HG has done it again -- we've created yet another fantastic Starbucks swap! This one is creamy and crazy-chocolatey, with just the right amount of minty candy cane, coffee, and french vanilla flavors thrown in. It's super-sized to match The Bucks' 12-ouncer, but feel free to whip up a half-sized version of this recipe that'll fit nicely into your favorite mug -- then it'll have fewer than 55 calories and a PointsPlus® value of 1*. Think of it as our delicious little holiday gift to you. And BTW, if java's not your thing, feel free to make this minty concoction without coffee. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 packets Swiss Miss Diet hot cocoa mix
1 tsp. instant coffee
2 tsp. Coffee-mate Sugar Free French Vanilla powdered creamer
2 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda)
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
1/3 peppermint candy cane (standard size), crushed
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Empty contents of cocoa packets into a tall mug or glass. Add instant coffee and powdered creamer. Slowly pour in 12 ounces of hot water, stirring until cocoa and creamer have completely dissolved. Stir in the peppermint extract and sweetener. If your drink is extra-hot, let it cool for a minute or so. Top your drink off with the Reddi-wip, and then sprinkle the crushed candy cane pieces over the whipped topping. Gorgeous!!! MAKES 1 SERVING

Well, you can't win 'em all, Starbucks. We were super-impressed with your seasonal Gingerbread Latte, which we can order with sugar-free syrup, nonfat milk, and no whip for only 90 fat-free calories (for a Tall). But even with NONFAT milk, a Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha (The Bucks' minty, chocolatey, holiday beverage) still clocks in with way too many calories. And ordering a Tall one with WHOLE milk would set you back 440 calories and 18 grams of fat, which is just plain ridiculous for a drink! So rather than spending a completely absurd number of calories on a glorified cup of hot cocoa (it's mostly just flavored espresso and steamed milk), stir up some of HG's White Hot Mint Mocha Cocoa instead. Hooray!