[1] Mac & Cheese Candy Canes (photos © Archie McPhee).

[2] Pickle Bacon Candy Canes.

Don’t like peppermint candy canes?

How about some Mac & Cheese-flavored candy canes?

Macaroni and cheese has become a holiday tradition in many homes, so why put it on the tree?

This set of six candy canes tastes like mac and cheese (disclosure: we haven’t tasted any of these).

Each candy cane is 5-1/4″ (13.3 cm) tall with yellow and white stripes.
 
 
BEYOND MAC & CHEESE: MORE CANDY CANE FLACORS

Why stop at Mac & Cheese? There are also:

 
 Most are from Archie McPhee, a Seattle-based novelty dealer.
 
 
Who’s up for some adventure?
 
 
> THINGS TO DO WITH CANDY CANES (BEYOND THE OBVIOUS)

> THE HISTORY OF CANDY CANES

[1] What’s in the black box? You’ll find out when your Coca-Cola Insiders Club box arrives (all photos © Coca-Cola).

[2] Last year, you would have been the first to taste Peace Tea’s new Razzleberry flavor.

[3] Or, you could have taken a virtual trip to the beach with Fanta’s Piña Colada.

If you love bubbly soft drinks—or need a gift for someone who does—get ready for December 8th…

…and allow us to introduce you to the Coca-Cola Insiders Club.

The Club gives soft drink enthusiasts the opportunity to try new products created by Coke…and get fun swag along with the drinks.
 
 
WHAT DO YOU GET?

For three months starting in January, a black box will arrive. Open it and feast your eyes upon:

Refreshing Tastes

Be the first to try the new brands or product extensions* of soft drinks, before they’re in stores nationwide.

They could be new offshoots of Coca-Cola brands. Beyond Coke, the brands include Barq’s, Dasani, Fanta, Minute Maid, SmartWater, Sprite and quite a few others.

their first box arriving in January 2021, for a three-month run.

Get Fun Swag†

Small gifts plus an exclusive virtual experience with a celebrity arrive in every box.

What will it be? Who will it be? We have no idea.

But our fond with is for Coca-Cola socks and Morgan Freeman!
 
 
DON’T TARRY!

Memberships are extremely limited, and quickly sold out last year.

Plus, the first Insiders to sign up will receive a special welcome gift.

So mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 8th when enrollment begins, and head to the Coca-Cola Insiders Club website.

To send an Insiders Club membership as a gift, simply include the recipient’s shipping information instead of your own at check-out. The recipient will then receive a three-month subscription.

There’s not currently an option to include a gift card, but you can always give the recipient a can of Coke with a note that a special black box will arrive in January.

Wishing you lots of effervescence in the new year.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF COCA-COLA

*A product line extension introduces a new item in the same product category: new flavors (e.g. Cherry Coke, Coke Zero), formats, colors, added ingredients, package sizes (e.g. mini cans), etc.

†Swag originally was pirate-speak for loot, booty or plunder. In current times, it has evolved to mean freebies: giveaways for customers and goody bags for party-goers and event attendees, etc. It can take the form of branded tee-shirts, mugs, key chains, and anything related to the brand (beauty products, sports accessories, e.g.). At exclusive events, the goods are equally exclusive. The 2020 Academy Awards swag bag was valued at $225,000, up nearly $80,000 from the prior year’s haul. In contrast, the 24-karat-gold-plated Oscar statuette costs just $400 to make [source].

We never had the original Gingerbread Oreos that debuted in 2012, nor had we tried them in any year since—until last week.

The 2020 Limited Edition Gingerbread Oreos are a new formulation and packaging.

We have only one word for them: Terrific!

The originals were vanilla-flavored cookies with a creme filling flavored with gingerbread spices.

O.K., but the brand managers new an updated was needed.
 
 
THE NEW GINGERBREAD OREOS

The new version is like a real gingerbread cookie, crunchy and toothsome.

 
The cookies themselves are an assortment of “5 Festive Designs,” molded onto the side of each cookie (photo #3).

They include: Christmas Tree, Oreo Joy, Gingerbread Man (photo #1), Oreos For Santa and Gingerbread House.

Let us say once more: They are delicious!
 
 
GET ‘EM WHILE YOU CAN

A limited edition this good is likely to sell out, so don’t wait…or buy just one bag.

If you don’t want to hoard them for yourself, friends and family will be happy recipients.

We’ve bought enough to keep us happy through the cold winter. They’re terrific with hot chocolate, coffee, tea and the classic glass of milk.

We’ve found them at retail and online.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF OREOS
 
 
> COOKIE GLOSSARY: THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COOKIES

[1] This gingerbread man is one of five designs on this year’s Gingerbread Oreos. See all five in photo #3, below (all photos © Mondelez International).

[2] Don’t buy just one bag. If you don’t want to hoard them, friends and family will be happy recipients.

[3] This year’s designs: Christmas Tree, Oreo Joy, Gingerbread Man, Oreos For Santa, Gingerbread House.