Every holiday season, Starbucks finds some seasonal treats to offer in the store. This time they outdid themselves with the Squirrel Brand Macadamia Nuts. They are so good. They are rich and yummy and you can taste the toffee buttery goodness all around the macadamia nuts. These snacks are dusted with Starbucks Espresso Roast Coffee over the toffee-butter coating. I cracked open a can of them with my friend Molly (who takes many of this blog’s pictures) and I had wanted to leave the can with her, knowing that I’d eat the whole thing too fast. She shoved them right back at me and said “No, you eat them. I’ll be left in a stupor this afternoon if you leave that can with me.” The problem is, these are so good, you’ll faint and collapse from an overdose.
Last year there were some toffee-cinnamon sweetened almonds which curled my toes. Last year’s almonds were much lighter than this year’s macadamia nuts.
There are two other limited offering seasonal snacks at your local Starbucks: Gingerbread Biscotti with Macadamia Nuts and Peppermint Bark. I think that the Peppermint Bark was offered last year too, and it is a layer of chocolate, with a layer of white chocolate on top (with peppermint flavor) with candy cane chips gracing the top of the chocolates. This is also very rich and deadly. There is a ton of peppermint flavor and I really like the candy cane on top. I can’t eat a whole one though because of how rich it is.
The gingerbread biscotti is also very good. When you open up the package there is an immediate aroma of gingerbread. It can be dunked into coffee or eaten alone. This treat won’t make you pass out like you’ve just eaten too rich of a meal. It’s good. I had mine at home with a cup of Gold Coast Blend coffee.
This blog post is a sequel to my previous blog post on the non-seasonal snacks currently offered at Starbucks. I hate to admit it but one of my favorite things right now actually is the popcorn at Starbucks. Oh yes, and if you are looking for the Squirrel Brand nuts, they usually are on a table near the Huxley Mouse merchandise.
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Right now I am super busy at work, and I need to worry about Christmas gifts and cards. I might have a few super short blog posts coming up soon! Well, a picture is worth a thousand words! 
On a new topic, I started a Facebook page for this blog. The link is here. I would be very flattered if my readers would “like” my new Facebook page. Many thank yous!
Enjoy…
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
mmm I love me some squirrel nuts. They’re quite delicious indeed.
Oohhh. I want some of the Macadmia nuts. Now.
*sigh*
You gotta stop doing this Melody – you got me hooked on those Almonds last year and now they’re gone…and now these…
These -are- yummy! Picked up a couple more cans to give as gifts.
(Noticed there was only one can left at my regular Starbucks!)
@LatteRose – I love Yukon Blend, but gotta say, I miss ChocoCat!
The delicious Gingerbread Biscotti is my favorite. I don’t really care for the gingerbread latte, which is sad, but this thing is to die for! And so cheap I just can’t help myself!
(Ok, CD – here’s ChocoCat!)
My Dad had this soft spot for feeding the squirrels so I ended up with a soft spot for them because of him *smile* I don’t collect squirrel stuff but I always coo a bit at squirrel themed things (and squirrels themselves) So no surprise when I clicked your blog link and *POP* SQUIRREL! But it wasn’t just a squirrel brand it was nuts and chocolate *YUMMY!!!* I’m going to have to just have a day out for snacking. I might have to fast for a day first to consume everything I want to try LOL. Thank you for the post and for the fabulous pics
I saw your headline and immediately thought, “Hey! Tryptophan in macadamias?” Tryptophan being the stuff in turkey that knocks you out twenty minutes after staggering away from the holiday dinner table, because it converts to happy sleepy serotonin. At least, I think so; I Am Not A Neurobiologist and take no responsibility for the correctness of my statements.
Then I realized that, no, you were just talking about gluttony and deliciousness coma. But I looked them macadamias anyway, and, yep, they’ve got some.
Almost every food that I really love is rich in tryptophan (including chicken!); I should have expected that macadamias would too. And the handy sugar coating would make them an even better tranquilizer. Yum. 
I love Macadamia nuts!!! Really good stuff…
And great that you are on Facebook now, Mel!
