As a college student, before I can even begin enjoying the holidays, I am reminded of the impending doom of finals and bitterly cold walks to class. So, I’m here to tell all of you to take a study break, grab your coat, and venture out into B-Town for a much-deserved holiday treat.
1. Rainbow Bakery
Head to Rainbow Bakery for whimsical seasonal donut flavors like egg nog, sugarplum, candy cane, and orange clove. I may not be a donut connoisseur, but I can tell you that the donuts at Rainbow Bakery are perfectly crisp on the outside and delicate and fluffy on the inside.
Daily specials also include festively decorated Christmas cookies that if you’re like me, will make you stupidly happy. And all you gluten-free peeps are in luck because most treats are available in a GF option. Oh and did I mention everything is vegan?
2. Crumble Coffee and Bakery
If you can’t bear to break yourself away from studying, I suggest removing yourself from the stress of Wells and heading to Crumble Coffee for a change of scenery. I find that getting off campus and refocusing in a new location helps the quality of my studying, so why not do that with a Christmassy caffeine boost in hand?
This December, Crumble Coffee is featuring three seasonal drinks along with holiday treat specials that are made in-house. The drink specials include a toffee and hazelnut latte, a white chocolate and peppermint latte, and wait for it…a latte made with a maple, nutmeg, cinnamon infusion topped with whipped cream and nutmeg sprinkle. That is all.
3. BLU Boy Chocolate Café and Cakery
Stop by BLU Boy Chocolate on Kirkwood for a pick-me-up of dark chocolate and espresso or to get a thoughtful holiday gift for a friend or significant other. You’re in luck because BLU Boy just released their seasonal Christmas and Hanukkah collections that come in 5-, 10-, 15-, or 20-piece boxes.
Some of the popular flavors include salted caramel dipped in dark chocolate and truffles filled with peppermint chocolate ganache. Yum. At BLU Boy, all the chocolates are hand-crafted in Bloomington and use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. So consider supporting a local business next time you have a chocolate craving or are in need of a last-minute gift idea.
4. Feast Bakery Café
Avoid the overrated hype of the red holiday cup and cozy up with one of Feast’s craft holiday drinks or desserts. Not only does Feast have delicious drinks and holiday treats, but its ambience makes it an ideal spot for enjoying a friend’s company and escaping finals for a moment.
Some of Feast’s seasonal and specialty drinks include house-made mulled apple cider and hot chocolate with an adult twist, made with Nutella and espresso. Feast is also ringing in the holidays with their popular cranberry and hazelnut tart (pictured above), perfect as a slice or to bring to a holiday party if you feel like a splurging a bit.
Now that you’re armed with this immense treat knowledge, I challenge you to try at least one of my suggestions before finals week ends.