Enjoy peppermint in the form of warm beverages and sweet treats throughout winter in the Hudson Valley.
What do you get when you cross water mint and spearmint? You get peppermint, one of the most beloved flavors of wintertime. As we usher in the holidays, we can rest assured that peppermint-flavored treats will keep us cozy through the cold months this winter season. Whether you’d prefer to enjoy the aromatic herb in a tea, ice cream, or French macaron, there’s a little something for everyone to savor in the Hudson Valley.
French Macarons
Amanda’s Macaron Shoppe
Eastdale Village, Poughkeepsie
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Macarons are rather difficult to make, but luckily, the namesake behind Amanda’s Macaron Shoppe attended the Culinary Institute of America, where she perfected the confection. Amanda’s is a staple in Eastdale Village, serving up a slew of creative macaron flavors as well as her trademark “Macarownies,” which are—as the name suggests—made by baking a macaron inside of a brownie. This winter, be sure to stop in and sample the extra-large peppermint cookies and cream macaron for a mouthful of pure deliciousness.
Herbal Tea
Harney & Sons
Millerton
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Globally loved and locally founded, Harney & Sons has a hot or iced tea for every season and any occasion. In the winter, popular flavors include Hot Cinnamon Spice, Chocolate Mint, White Christmas, and Gingerbread Festival, but Peppermint Herbal is an unbeatable classic. Touted in reviews as “the best peppermint tea around,” the herbal brew is brisk, refreshing, and does wonders for an upset stomach. Enjoy it in person at the Millerton store, or order a tin of sachets online to sip throughout the season. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect present for a tea lover, check out the HT Holiday Soiree Gift set that includes a tin of Peppermint Herbal, Vanilla Comoro, Hot Cinnamon Sunset, and Chocolate Mint.
Hot, Iced, or Frozen Peppermint Mocha
Ready Coffee
Hyde Park, LaGrange, Newburgh, Wappingers Falls
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Can you possibly think of a more delicious union of flavors than chocolate and peppermint? Ready Coffee, the mini-chain with four locations in the Hudson Valley, serves unbeatable seasonal coffee featuring the flavor of the season. Among the current offerings is a peppermint mocha, served hot, iced, or frozen. Also in the seasonal lineup, try hot or cold gingerbread, eggnog, and pomegranate-inspired flavors to keep the rotation festive all winter long.
Peppermint Bark
Samuel’s Sweet Shop
Rhinebeck
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Calling all candy lovers! While Samuel’s Sweet Shop is known for nostalgic sweets and celebrity owners, the Rhinebeck-based candy store is big on seasonal candy boxes. For the holidays, order the Deluxe Holiday Sampler to dig into peppermint bark, sea salt caramels, peanut brittle, peppermint hot chocolate popcorn, white chocolate peppermint pretzels, chocolate-covered gummy bears, and chocolate toffee almonds. For a smaller selection of sweets, go for the Season’s Eatings Sampler for peppermint bark, milk chocolate-covered dried cherries, dark chocolate-covered dried pears, and white and dark chocolate-covered gingerbread.
Ice Cream
Carmel Creamery
Carmel
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At this newly opened, family-owned and -operated ice cream shop in Putnam County, there is an endless supply of hard ice cream flavors, many of which are also vegan. Carmel Creamery handcrafts ice cream from scratch with only the necessary ingredients of milk, sugar, and cream to create silky smooth scoops that change with the seasons. This winter, throw caution to the wind and enjoy a frozen treat in the form of peppermint bark ice cream made with Ghirardelli chocolate, peppermint extract, Hershey’s chocolate chunks, and crushed candy canes.
Related: Peppermint Bark Is a Festive Treat in the Hudson Valley
