Punting our healthy eating resolutions to January, we’ve gathered a Texas-wide round up of sweet indulgences and seasonal sips for this holiday time. After all, is this not the year to (safely) indulge? 

AUSTIN

Just in time for the holidays, Austin native and career savory chef Lorin Peters has launched the decadence fittingly named Cookie Rich. Drawing on her culinary background, including time spent as a chef at three-Michelin Star restaurant The French Laundry, Peters is crafting a new take on the classic cookie. Cookie Rich is available for delivery and pick-up in Austin. 

Olamaie is offering fun cookie decorating kits featuring fresh-baked cookies from Pastry Chef Jules Stoddart and Beverage Director Erin Ashford’s famous (and famously boozy) eggnog, and wine selections. Pick up Holiday Cheer gift bags Dec 23-24, along with Chef Stoddart’s Triple Chocolate Peppermint Loaf featuring dark chocolate chunks folded into her chocolate loaf, topped with white chocolate glaze and peppermint candy. Online orders only. Last orders Dec 20.

“We all deserve a special treat this year,” says Ariana Quant, Executive Pastry Chef at Uchiko and all of the Uchi restaurants, who has created the Limited Edition Uchiko Sweet Holiday Box ($75). Each gifting box includes the following, plus a few surprises: Chocolate Mendiants, Huckleberry Caramels, Caramel Popcorn, S’more Cookies, Peanut Dragées, Hot Cocoa for two with house-made marshmallows, and a half bottle of champagne. Call (512) 916-4808 to order. Pickup available only Wed, Dec 23, 4pm-10pm

French pastry and coffee shop FoliePop’s at Hill Country Galleria has a decadent festive dessert, the Bûche de Noël, or a French Yule Log ($75). This is a reimagined version of the traditional Christmas dessert by Executive Pastry Chef Antoine Chassonnery. The body of the droolworthy Bûche is a mix of chocolate mousse, Madagascar vanilla cream and salted caramel with pecans, topped with three chocolate hazelnut pops and three mango and passionfruit pops. All of this sits on a crunchy honey and hazelnut biscuit base. Feeds six. Pre-order.

Living up to its “dope Chinese” reputation, Old Thousand has its own Naughty List, aka a selection of festive holiday cocktails, available at their east 11th St. location for dine-in or to go. Holiday cocktails include the Santa’s Lil Helper with Chai Infused Western Grace Brandy, Montenegro, Tapioca Pearls, Dalgona Coffee; the Hot Butter Scotch (served hot) with Monkey Shoulder Scotch, Banane du Bresil, Whip Cream and Szechuan Salt.

FORT WORTH

Celebrate Christmas with Toro Toro Fort Worth as the restaurant highlights the spirit of the holiday with a twist of traditional Pan-Latin flavors. Led by Chef Richard Sandoval, the Father of Modern Mexican Cuisine, Toro Toro’s Christmas offerings will be available to guests on-site, as well as to-go all day Dec 25. The multi-course, family-style menu ($68 per person plus tax and gratuity) includes: Short Rib Tamales, Prime Rib Birria, Chimichurri, Roasted Carrots with Chipotle Agave Honey, Roasted Leeks with Ajillo Sauce Roasted Poblano, Salad and to round out the feast, Tres Leches and Churros.

Pollsters tell us that Texans favorite holiday beverage is eggnog. So, courtesy of Fort Worth’s Blackland Distillery, we bring you this festive recipe, featuring Blackland’s Texas Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon. 

Blackland Distillery Spiked Eggnog Recipe (by Megan McClinton)

1 1/2 cups Blackland Texas Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon
1/2 cup Blackland Rye
2 cups whole milk
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
6 whole eggs
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon aromatic bitters
2 dashes ground cinnamon

Directions: Combine all and blend thoroughly with an immersion blender. Pour in 5-6 oz servings over ice. Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg.

HOUSTON

This season, Snooze has a double-dip of a holiday menu with festive dishes and cocktails to celebrate the holidays, as well as holiday brunch kits to make and enjoy at home. Indulge with Snooze’s Celebration Cider with hot mulled cider, white rum, aperol and garnished with a lemon wheel or Spiked Cocoa with Snooze Hot Chocolate, tequila, coffee liqueur, peppermint, vanilla, whipped cream and crushed candy canes. Pair this decadence with a holiday brunch kit. Choices include a Holiday Pancake Party Kit ($40), French Toast Bake Kit ($50) and more deliciousness. Order for next day pick up. Pro tip: Snooze has locations across Texas, not just in H-Town!

SAN ANTONIO

Fan favorite Pearl and its Farmers Market Curbside is embracing their inner Ho, Ho, Ho with a sumptuous spread of curated boxes filled with holiday gifts from regional producers and family farms that are perfect for that special someone–including you! Choose from tamales, charcuterie, preserves or the one that had us drooling, the Sugar Plum Fairy box ($75) that holds 4 Iced Christmas Cookies, 5 Chocolate Truffles, 1 Peppermint Chocolate, 10 Chocolate Dipped Shortbread and more. Pre-order now for pick up. 

From pies to cookies to mimosa kits, La Panaderia has sizes and taste preferences for any Christmas gathering. Pies come in family and personal size for the apple, pecan, pumpkin and mixed berry. Looking to go even sweeter? For the first time, La Panaderia will be serving gooey and delicious s’mores cookies. The scratch-made chocolate cookies are packed with chocolate chunks and toasted marshmallows. ($18/6 pack). And what’s a holiday without a little bubbly? La Panaderia is also offering mimosa kits to take home this year. The kit comes with a bottle of JP Chenet Brut and half a gallon of fresh orange juice. Pre-order online.

Cover photo courtesy FoliePop’s

Julie Tereshchuk is the editor-in-chief of Texas Lifestyle Magazine.