A wise friend once told me that holiday calories don’t count, so put aside your protein goals and indulge in chocolatey cookies and yule logs, pepperminty ice cream (scooped or in shake form), and even a Thai-British mashup that results in Christmas pudding. Get your orders in now.
Bakeshop
Find a variety of festive treats, including vegan options, at the Arlington and Falls Church locations of Justin Stegall’s beloved sweets emporium. Prefer something traditional for your holiday spread? A pecan (with or without bourbon chocolate) or apple streusel pie might be for you, or perhaps a loaf of iced gingerbread or cranberry white chocolate bread. For a seasonal cake, try Candy Cane Whipped Cream or The Grinch, which packs a sour punch. Or chill out with ice box pies in flavors such as mint chocolate. Want a bite-size treat? This year’s holiday season brings a few new macaron flavors: Gingerbread, The Grinch and Candy Cane. 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington, and 100 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Put a New Orleans spin on your holidays with Chef David Guas‘ Kiddie Creole Kringle Crunch Cake, a praline iced Danish-style cake that feeds eight to 10 people. Other temptations include a trio of pralines in traditional, cafe au lait and chocolate flavors; sugar-dusted “crack” cookies; and peppermint bark. Starting Dec. 14, the cafe’s Christmas Corner Holiday Market will offer a rotating selection of edible stocking stuffers. 1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington (Courthouse)
Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
The second annual Big Buns “Slayin’ Sweets” menu is back to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth with indulgences like a Santa’s Sundae, topped with granola and holiday M&Ms; a Grinch Shake with Oreo crumbles and mint syrup; and the North Pole Quake, a layered creation with vanilla ice cream, double chocolate brownie and all the toppings. 4401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston); 4251 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington); and 1336 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
Dolcezza
Baby, it’s cold outside, but true gelato lovers won’t mind—or they’ll pair their scoop with a festive hot drink. All six D.C.-area locations of the Georgetown-born gelato and coffee shop are rolling out special holiday flavors, such as Coffee & Xmas Cookies (coffee gelato with chocolate-covered Biscoff cookies), Hot Cocoa (spiced milk chocolate gelato with marshmallow), and King Leo Peppermint (crushed pieces of King Leo peppermint candy folded into mint gelato and then ladled with melted dark chocolate). Counter the cold with a hot Gingerbread Latte, King Leo Peppermint Mocha or Coconut Spiced Coquito Latte. 2905 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Flore Café
This pretty spot for a spot of tea by the owners of Sisters Thai has partnered with British chef Daniel Green to present The Jasmine & Jubilee Tea Ceremony, a British high tea with a Thai twist. The menu includes items both savory and sweet, including a Christmas fruit pudding with spices and brandy, and a Bûche de Nöel (rolled sponge cake) with cream and chocolate ganache. Each high tea service includes more than a dozen bites and a signed copy of Green’s Take Home Thailand cookbook. The tea service launches Dec. 6, 1 p.m., with a meet-and-greet with Green and Flore Café pastry chef Oksana Chepoy, and runs throughout the winter season. The experience costs $120 per person. 7735 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons
Fresh Baguette
Taking inspo from the bakeries in France, this local chain is putting its own spin on holiday classics. Take home a vanilla, chocolate or pineapple Bûche de Nöel (rolled sponge cake) Dec. 4-26, or a king cake, available Dec. 26-Jan. 31. 6707 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
The Happy Tart
Kerrigan Firth’s gluten-free bakery in The Little City is now accepting holiday menu orders. Get a chocolatey Bûche de Noël with raspberry jam, diplomat cream and chocolate buttercream; stollen stuffed with marzipan, candied fruit and toasted almonds; and a rotating list of cookies, including gingerbread, chocolate crinkle, and hand-decorated sugar cookies in festive shapes. Want to add your own flair? Decorate a DIY gingerbread house or a giant ornament cookie. 410 S Maple Ave., Falls Church
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Now rounding out their 50th anniversary year, owners Carla and Wolfgang Büchler are still going strong at this Best of Arlington winning Bavarian bakery. The long list of holiday specialties includes yule logs, stollen, German Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, marzipan figures and handmade chocolates. 2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington
Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn
Humanitarian entrepreneur Robin Rinearson runs this shop and its sister spot, Jake’s Ice Cream, with the help of employees who have disabilities. Sweeten up your holiday season with popcorn in flavors like Grinch (red, green and white popcorn with white chocolate drizzle and red and green M&Ms), Gingerbread with pieces of candied ginger, or Pomegranate with Chocolate Drizzle and Chocolate Pom Arils. A new offering is Butter Cookie popcorn with an entire tin of Royal Dansk’s famous cookies in every 5-gallon bucket. 6328 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church
Jake’s Ice Cream
Swing by this scoop shop, a sister to Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn, for a classic holiday ice cream flavor like Candy Cane, or perhaps something a little more daring, such as Citrus Cranberry with White Chocolate Fudge Swirl. Better yet, host a Create Your Own Ice Cream party for up to seven people and your group can take home four pints of the custom flavor you conjure up. If you just can’t bear the thought of cold treats on a chilly day, hot cocoa bombs are also available and make great stocking stuffers. Barcroft Plaza, 6353 Columbia Pike, Falls Church
Northside Social
Executive Pastry Chef Bridie McCulla says cinnamon buns, a fan favorite, are available frozen (six to a pan) to bake at home and top with cream cheese vanilla frosting. Prefer to give your oven a rest? Leave the baking to Northside and grab a tray of holiday cookies in flavors like Chocolate Orange Shortbread, Toasty Apricot, Chocolate Peppermint Crackle and Rosemary Blue. 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), and 205 Park Ave., Falls Church
Paris Baguette
This French-inspired South Korean chain has an extensive holiday treats menu. From Dec. 1-25, find cakes such as Winter Chocolate Hazelnut with Nutella and Nutcracker Blueberry Chiffon. Pastries include Peppermint Mochi Donuts and Snowman King Cream Donuts. Place orders for holiday sweets at least 48 hours in advance. 8344 Broad St., McLean
The Swiss Bakery
Transport your taste buds to the Swiss Alps with traditional Christmas cookies such as Appenzellerli, Linzer and Vanilla Kipferli. Or go for a white chocolate mocha or chocolate raspberry yule log decorated with sugar poinsettias. Want to put your own elbow grease into it? Get a DIY gingerbread chalet kit with pre-baked pieces, royal icing and festive candy. Place orders at least 72 hours in advance. 5224 Port Royal Road, Springfield