2012 Faves: 25 Ways to Spike Your Sweets

In this first year of baking, freezing, cooking, and hacking at Brit HQ, we heard one message loud and clear. Spike it! From jello shots to pudding pops, this year was definitely all about spiking our sweets. Here’s a complete list of 25 of our favorite recipes that’ll hit your sweet tooth, get you tipsy, and happen to look pretty darn cute too.

Jello Shots: First, the art of the jello shot. We took this bachelorette party staple to all new levels of culinary artistry.

1. Cinco de Mayo Jello Shots: Take the jello-shot-in-a-rind thing one step further by turning it into a classic shot of tequila, lime, salt and all.

2. Baseball Jello Shots: For baseball season, bust out the Twizzlers pull’n’peel to create laces on your jello shots.

3. Watermelon Mint Jello Shots: That’s right. Those are shots that look exactly like watermelon.

4. Star-Studded Jello Shots: Star shaped vodka-soaked gummies inside of jello shots? Naturally.

5. Strawberry Cheesecake Jello Shots: Strawberries, cream cheese, jello, and graham cracker crumbs. Epic.

6. Blood + Bones Jello Shot Cocktail: These definitely win for the creepiest-treat-of-the-year award. (See also: And the Award for Creepiest iPhone Case Goes to…)

Frozen Treats: Boozy bites that involve being frozen are always a tricky business, since alcohol doesn’t really want to freeze. These 7 recipes make it happen… deliciously!

7. Blue Moon Ice Cream Push Pops: For a refreshing bit of white ale, make it a push pop! Yum.

8. Kahlua Pudding Pops: These may have been the most devilish thing we made all year- a whole shot in each pop.

9. Wine Slushies: What’s better than a cool glass of wine in the summertime? Wine slushies, of course.

10. Beer Ice Cream Floats: With so many yummy varieties of beer out there, it’s easy to get your float on outside of the root variety.

11. Classic Cocktail Ice Cream Floats: Speaking of floats, what about a Pimm’s Cup, White Russian, Dark + Stormy, or French 75 in float form?

12. Watermelon Margarita Poptails: Could these be cuter? The salted lime on the bottom is sheer brilliance.

13. Bourbon Fruitcake Ice Cream Pops: Fruitcake never sounded so good.

Creamy Sweets: Love the richness of pudding, chocolate ganache, and panna cotta? This collection’s for you.

14. No-Bake Baileys Bonbons: Our most recent spiked sweet is easy, chocolatey, and delicious.

15. Spiked Oreo Panna Cotta: You read that right. Spiked. Oreo. Panna. Cotta.

16. Eggnog Pudding Shots: Can’t handle a whole mug of nog? Go for a shooter.

17. Reese’s Peanut Butter Shooters: Speaking of shooters, we used a shot glass ice cube tray to create these peanut buttery shot glasses.

18. Spiked Donut Pops: A (donut) hole in one! Kahlua is the star of these pops, made for your pops.

19. Boozy Irish Cupcakes: How does one make buttercream frosting better? By spiking it!

20. Jameson Pudding Shots: Who knew Jameson could be so sweet?

Fruity Fix: Want to feel like you’re being healthy too? Get fruit involved in the mix and your bases are covered.

Lauren Graham's new TV show on Tubi, The Z-Suite, follows an advertising CEO named Monica, and her faithful friend Doug (Nico Santos), who get cancelled, fired, and replaced by a whole new Gen Z social media team after an ad campaign gone wrong. So naturally, when I sit down with the two stars in New York City, I have to ask what their most-used app is.

"I think mine is probably a New York Times games and cooking," Lauren Graham tells Brit + Co exclusively. "I'm new to Instagram and I'm still working it out."

And when it comes to Gen Z slang, "I 'sus' every now and then," Nico says. "I still don't get cheugy."

"Somebody my age the other night said they liked my 'fit,' and I was like, 'Hold on,'" Lauren jokes. "I'm one of those boring people who still will write out entire words in a text because it's just is offensive to me to shorten everything until I'm not even sure what I'm doing."

Yes, Lauren Graham is truly as funny as you'd hope in real life, and The Z-Suite is the perfect way to show off that humor.

Keep reading to see why Lauren Graham's The Z-Suite is the ultimate winter comfort watch — and how Lorelai Gilmore would fit into the picture.

Lauren Graham & Nico Santos say 'The Z-Suite' is the perfect winter TV show.

"It's a fun world. It's easy viewing in a fun, comforting way," Lauren says of the new series, which premiered on Tubi February 6. "It's speaking to a moment in our culture, but without kind of taking a side or being too militant about it. We haven't kind of seen these generations interact, and I don't know, it's fun."

"It's a comedy for everybody certainly, but if you look at our cast, it's I think one of the most diverse casts you'll see out there, which I think is really important," Nico says. "We're telling the story through this lens and just sort of giving the other people a chance to tell their story as well."

And working behind the scenes created a "creative and fun" environment for the cast.

