There is nothing like waking up on a chilly December morning to discover that everything is covered in a blanket of fresh snow. But even if sledding and snow angels aren’t in your forecast, you can still enjoy decadent white chocolate treats that are perfect for a winter day at home.

White Chocolate Favorites

White Chocolate Chips

Our creamy white chocolate chips are great for baking, topping ice cream or other desserts or simply eating plain straight out of the bag. Use them instead of milk chocolate chips in your next cookie or cupcake recipe, or melt them for white chocolate fondue.

For a special everyday treat, make white hot chocolate: stir together milk (or a combination of milk, half-and-half and heavy cream), white chocolate chips and a splash of vanilla in a saucepan over low heat. Let the mixture come to a simmer (not a boil), then pour into a mug, top with marshmallows, whipped cream and a dash of ground cinnamon.

White Chocolate Toffee Cashews

Cashews are a versatile and healthy nut, full of protein, fiber, potassium, folate and Vitamin B. While they are delicious plain or in trail mix, they are a finger-licking good dessert or snack when they are covered with white chocolate and toffee!

White Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Our white chocolate-covered cherries are the ideal festive treat and a blend of sweet and subtly tart flavors.

White Chocolate Bark

Our white chocolate bark is a new spin on an old favorite. We take huge chunks of almonds and cover them in fine white chocolate.

What are your favorite white chocolate desserts?

We’re excited to announce a brand-new section of our website: one that’s especially for Health Nuts! If you’re looking for foods that will help you manage your weight, boost your heart health, or maximize your nutrition, this is the place to start.

Here are four ways to make good use of the Health Nuts section:

1. Find links to our healthiest products, all in one place.

We’ve sorted our products into the following categories, so you can quickly find what you’re looking for:

• Superfoods, such as blueberries, quinoa, and maca powder
• All-Natural Products, such as  Simply Fruit Cocktail, raw almonds, and fruit leather
• Certified Organic Products, such as organic nuts, organic sweets (like organic gummy bears!) and organic dried fruit
• Raw Products, such as cashews, mushroom popcorn kernels, and Acai Blueberry Superfood Cereal

2. See at a glance which products have specific health benefits.

3. Locate answers to your health and nutrition FAQs from our Registered Dietitian Health Nut.

Our Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, has compiled answers to our customers’ most frequently asked questions. Here are a few questions you’ll find in the FAQs of the Health Nuts section of our website:

• How often should I incorporate whole grains into my diet?
• I’d like to lose some weight. What are some good snacks for mixing up my routine?
• Which nuts have the highest protein content?

4. Learn healthy eating habits for special diets.

Molly Morgan not only answers general questions about healthy eating, but she also addresses questions about special diets. Here are a few that you’ll find in the FAQs:

• What are good nut choices for diabetics and others watching their diets?
• How much protein do I need as a vegetarian who eats a plant-based whole food diet?
• What is the best way for someone on a gluten-free diet to get enough fiber?

Let us know in the comments what you think of our new Health Nuts section, and what else would be helpful to you!

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions and recommends her favorite products!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

It’s a busy time of year, and we don’t always take time to eat nutritiously. Add these five healthy foods to your eating routine on hand to help your body stay well through the holiday season!

Crystalized ginger

‘Tis the seasons for colds and flu! Did you know that ginger has long been used as a remedy to treat upset stomachs and colds? Boost your immune system this winter by adding crystalized ginger to stir-fry dishes or even mixing it with your favorite nuts!

Peppermint Tea

Keep your tummy happy this holiday season! After meals, brew a cup of peppermint tea to settle your stomach. Did you know that peppermint tea is herbal and caffeine-free?

Chia Seeds

Skate through the holidays without putting on the traditional holiday pounds! Chia seeds are loaded with fiber, which can help to fill you up. In addition, they are hydrophilic which can aid in keeping your body hydrated. Keep a batch of chia seed pudding on hand to grab as a quick, nutritious and hearty snack!

Seven Bean Soup Mix

In a hurry and need quick dinner options? Have soup and sandwiches for dinner! This seven bean soup mix is absolutely delicious and makes the perfect base for a soup to go with your sandwich.