The Macadamia nuts would probably kill me (I’m allergic), but I wouldn’t mind trying the Peppermint Bark. I haven’t seen it at any of my local locations yet.
@LatteRose THANKS! And decked out for the holidays too!
I haven’t had any choc covered macadamias since Hawaii! and, I actually meant to pick some of these up today WHEN I BRAVED THIS BRUTAL WIND AND SNOW (really) but only eneded up with my drink. I will get them tomorrow.
BUT, I have to say, and have said, I am love love loving the peppermint brownies this yr.
nuts tomorrow…….
@LatteRose I love chococat!
I have not seen these around, but they do sound delicious! I must find them.
@Mike – I don’t know about the stores where you are, but in the stores around me they have the peppermint bark tucked away by the gift cards at the registers. It’s almost not even noticeable unless you are looking for a gift card.
I saw these nuts for the first one last week and was intrigued by it. As I remember, I believe its made with milk chocolate so I can’t have it but I think I”m going to pick up a container for a friend of mine who would love them
I LOVED the almonds that were covered in coffee grounds. I wish Starbucks would make them a seasonal staple, especially because the coffee makes it a uniquely Starbucks experience. That being said, I wouldn’t pass up the macadamia nuts either!
@ALN – I thought there was powdered sugar on the almonds. Anyways, last year’s almonds were so wonderful. I miss them!
OH!!!! how very very good! I did finally get the macadamias yesterday and they are really exquisite. just exquisite, and different from the ones commonly sold in Hawaii…. the espresso comes thru and just a hint of salt, and sweet and = perfection. Now I have to make sure I get a few more to give, like today!
@Hayley: same with our peppermint bark, it’s really nearly hidden by the register. And, actually, so are these macadamias…..they are in the Huxley section byt really really tucked away. I had looked at them before (because I LOOK) but thought it best to stay away from them….. am glad I gave in, so now I can share them, give them away….let other people enjoy their perfection!
@DeniseR – Glad you tried the nuts! The macadamia nuts are super yummy. And I know I would’ve never tried them if a partner hadn’t sampled and insisted. The nuts are mixed in with Huxley merch! Who is looking for food near the stuffed toys?
@Melody: I know….he’s a mouse, not a squirrel;)
I rarely looked for non-coffee/tea items in SBUX. It caught my attention while shopping with my 15% reward holiday coupon. I bought a can of Squirrel Brand Macadamia Nuts, the XMas blend and VIA gift pack, TAZO tea bags, and some biscotti. They all taste very good and suit well after a meal.
Days ago, I noticed the Squirrel Brand Macadamia Nuts were being marked down to $3.99 (from $4.95).
Hey Melody! This is my first time visiting your blog — I was intrigued when you said that you were going to write about the holiday treats at Starbucks and I finally remembered to check it out today! I never paid too much attention to the packaging, so I didn’t realize it was called “Squirrel Brand” until I read the post! I like the pictures, too.
Hope your meeting went well with Hunter’s special!
Mickey
(Store 101)
Hi Mickey! I am at your store right now. I just walked down the hill from the afternoon court session. My new team has WAYmore meetings than my last, and they cut intomy lunches which cuts into my Starbucks time. What I need to do is start getting to your store earlier, readjust my schedule. Your store is the best! Keep up the amazing work. I will see you tomorrow!
Melody (sitting in the 101)
Anyone have any clue if the “dusting of espresso roast” adds caffeine to this delicious treat? I’m at Starbucks now and the staff & I are wondering. I can’t seem to locate any information on the casing or the internet… Either way, they’re fantastic. Just wondering if they’ll affect my sleepiness!
Hi Kelly! I wish I knew the answer. I would assume that there would be some trace amount of caffeine from the espresso roast dusting on top of these delicious macadamia nuts, but not much. Hopefully a barista can answer this question.
@kelly chocolate already has caffeine – so that light dusting probably doesn’t add much more than the chocolate already did
I’m totally disappointed with Starbucks for discontinuing the peppermint brownie.
That cake pop thing isn’t even close to a decent substitute. I know so many people
who love and seek out those brownies. Why do they have to mess with a good thing?