Popbar

The sweet shop warms up with Hot Chocolate on a Stick
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Churning out a flavorful variety of portable ice cream, yogurt and sorbet snacks from their NYC shop, popbar has us hooked on a warmer sweet.

The newest addition to the brand’s all-natural, kosher-certified lineup (including vegan sorbet varieties) is Hot Chocolate on a Stick, a treat as simple and sweet as the name implies. To whip up an instant mug, dip a chunk of dark, milk or vanilla-white chocolate into hot milk, stir for a minute and sip. Popbar’s chocolate-bar consistency seems to blend more easily than typical powder cocoas and, most importantly, does so quickly. Add more milk to temper the sweetness, or split one between two cups for just a hint of flavor.

Hot Chocolate on a Stick is available at popbar’s West Village shop and, for those outside New York, on Amazon for $3 a piece or in gift sets of six for $18 and 12 for $36.


Simpli Oats

A flavor-neutral milk alternative with the healthful benefits of oats

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One of the most exciting finds at the winter 2012 Fancy Food Show came in the form of a non-dairy milk made from oats. Oats? Milk? Yes—and the result outshines other alternatives like soy and almond because of its neutral taste and dairy milk consistency. Plus, Simpli Naked Oat retains many of the vitamin and nutritional qualities of the oats. The beverage is available unsweetened, or lightly sweetened and flavored with vanilla.

Simpli also makes the creamier dairy-free, gluten-free OatShakes, which are available in chocolate and tropical fruit flavors, offering a new snack option that can be served cold or warm. As part of Simpli’s mission to encourage healthy lifestyles, they offer an extensive list of gluten-free baking tips and recipes on their website. Both Simpli Naked Oats and OatShakes are available through Amazon where a 25oz box sells for around $5, and at retailers nationwide.