Tubi

Gilmore Girls fans have been wanting more from Lauren Graham ever since the GG finale, her 6-season hit Parenthood, and the Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life Netflix revival came in quick succession. Despite the fact she's found TV gold multiple times, Lauren admits choosing the perfect project is "probably less of a science than people think."

"There's so much that goes into what kind of job you're looking for versus what kind of job comes to you," she says. "I try to think in terms of, is this something I feel I can add to, like can I bring something that maybe is not on the page? And then is this far enough away, because in TV especially, you tend to get offered what you've already done, and so for this to even have a little bit of stretch, which I think it does, was really just a fun opportunity."

"For me it's all about the comedy in the scripts," Nico Santos adds. "That's my background and if I don't laugh reading a script, then I'm like, I'm not gonna do it."

"That is a huge part of it too," Lauren agrees. "Who the creator is and, in speaking to Katie [O’Brien], Nico knew her already, but I just thought this is someone I want to spend my days with, and that's really probably the most important decision, or a piece of the decision is, does this seem like it's going to be creative and fun?"

And one of Lauren's favorite parts of bringing the character of Monica to life was fleshing her out beyond the stereotypical "mean" boss archetype. "You know, the sort of like a tough older boss — I hate saying older, but I relative to the rest of everybody, yes!" she laughs. "I just wanted there to be kind of a reason behind her drive and a heart there, even though it is a pretty broad comedy. We talked about that and tried to find those moments where she's softer."

"There are moments that aren't really grounded and very sort of ridiculous, but it's also very important to infuse that sort of craziness with being grounded," Nico says. "So I think it's creating that balance and that's what makes the character so likable, I think."

Lauren Graham also loved the community aspect of filming 'The Z-Suite.'

Tubi

With the Gen Z, virtual workplace of it all, there will be some The Z-Suite viewers who have never worked in an office, including myself (and Lauren apparently). But seeing all the characters together creates a community that I totally didn't expect when I sat down to watch.

"Any opportunity to be with the community and be working and be back to anything resembling normal is a real gift," Lauren says. "It was fun too, it's like playing in a new kind of place, and I found after a little initial awkwardness that I really could walk into my office and take charge and that was like a new kind of a channel to walk into."

"I just like being a part of an ensemble," Nico says. "On my previous job with Superstore, it's like ensemble comedy and we did that for so long. So that's an environment where I really thrive, so I love it."

And in the spirit of past projects, I can't help but ask how they think Crazy Rich Asians' Oliver and Gilmore Girls' Lorelai would fit into the picture?

"Lorelai would not do well," Lauren Graham says. "She would be bored by the world of the office and I think would relate way more to the Gen Z people cause in her mind, she's always kind of one of the kids. But the office culture, she'd bring them coffee and then leave."

"Oliver would be a client," Nico Santos says. "He'll come to the ad agency with some asks."

You can stream the first two episodes of The Z-Suite on Tubi now! Check out Lauren Graham's First Instagram Post Is The Perfect Lorelai Gilmore Throwback for more Lauren love!

Trader Joe’s never stops when it comes to adding new treats to their aisles – not that I’m complaining one bit. There’s always something fresh to dig into every grocery trip I take, from savory picks to sweets.

This month, TJ’s introduced over 30 new items. These are the top 7 you absolutely must try in February. Be quick, though – these good-lookin’ groceries are likely to fly off shelves!

Scroll on for the 7 most epic Trader Joe’s new arrivals for February 2025!

Trader Joe's

1. Handheld Chicken Pot Pies

This new $5 pick is only available for a limited time, according to Trader Joe's. The pot pie pockets boast a medley of dark meat chicken, peas, carrots, and potatoes, including a thick savory sauce that ties it together seamlessly with the flaky pastry crust. The box comes with two handheld pies that can be easily prepped in the oven or air fryer!

Trader Joe's

2. Soft Pretzel Twists

This next new item is making me yearn for baseball season. I fear there's nothing quite as delicious in the summer than a good ol' soft pretzel, and TJ's just took the treat to a whole new level! These $4 twists are about the size of a hot dog bun, so you could happily transform them into a more-filling, dog-packed lunch, or just get your snack on by dipping one into mustard or beer cheese (I vote for the beer cheese).

Trader Joe's

3. Whipped Feta Spread

I fear I'm about to whip right into the parking lot of my closest Trader Joe's to get a taste of this whipped feta. This $4 dip is heralded as a "creamy, ultra-spreadable, mega-dippable concoction" that makes an ideal pairing for carrots, pitas, bagels, crackers, and more. The recipe includes 51% feta cheese for a tangy, yet fresh flavor. It just hit shelves as a limited-time item, so run!

Trader Joe's

4. Artichoke Bottoms

Artichoke hearts – you know and love 'em. But Trader Joe's $3 Artichoke Bottoms are about to transform everything you thought you knew about the fiber-rich veg. Still boasting the same "nutty flavor" and "buttery mouthfeel" as hearts, these bottoms are shaped perfectly for hosting spreads, dips, or salads for a fun bite-sized party treat. TJ's recommends filling them with their Artichoke & Jalapeño Dip (a 10/10, by the way), topping each one with shredded cheese, and baking until bubbly. Yummm.

