favorite Christmas music, and just enjoy the holiday season and the twinkle of the Christmas lights reflecting off of the walls. For those days, this is the cookie you’ll want to nosh on.” These cookies are perfectly chewy with a delicate crumb. “When paired with the mix of dark and semisweet large chocolate chunks, the sea salt and thyme make this cookie surprisingly novel yet familiar,” Stephanie says; Doesn’t a mason jar full of Fresh Mint Hot Chocolate sound simply perfect? The fresh mint gives the rich chocolate an earthy punch. Serve with a homemade marshmellow for extra sweetness. View the recipe here, via Not Without Salt.


We spotted this festive drink display from a holiday party over on the Hostess with the Mostess and fell for the understated and crisp design. Hosted by Leila of Be Inspired PR, the rustic-meets-modern “California Christmas” theme was concepted and designed by Carissa of JL Designs and Cortnie of Canvas and Canopy. The fun signature drinks were Icicle Mint Mojitos with candy icicle stirrers and Jingle Berry on the rocks. Wiley Valentine designed the lovely table signage. Captured by Leo Patrone Photography.

What Katie Ate is one of our all-time favorite foodie blogs. Pictured here is her Blackberry, Boysenberry and Almond Praline Crumble and Warm Williams Sonoma Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with hot cherry sauce {view recipes here}; Roasted chestnuts sounds like the perfect winter treat, especially if you dare to cook in the snow. Image by Nikaela Marie via Kinfolk Magazine.
xox Shaunna