5 OF THE BEST FESTIVE TREATS

Ho ho ho, merry eatmas! The season best spent snacking delivers a swag of goodies from our favourite eateries, writes Sally Coates

FRUIT MINCE PIES

PADDOCK BAKERY

20 HIBISCUS HAVEN, MIAMI

Pretty as a picture, these fruit mince pies will taste just like grandma made them (or dare we say better!). Paddock owner Chloe Watts describes a little present for your mouth. “This year we have our very own homemade fruit mince pies, made with dried fruit (over eight different types), pecans, Christmas spice, a cheeky dash of brandy, a touch of Grand Marnier and encased in house-made pastry that literally melts in your mouth.” You can pre-order half or full dozen boxes, packaged in that pretty Paddock style with hessian and pine.

ROCKY ROAD WREATH

WACKY WHISK

19 ALBERT AVE, BROADBEACH

Not many of us actually make what we see on Facebook, but Wacky Whisk pastry chef Lani Hearfield did. “It was a random thing that came up on Facebook and I tweaked it to personalise it for us. Our handmade wreath is made of marshmallows, peanuts, dark chocolate, white chocolate, rice bubbles and I replaced berries with different chocolate.”

LIMITED-EDITION DOUGHNUTS

DOUGHNUT TIME

2375 GOLD COAST HWY, MERMAID BEACH

Try the Snow Money, Snow Problems with coconut cream glaze, crushed candy cane, edible glitter and Raffaello chocolate, the Sleigh Girl, Sleigh, a red glaze doughnut topped with Hershey’s kisses, snowflake sprinkles, silver leaf and silver balls, or the Treat Yo’ Elves, a Nutella filled chocolate glazed doughnut with miniature chocolate chip cookies.

BETTER-FOR-YOU FRUITCAKE

MRKT STREAT CAFE 6/43 HILLCREST PARADE, MIAMI

No Christmas spread is complete without fruitcake and, like everything at MRKT StrEAT Cafe, Tomas and Hana Frana have made it guilt-free. Billed as “a nicely balanced mixture of nuts, dates, dried fruit, cacao and fine spices topped with raw organic chocolate”, these puddings are completely raw and vegan for even the fussiest eater.

CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS

RAVENS LOUNGE BAR

53 THOMAS DRIVE, SURFERS PARADISE

Known for its themed cocktails, Ravens has whipped up a couple of Christmas specials – because a drink is just what we need around this time of year. Sip the Touch of Frost, a mix of vanilla vodka, coconut cream and Liquor 43, rimmed with whipped marshmallow and edible glitter, or try a red peppermint and raspberry mojito with a snow rim.