Trader Joe's

5. Vegetable Dumplings

These $4 vegetarian-friendly frozen dumplings come in the cutest size, and they're wrapped up and ready to be shown off in your dinner spread. They're equally yummy for an afternoon snack or lunchtime delight! Each one is filled with chives, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and cabbage so you can be sure you're getting your veggies in.

Trader Joe's

6. Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

I looove bao buns, and the fact that TJ's just made them mini has me so excited for my next grocery run! TJ's says each bite in this $5 bag is "mighty flavorful," thanks to the inclusion of three kinds of mushrooms, carrots, onions, spring onions, and an "aromatic" teriyaki miso sauce. They're extremely easy to prep in the microwave – I could easily see myself grabbing a couple for a quick afternoon snack.

Trader Joe's

7. Dark Chocolate Bark

If you were wondering where the sweet stuff was, it's right here: in the shape of some dee-licious chocolate. This $5 dark chocolate bark houses tons of tiny puffed quinoa seeds and dried raspberry pieces that make each bite wonderfully crunchy and a lil' fruity.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more fun Trader Joe's finds!

'Tis the season for love — Hailee Steinfeldand Josh Allen are engaged! The 27-year-old actress (who you'll recognize from Pitch Perfect 2 and Hawkeye) and 28-year-old Buffalo Bills quarterback were first romantically linked in May of 2023, and "have been head over heels from the start," according to a People source. "Their families are thrilled."

This celebrity couple has the final word on romance if you ask me: trips to Paris, baby showers, and serious PDA (in Cabo no less). But nothing gets more romantic than Josh's proposal on November 22, 2024. An arch covered in roses and a grassy hill with flowers and vases filled with sand. When asked how it felt to play football as a fiancé, Josh said it "felt good. Felt free."

Keep scrolling to see Hailee Steinfeld & Josh Allen's oh-so-romantic engagement post — and some key moments that led to it.

Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen shared a kiss during the NFL Honors.

NFL on FOX

On February 6, during the NFL Honors, Josh Allen won the 2025 Most Valuable Player, and he briefly celebrated before going onstage by giving Hailee a kiss! "You've been my rock, you are my best friend," he told her in his acceptance speech. "I would not be standing on the stage if it weren’t for you."

Hailee, who looked overjoyed during his acceptance speech (you can see tears in her eyes!), also look gorgeous in her strapless & fitted black gown, diamond necklace, and engagement ring. The ring features a round-cut jewel that's equal parts classy and romantic. Hailee always looks good, and I truly can't wait to see what she looks like on her big day.

What kind of engagement ring does Hailee Steinfeld have?

Hailee Steinfeld's engagement ring features a round-cut gem that "appears to be about a three-and-half to four-carat round brilliant diamond set in a thin platinum solitaire setting,” Olivia Landeau, founder and CEO of The Clear Cut, told Brides. “Her engagement ring is timeless and traditional. She opted for a classic ring versus following trends. If her diamond is natural, the ring is estimated to cost anywhere from $70,000 to $150,000, depending on its quality.”

Did Josh Allen get engaged to Hailee Steinfeld?

Yes, Josh Allen & Hailee Steinfeld are engaged! The couple made a joint post to Instagram to celebrate, and Josh captioned the photo, "♾️ 11•22•24 ♾️." The Summer I Turned Pretty's Conrad and Belly have nothin' on Hailee Steinfeld & Josh Allen's eternal love! ;)

"The biggest congratulations ❤️," Hailee's Pitch Perfect costar Rebel Wilson commented. Chad Micheal Murray was also excited for the couple, commenting, "Congrats brother!"

Is Hailee Steinfeld in a relationship in 2024?

Yes, Hailee Steinfeld has been with Josh Allen since the summer of 2023. When they were first linked, a source told People that "it's new, but they are having fun."

And that fun clearly turned into something much more! Josh went Instagram official in October of 2024 (with photos from a Paris trip Hailee posted in April), and the comments flooded with fans and friends showering the couple in love. "Babe wake up, Joshy just hard launched Hailee," one user said, while another added, "thank you for making Hailee happy!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼."

In the October 18 edition of her Beau Society newsletter, Hailee joked that after she and Josh gifted each other the Miyabi Kaizen chef's knife last Christmas, "he told me there's an old wive's tale that if you gift your significant other a knife you have to pay for it, otherwise it signifies the severing of a relationship. So we exchanged quarters so we didn't have that bad omen." This just proves how well they know each other!

Are Taylor Swift and Hailee Steinfeld still friends?

Yes, Taylor Swift and Hailee Steinfeld are still friends. 9 years after Hailee starred in Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" music video, Taylor liked Hailee and Josh's Instagram post (which she doesn't do often), and her BF Travis Kelce commented, "Congratulations!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻."

When is Hailee Steinfeld getting married?

The couple hasn't told us their wedding date yet, but stay tuned for news on the big day — and wedding photos!

Congrats to the happy couple! Loving all the celeb love? Read up on Shaun White & Nina Dobrev's engagement, too!

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This post has been updated.