Cacao Nibs

When you’re looking for a chocolate treat this holiday season, keep a stash of cacao nibs on hand. They are made from crushed Ecuadorian Arriba Nacional beans. They are truly a treat. Bonus: they’re nutritious, too, with 5 grams of fiber and 21% of the DV for iron per ounce!

Cookies and candies and cakes, oh my! The holiday season is full of tempting goodies that seem to pop up everywhere — your office, your home, even your mailbox. It’s a treat to indulge in your favorite snacks and sweets during the holidays, but overindulgence will make you feel sluggish and make those New Year’s resolutions even more challenging come January.

Allow yourself to enjoy your favorite holiday foods in moderation, but also be mindful about incorporating healthier options into your diet before January 1 arrives.

Healthy & Tasty Treats to Try

Dried Fruit

Satisfy your sweet tooth with naturally delicious dried fruit. Add dried blackberries, dried strawberries or dried red raspberries to your morning oatmeal instead of sugar. Munch on dried apples, dried apricots and dried bananas at your desk for a mid-afternoon snack instead of raiding the office cookie jar. Throw your favorite dried mixed fruit in the car for your commute or a long road trip instead of reaching for a candy bar.

Kale Chips

Kale isn’t just a side dish anymore; it also makes an excellent salty snack. Try a sampler of our salty and crispy kale chips: sea salt and vinegar, vegan “cheese” and spicy miso are always popular. Kale chips are gluten-free and loaded with vitamins and nutrients.

Unsalted Nuts

Unsalted nuts are big in flavor but low in sodium. Keep a variety on hand for snacks or to sprinkle in salads or veggie side dishes. A few to try: supreme roasted mixed nuts, dry-roasted edamame, roasted organic pistachios and roasted macadamia nuts.

What are your favorite treats that match up with healthy eating habits?

Have you ever wished that you could create a custom assortment of your favorite goodies? Well, let us grant your wish with a custom tray of nuts, sweets, and other snacks!

Custom trays are a popular holiday item because they make perfect gifts or holiday party treats. Choose from a selection of more than 150 nuts, dried fruits, and sweets!

To create your own, visit the Nuts.com site and follow these simple steps:

1. Select your category: Nuts, Dried Fruit, Chocolate, Sweets, or Snacks. You can mix and match, of course. You can also start with the Nutty Family’s favorite trays and customize them, or sort by Raw, Organic, Gluten-free, or Kosher products!

2. Click on a product, then click on the section of the tray you want it to fill. If you love a certain snack, you can use it to fill multiple slots! If you change your mind about a slot, just repeat step 2 and you’ll replace your original choice with the new one. You’ll see the cost of the tray vary with your selections.

3. Choose whether you’d like a medium or large tray, select your quantity, and click “Add to Cart”!

Here are a few of our favorite snacks that you might include in your own custom tray:

• Dried Strawberries
• Turkish Pistachios (Antep)
• Roasted Almonds (Salted)
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Toasted Corn Nuts
• Butter Toffee Mixed Nuts

We recommend that you time your order so you can enjoy these perishable treats within a few days of delivery, at the peak of their freshness. Enjoy!

The world would simply not be the same without cocoa (or cacao, as you may know it)! When you dig into a piece of decadent chocolate cake, enjoy a steaming cup of hot cocoa, or moisturize your skin with cocoa butter lotion, take a moment to appreciate the wonders of the cocoa bean.

Cocoa has a history that’s just as rich as its taste. It was first discovered and cultivated by the Olmecs of ancient Mexico, who first made drinking chocolate by crushing cocoa beans and adding water and spices. The Mayans and Aztecs continued cultivating cocoa and revered it as the food of the gods, even using it as currency. When explorer Hernando Cortez introduced “brown gold” to the Spanish court, cocoa was on its way to becoming the immensely popular product it is today.

