It's that time of year again--time to take those overlooked peppermints that sit on restaurant countertops and in waiting rooms all year and turn them into sensational holiday treats that are the object of attention for everyone's taste buds.
From September's first gust of wind, Starbucks customers anxiously await the arrival of the festive red-and-white holiday cup and peppermint coffees.
"At Christmastime we promote something called the Peppermint Mocha," said Nancy Weathers, assistant manager at Starbucks' Tiger Town branch. "My new thing is the Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop. It looks like a sucker, but it's actually icing-covered cake."
Retail stores also stock up on peppermint items during the holiday season.
World Market sells all things peppermint this time of year, including peppermint chocolate, peppermint bark, syrup, s'mores, Peeps marshmallows, cupcake mix, lotion, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and even a peppermint gift set that includes miniatures of some of these treats in a peppermint-shaped cup complete with a candy cane.
"There are all kinds of little things you can put together, from food to lotions," said Eliza Turner, stock supervisor at World Market in Tiger Town.
Even with all of these options, some of the best Christmas peppermint treats are the homemade ones.
Kerry Fannon, senior in nutrition and dietetics and contributor of the Recipe of the Week, said there are several holiday peppermint recipes that are easy for college students to make.
"Peppermint and chocolate kind of mix," Fannon said. "I guess the most traditional peppermint dessert would probably be peppermint bark."
Fannon also suggested some more innovative indulgences.
"You can use candy canes to stir hot chocolate," Fannon said. "It kind of tastes like a peppermint patty.
"You could use peppermint extract to add to vanilla icing just to jazz it up a little bit. Put that over cupcakes or a regular cake."
Fannon agreed that a connection between peppermint and Christmastime exists.
"I think it's just kind of a tradition thing," Fannon said. "People celebrate the holidays in so many different ways, but that's one of those foundation kind of things that's always around. It's seen everywhere, so that's kind of cool."
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