5 Seasonal Specials to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

From eggnog to caribou, these flavors won’t be available much longer.

December 18, 2014

Katrina Valcourt,

Gingerbread and eggnog cupcakes at Cake Couture.

Photo: Courtesy of Cake Couture

You’ve got your favorite Christmas playlist on repeat, your party outfits all picked out, your gifts wrapped and your holiday meal reservations made. But just because you’ve got the big days covered doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze in a little extra Yuletide cheer. ’Tis the season of cranberries, duck, peppermint, gingerbread and more—even reindeer. Here are five seasonal specials to try while they last.

When we say get in the holiday spirit, we mean it. The Study’s holiday cocktails turn classic Christmas stories into jolly beverages. Some are a stretch (A Letter from Santa Claus is a smoldering kiawe wood-smoked Gentleman Jack cocktail, based on Santa’s smoldering understanding in Mark Twain’s letter to his daughter), while others hit it right on the nose—the Nut Cracker uses Amaretto Di Saronno almond liqueur with hibiscus and black tea and fresh orange. There are six choices—enough to have one a night until Christmas Eve. $13, The Modern Honolulu, 943-5800.

Ice cream aficionado Miller Royer has been crafting special batches of caramel apple, gingerbread, candy cane and peppermint Oreo ice cream this season, but quantities are limited, so head down to Wing Ice Cream ASAP. Try the eggnog flavor, which includes some booze and fresh grated nutmeg on top. Single scoops start at $3.50, 1145 Maunakea St., Suite 4 (entrance on Pauahi Street), 536-4929.

Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai has a trio of holiday offerings for one complete festive meal, available now through Dec. 23. Start with a Sinatea to drink: Seagram’s Sweet Tea Vodka, cranberry juice and cinnamon simple syrup ($9), then follow it with duck confit with cranberry holiday stuffing ($12.50). And for dessert, polish off a pumpkin panna cotta with spiced pumpkin puree ($8). 6600 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, 396-7697.

This one might be a little hard to stomach, like eating rabbit on Easter, but you can get a caribou hot dog from Hank’s Haute Dogs while supplies last. Yep, you can actually eat reindeer this season (sorry, Rudolph). Lean caribou sausage from Alaska is blended with beef, grilled and topped with traditional condiments. $7.50, 324 Coral St., 532-4265.

If you’ve got a real sweet tooth, head east to Cake Couture, where a rotating menu of holiday goodies includes sticky toffee pudding, chocolate peppermint brownies, gingerbread loaves with coffee glaze, eggnog pound cakes with a buttery dark rum glaze and peppermint cake truffles. That’s on top of delectable cupcakes we already know and love, but with a holiday twist: Try the chocolate peppermint cupcake with handmade peppermint bark. 820 W. Hind Drive, Suite 104, 373-9750.