Cocoa Nibs

Cocoa nibs are crunchy, flavorful, and packed with powerful nutrients and natural mood lifters. They’re perfect for mixing into trail mixes, smoothies, yogurt, or ice cream. It’s common for chocolate to contain between 10 and 70 percent cocoa, but these nibs are 100 percent cocoa — which means they carry 100 percent of the antioxidant benefits! The nibs also have 0 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fiber per serving.

Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is extremely versatile; you can use it in all kinds of chocolatey baked goods or stir it into hot, sweetened milk to make hot cocoa. Cocoa contains more flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, than any other food. Antioxidants can protect against damage by free radicals. Furthermore, the phytochemicals in flavonoids may fight diabetes. Check out a few of our favorite recipes using cocoa powder (see right sidebar).

Cocoa Butter

You’ll love breathing in the rich, delicate aroma of cocoa butter. To moisturize your skin, use it in its pure form or make your own lotion by slowly melting one part cocoa butter with three parts raw essential oil, such as coconut or chamomile oil. Alternatively, add a small spoonful to a steaming bath for a long, lavish soak that will invigorate your skin from head to toe. Cocoa butter also makes a wonderful butter substitute for vegans.

Cocoa Beans

Cocoa beans may be the most concentrated source of antioxidants on the planet, and beans provide the most concentrated benefits. Crack open two or three for a burst of energy and antioxidants that will keep you going all day.  According to researchers, regular cocoa intake may reduce blood pressure by thinning blood and relaxing blood vessels. Cocoa also stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin, the two chemicals that naturally boost our happiness levels.

Discover even more cocoa products at Nuts.com!

It’s the time of year where the days are shorter, the temperatures are icier and all you crave is hot, hearty comfort food, just like Mom used to make. While you may crave dishes like buttery mashed potatoes, rich beef stew and creamy cups of hot cocoa, you probably can’t indulge in these treats every day. Instead of adding more fat, sugar or salt to your cooking to boost flavor, opt for savory spices to create the perfect winter meal.

Turmeric

Turmeric, the bright yellow spice favored in many Indian dishes, has a deep, earthy flavor and is also a natural antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. It is used as a homeopathic remedy for upset stomachs, headaches, arthritis and other pain. Studies show it may even slow the growth of cancer cells and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Use turmeric to turn an ordinary chicken supper into a spicy winter feast. Mix 2 cups of plain yogurt with turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, salt, pepper, one minced garlic clove and the juice of one lemon. Set aside half of the mixture and refrigerate. Coat four boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly with the remaining mixture, cover and refrigerate for one hour. Scrape off as much of the yogurt marinade as you can, then pan-fry or broil the chicken until cooked. Serve with the other half of the yogurt mixture, grilled vegetables and whole wheat couscous.

Garlic Pepper

Make a side dish the center of attention by sprinkling a generous helping of garlic pepper seasoning over your favorite vegetables. Saute or roast cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes in a little olive oil, salt and garlic pepper. Serve immediately when the vegetables are fork-tender.

Cloves

Cloves add a strong, aromatic flavor to many dishes and drinks popular around the holiday season. Brew up a batch of hot apple cider,  and the wonderful smell will attract people from miles around! Stud one apple and one orange with whole cloves, then add them to a medium pot containing apple cider, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon sticks. Slowly bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 to 20 minutes. Discard the apple and orange, then ladle the cider into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

What is your favorite spice to jazz up your comfort food?

On cold, dark, wet winter mornings, no sound is more unwelcome than the blaring of the alarm clock. Hitting the snooze button a few (dozen) times might be tempting, but work or school or family commitments will eventually motivate you to drag yourself out of bed, however grudgingly.

Wake up and warm up with a hot, comforting drink that will cheer even the grumpiest non-morning person.

Coffee With Chicory

Chicory, a root that is dried, roasted and ground up, has a long history as a health supplement and coffee substitute. The ancient Egyptians believed it purified the blood and treated liver problems, and Napoleon’s army used it to replace coffee during the 1800s. Nowadays it is especially popular in New Orleans, where locals mix it with dark roasted coffee for its rich flavor. Add a few spoonfuls of chicory to your next pot of coffee or try our version already blended with ground coffee (and a little milk and sugar create the perfect cafe au lait).

