Whole Foods guards its upcoming holiday product lineup like a deep government secret. But as loyal Whole Foods customers, we’ve been shopping their Christmas products for years and know a little about what will likely be hitting the shelves. From popcorn to advent calendars to beer, these are the Whole Foods holiday products we can’t wait for.
12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
One of the best Whole Foods holiday products doesn’t involve any food. It’s a beauty advent calendar! You can find a wide range of beauty advent calendars, but this one is clean beauty, which appeals perfectly to Whole Foods customers, like us.
It comes with 12 mini beauty products you can find on Whole Foods shelves, such as Dr. Hauschka Facial Toner and Whole Foods Market Pedicure Peel. It’s a fabulous gift or Christmas purchase to treat yourself.
Eggnog Italian Ice Cream
When late November/early December hits, Whole Foods adds tasty holiday flavors to its store-brand gelato collection. One of our favorites is the eggnog ice cream, which is even better than it sounds.
It’s somehow light and airy but also rich at the same time, just like the real thing. The custard base enhances the buttery egg flavor, and hints of nutmeg and other spices capture the classic flavor of a glass of eggnog.
White Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream
The White Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream is another holiday flavor we look forward to all year. It’s flavored with real peppermint for a taste that bursts with sweet freshness. The crunch of real peppermint pieces is an excellent contrast to the impeccable creaminess of the ice cream and sweetness of white chocolate, so this is a top-notch dessert.
We like to plop a scoop into some homemade hot chocolate for a delicious “gelato affogato al cioccolata calda” which translates to “ice cream drowned in hot chocolate.” You’re welcome!
Organic Hot Cocoa Flavored Ice Cream Sandwiches
A common misconception is that anything hot cocoa-flavored is really just chocolate-flavored, but that’s blasphemy. The hot cocoa flavor has a milky and sweet quality that differs from traditional chocolate flavors.
These ice cream sandwiches, which are just like Klondike bars, have a hot cocoa-flavored ice cream filling that puts a fun spin on the holiday beverage. Despite being cold, the hot cocoa flavor is instantly recognizable and satisfying. The only thing it’s missing is a few marshmallows.
Gingerbread Sandwich Crèmes
You can buy vanilla sandwich cremes all year round at Whole Foods, but the gingerbread version is only available during that oh-so-special time of year. The creme is the classic vanilla flavor, similar to Oreos, but the Christmas cookie has that spicy and deep gingerbread flavor that defines the holidays.
They have a delightful crunch and the bold molasses and spiced flavor profile hits your nose before you even take a bite. We hate to say it, but these might be better than traditional gingerbread cookies.
Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Sandwich Crèmes
Whole Foods stocks its shelves with a few different holiday sandwich creme flavors. The Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Sandwich Cremes are another one of our favorites, as they go the extra mile when it comes to decadent holiday flavors. They’re the traditional dark chocolate sandwich cremes, but instead of vanilla creme, it’s peppermint-flavored creme.
But wait, it gets better. These peppermint chocolate cookies are coated all around with a layer of dark chocolate and topped with crunchy peppermint pieces. They’re a match made in heaven with hot chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Sandwich Cremes
In our opinion, Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Sandwich Cremes should not be seasonal. But we’re not in charge of Whole Foods’ stocking, so we patiently wait for these to become available each year. These are dark chocolate cookies with a caramel creme frosting filling that is out of this world.
Like the peppermint sandwich cremes, these are surrounded by a layer of dark chocolate. A light sprinkle of sea salt on top of the chocolate completes these cookies. We recommend buying more than one box, as they’re addictive.
Whole Foods Holiday Peppermint Whipped Topping
This one is straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it’s not phenomenal. Whole Foods sells peppermint-flavored whipped cream around Christmas, and we love to put it on anything and everything. It’s a great topping for ice cream, hot chocolate, cake, chocolate pie, coffee, pudding, and much more.
However, we’re big fans of the straight-from-the-can-and-into-your-mouth approach. Maybe it’s not the most hygienic, but it’s the closest we can get to injecting this creamy peppermint treat into our veins.
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
In case it wasn’t obvious, we adore seasonal goodies, and there’s nothing like a good Christmas beer. The St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is near the top of our list. It’s not a light beer, so Bud Light lovers might want to pass on this one. But for those of you who love a bold beer, this dark ale is lovely, with notes of caramel and chestnuts.
