Seasonal Drinks and Food to Warm the Soul

NEWS FEATURE Seasonal DrinkskFoods to Warm The Soul

By Signal Staff

This is the time of that family and friends gather and reflect on the year. For many families coming together around the dinner table, an assortment of seasonal foods plays an important role in bringing to life timely flavors and seasonal favorites.

This includes flavors such as pumpkin, peppermint, hazelnut and cinnamon. Of course, the foods that represent fall are endless, especially in a melting pot of culture in the United States, but certain foods have become staples during the fall and winter seasons.

Fall and winter favorite foods include pumpkin and pecan pie, gingerbread, spiced lattes, peppermint candies, eggnog and other holiday favorites.

Pumpkin spice doesn’t contain any pumpkin but refers to a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice, and are traditionally used for spicing pumpkin pies.

The ancient Romans widely used peppermint for culinary and medicinal purposes, which quickly evolved into use as a candy cane as a treat given to children during Christmas.

Eggnog, first known as posset to the British aristocracy, made its way into the United States, but Americans changed the recipe to include rum, a local alternative to the sherry included in the British version.

For some local choices of these flavors, check out the following.

Kupcake Kitchen

This season, Kupcake Kitchen is offering a selection of cupcake flavors including a gingerbread spice cake topped with buttercream cream cheese and a gingerbread man cookie. There also is a moist pumpkin spice cake topped with a maple cream cheese frosting and an apple spice cake.

Kupcake Kitchen is located at 27737 Bouquet Canyon Rd Ste 120, 91350. www.kupcakekitchen.com

Honu Coffee

Honu Coffee is fully embracing the seasonal flavors with classics and new combinations to remind

S’mores Cupcake from the Kupcake Kitchen

you of the falling leaves and warm feelings. Their featured hot drink is a chai latte, which is a blend of exotic spices mixed with milk. Or try the Hot Dirty Chai Latte that includes expresso.

Seasonal drinks include White Christmas , Eggnog Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Hot Apple Cider, Gingerbread Latte and a Salted Caramel Mocha.

Honu Coffee now has two locations. The original is located at 22722 Lyons Ave., 91321. The newest location is located in the Real Life Church at 23841 Newhall Ranch Rd., Valencia 91354. www.honu coffee.com

XRO Fresh Churro Bar

Churros are enjoyable year-round and have become a staple in Spanish-influenced cuisine. The churro bar makes its delicious cinnamon treats fresh. You can grab a bag of 8 mini bites or one of their churros and fresh fruit. Either way, they pair well with the beverages offered including the Mexican or traditional hot chocolate. If you want something with a cold treat, try the soft serve churro.

They are located at 24450 Main St., Unit 100, 91321. www.freshxrobar.com.

The Loaf Bakery and Cafe

A Japanese-inspired bakery featuring many

A churro and hot chocolate from XRO

freshly baked goods with sweet and savory flavors. The Loaf Bakery has many unique Japanese flavors in their pastries and drinks. Stop in and see what is currently on the menu for the bakery, which includes freshly made, handmade delights.

The Loaf also has a selection of Japanese foods that can be preordered online for specific pickup dates.

They are located at 24450 Main St., Unit 160., 91321. www.theloafusa.com.

The Welsh Baker

The bakery influenced by the pastries from Wales showcases the famous hand-griddled Welsh cake, a cross between a cookie and scone but cooked like a pancake. The bakery has fully embraced the season and offers cranberry, sweet potato, apple pie and pumpkin spice Welsh cakes.

The Welsh Baker company owners Denise and Joe Carbone say, they’ve been making their “humble little cakes entirely by hand from an old family recipe handed down in Denise’s family.”

The Welsh Baker is at 27820 Fremont Court, Unit 4, 91355. www.welshbaker.com. 

Welsh cakes from The Welsh Baker Fresh pastries from The Loaf Bakery and Cafe