Hot Cocoa

A mug of sweet, rich hot chocolate, paired with oatmeal or a plate of buttered toast, starts your day off on the right foot. Heat our organic cocoa powder with milk, sugar and a touch of cinnamon and vanilla (and top with marshmallows or whipped cream for extra decadence). Cacao contains more flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, than any other kind of food, plus it is found to improve heart health and boost happiness levels.

Matcha Green Tea

A steaming cup of green tea is full of antioxidants and a gentle boost of caffeine. Our Matcha green tea powder, imported from Japan, is the high-quality tea used in traditional Japanese ceremonies to achieve beauty, tranquility and enlightenment. Mix a small amount of Matcha green tea powder with hot water to form a paste, then gradually add more water and sweetener until you achieve your desired flavor.

How do you start your morning?

Sometimes you get a hankering for something sweet or savory or even a little spicy, and your taste buds won’t be happy until you find the right snacks to satisfy your craving. Here are a few of our favorite snacks that are ideal for each mood:

Slightly Spicy

Ginger Snaps

You loved crisp, sweet and slightly spicy ginger snaps when you were a kid, and they are just as good as you remember. Our cookies are made with real ginger and molasses, so they have the perfect amount of sweetness with just a little kick. Pair a few ginger snaps with a mug of tea or hot cocoa to warm you up on a chilly day.

Sweet

S’mores Trail Mix

Everyone loves s’mores, but sometimes you don’t have a campfire and all the ingredients ready to make your own. Our s’mores trail mix gives you all of the flavor of s’mores without any of the mess, combining milk chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers in a tasty and portable blend.

Savory

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds aren’t just for Halloween anymore. We offer a wide variety of in-shell seeds and pepitas (shelled seeds) that are great for snacking on the go, sprinkling in salads or serving at a party. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds: Traditionalists love these freshly roasted pumpkin seeds, each lightly salted and ready to be devoured. Bring a bag to the ballpark or on a road trip for your snacking pleasure.
• Organic Pepitas: These shelled raw pepitas are certified organic and high in protein, iron and phosphorous. They are delicious plain by the handful or salted and sprinkled in your favorite salads and side dishes.
• Cilantro-Lime Pistachios & Pepitas: This blend of pistachios and shelled pumpkin seeds is sure to wake up your senses with flavors of fresh cilantro, tart lime, spicy jalapeno and a custom blend of spices.

What is your favorite sweet, spicy or savory snack?

The weather may be cooling down, but football season is just heating up. Put on your lucky jersey and cheer on your favorite team by hosting a game day party for fellow fans (and maybe a few rivals). Put a fresh spin on tailgating by serving some of your favorite sweet and salty snacks during the game.

Guacamole Bites

Don’t worry if you can’t find ripe avocados in October! These crispy guacamole bites are seasoned with natural avocado flavors and just the right blend of Southwest spices.

Black Bean Sticks

Pep up the crowd with these jalapeno-flavored black bean sticks. Each crunchy bite has a hint of garlic, tomato and onion, and you may find yourself fighting over control of the bowl as well as the ball.

Gum Drops

Revisit a childhood favorite — soft, chewy, multicolored gum drops sprinkled with sugar. Your only challenge will be deciding which flavor is your favorite.

Chia Chips

Football game snacks don’t have to be unhealthy to be tasty. Our chia chips taste great and are good for you! Chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, and they have proven health benefits, including reducing food cravings and blood pressure.

Chocolate-covered sunflower seeds

Cover salty sunflower seeds with a hard milk chocolate shell and you have yourself a crowd-pleaser. Put out a bowl of rainbow chocolate-covered sunflower seeds, and watch it disappear in minutes.

Garlic cheese sticks

Real garlic and romano cheese, baked with wheat flour and grains, make these garlic cheese sticks unbelievably flavorful. Serve them with dip or a hot bowl of chili for a tasty touchdown.

What are your favorite snacks for game day?