The countdown to Christmas has since begun, and I am finally feeling “ready”. How about you?

I wanted to share my go-to holiday essentials and last-minute finds; from stocking stuffers to the multitude of add-ins for my hot chocolate obsession. The holidays are for indulging, and I certainly take part in my fair share (not that I necessarily needed the excuse).

First up are the cookies I am leaving for Santa. At $3.99 a dozen, you can’t beat fresh-baked vegan chocolate chip cookies that you didn’t have to make yourself. This year, Santa is getting a short-cut version of the homemade classic, but he won’t miss or know the difference once it’s plated and paired with some non-dairy milk! Sprouts sells their in-house baked vegan cookies in both chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin varieties.

While at Sprouts, pick up some gummy candy fillers for your mantel’s sock, in a variety of kid-friendly shapes! Classic Gummy Bears, gummy worms, and unicorns are offered in a vegan-friendly variety at Sprouts Farmer’s Market. The unicorns are (typically pre-packaged) in the bulk-foods area! I am a fan of the unicorn shape myself, but I would love to make some Shrek-worthy mud-cups with the worms.

For our cocoa, we have handy-dandy Dandies marshmallows! I purchased mine from an online retailer, as I knew I wanted to buy a few bags. However, Sprouts, Raley’s, and Safeway carry this brand. You can use the store finder feature on the Dandies website at: dandies.com/wheretobuy to locate the nearest store near you with Dandies in stock! I love these mini marshmallows in hot cocoa, my Rocky Road Fudge, and all sorts of sweet treats!

Last up is the glorious dairy-free Bailey’s Almande. Bailey’s Almande is a gluten-free, almond milk spirit that instantly makes any beverage more joyful. I like to spike my seasonal coffee, crock-pot cocoa (watch out for that recipe via my IG story or Tik-Tok), or pour it in a flask to take on an outdoor coffee date (the baristas will never know!). I am thankful Bailey’s made this allergy-friendly alternative to their traditional cream, and cannot wait to see more liquor brands follow suit. I picked mine up at BevMo, but some Target and WalMart locations carry this variety as well!

I can’t wait to share my holiday treats with loved ones and embrace all the holiday has to offer. Glad Tidings!

Location: Modesto, CA