Subtle hints of chocolate and dried cranberries peek out at the end of your sip and it delivers a creamy head when poured properly. While it’s best served chilled, the flavor will warm your bones and tummy in the dead of December. It’s also 10% ABV, so you’ll be feeling holly and jolly real quick!
Santa Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Holiday Brew
If you want a tasty beer without the intoxication, it doesn’t get better than the Santa Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Holiday Brew. This beer has a somewhat indie vibe, coming from a small brewery, which only makes it more charming.
It’s a herby, spiced beer that is actually a blend of the original Clausthaler beer and a cranberry-cinnamon drink. The taste is the definition of Christmassy and pairs beautifully with a Christmas Eve feast or even the afternoon charcuterie board on Christmas Day.
Whole Foods Bakery Golden Holiday Boule
What’s a boule? It’s a fancy name for a large round loaf of bread. You can get Golden Age Bread year-round at most Whole Foods bakeries, but the Golden Holiday Boule is a little different. Orange peel, orange oil, and cardamom are added to their classic recipe, offering a slightly spiced and fruity flavor that feels warm and cozy.
There’s nothing you can’t use this bread for. Make toast with butter, use it for leftover turkey sandwiches, create a holiday garlic bread, or just tear pieces off and go to town.
Gingerbread Cake and Cupcake Mix with Lemon Glaze
Gingerbread and lemon aren’t the most traditional pairing, but once you try this duo you’ll be a believer. With this cake and cupcake mix, you can make a variety of different holiday treats, from bundt cakes to dessert loaves — and cakes and cupcakes, obviously.
This isn’t your typical Betty Crocker gingerbread mix (we love Betty for the record). The ginger and molasses flavor in this mix is unapologetic and loud but in the best way possible. The heaviness of the cake is one of the reasons the light and sweet lemon glaze is so spectacular.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Flats
The Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Flats is one of the longest-running Whole Foods holiday products, so you know it’s a crowd-pleaser. There’s no rocket science here. They’re flat pretzel twists dunked in dark chocolate and then stuck with crunchy and refreshing pieces of peppermint.
We have a love-hate relationship with these. We love eating them, and we hate how we can’t stop eating them. But it’s okay because Christmas calories don’t count. Right?
Whole Foods Holiday Drizzled Kettle Corn
The Whole Foods 365 Drizzled Kettle Corn is a bit of a tease. It’s here some years and M.I.A. the next. But we’re optimistic about seeing it on shelves this year. It’s small-batch kettle popcorn salted to perfection and then drizzled with dark chocolate.
We love this popcorn for when all the decadent holiday desserts get to be too much and we need a more balanced flavor profile. They’re right between sweet and savory, so they can be a midday snack or a modest dessert.
Whole Foods Holiday Toffee Popcorn Crunch
Some years, Whole Foods also sells bags of Toffee Popcorn Crunch, which is popcorn with a toffee coating mixed with various nuts. You can also find Dark Chocolate Popcorn Crunch, depending on where you are and how nice or naughty Whole Foods decides to be this year.
These popcorns are sweeter than the Drizzled Kettle Corn, so they’re best for desserts or when your sweet tooth starts aching. These ones are not available every year, so don’t make any bets on buying them.
White Chocolate Gingerbread Bark
Peppermint bark is everywhere during the holiday season, but gingerbread bark is what we want to talk about. It’s hard to believe, but not everyone is as obsessed with peppermint as we are. And for those folks, Whole Foods makes White Chocolate Gingerbread Bark, so they can get in on the Christmas bark action without the peppermint.
Whole Foods also makes Milk Chocolate Gingerbread Bark, but we love the white chocolate one. They’re thick pieces of white chocolate topped with a generous sprinkling of gingerbread crumble, which boasts those familiar molasses, ginger, and cinnamon flavors.
7-Day Candle Advent Calendar
We know a seven-day advent calendar isn’t ideal, but you can enjoy this one for longer than seven days. This calendar comes with seven distinct scented candles that capture the spirit and smell of the Christmas season.
The candles are small, but when used moderately, they can burn for two or three days. We like to light one on December 1st and slowly make our way through the calendar. But hey, if you finish early, that’s okay.
Leave a Reply