10 Homemade Hot Drinks Perfect For A Cold Night
Cold weather and hot drinks go hand in hand! From hot apple cider to chai tea to the oh so trendy pumpkin spice latte, there are tons of drinks that are perfect for warming up on a cold day. This fall, skip the line at your go-to coffee shop and instead mix up your favorite cold-weather drink at home! Make a cozy cup of cocoa in the morning or finish off a long day with a homemade hot toddy. Kick your PSL game up a notch by adding your favorite vodka to it for a spiked latte! No matter what your favorite fall drink is, making it at home is not only super easy but also a great way to embrace the colder months! Check out this list of 10 homemade hot drinks that are perfect for a cold night!
1. Peppermint Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa
During the holiday season, peppermint and chocolate are a classic duo! This super simple yet super rich and flavorful hot chocolate recipe is the perfect combination of bittersweet dark cocoa and festive peppermint. To make, pour 4 cups of your choice of milk into a saucepan. Set the burner to medium-high and begin heating the milk. Add 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder and 1/3 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar to the milk, stirring constantly. You can add more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like it. Next, add 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons peppermint extract. Serve with whipped cream and a candy-cane. To make this a spiked peppermint dark chocolate hot cocoa, add 3 ounces peppermint schnapps and enjoy! Makes 4 servings!
2. Spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte
What’s the only thing better than a PSL? A spiked PSL! Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn’t serve an alcoholic version of this fall classic. That’s why we’ve got it covered for you! This recipe is simple but doesn’t lack in flavor! To make, start by brewing 2 cups worth of coffee. Once the coffee is made, pour it into a metal cocktail shaker. Add 1 cup of milk or plain creamer, 6 ounces of vanilla vodka, 4 tablespoons pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Shake the ingredients until everything is combined. Pour into 4 mugs and top with whipped cream, caramel sauce, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and enjoy! You’re welcome!
3. Hot Spiced Apple Cider
Nothing says fall like apples! That’s why this hot spiced apple cider is the perfect hot drink recipe for this season’s cold weather. Not to mention all of the spices used in this cider will leave your home smelling amazing! Start by pouring 6 cups of apple cider into a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1/3 teaspoon allspice, and a dash of nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a low boil. Next, slice an orange in half and stick roughly 1/2 teaspoon of whole cloves into the skin of the orange. Place the orange into the cider and cover. Simmer the hot spiced apple cider for 20 minutes before removing it from the heat. Pour the cider into mugs or mason jars and garnish each with a cinnamon stick! Makes 4 servings.
4. Lavender London Fog
If you’ve never had a London Fog, you’re missing out! Not much needs to be said about this upgraded hot tea drink simply because the combination of ingredients speak for themselves! Earl Grey tea, honey, vanilla, and lavender make for a divine drink that is perfect for warming up on a cold morning. What makes this drink a step above the rest is the steamed milk that brings everything together for a creamy and delicious tea latte. Start by steeping a bag of Earl Grey tea as well as 1/4 teaspoon lavender in a mug of hot water. You may need a metal steeper for the lavender as it is commonly sold loose. Next, froth milk by pouring 3/4 cup into a microwave-safe jar with a lid. Shake the milk until bubbles form then microwave the milk for 45 seconds. Last, stir the frothed milk, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 tablespoon honey into the hot tea. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy your new favorite cold-weather drink! Serves 1.
5. Chai Tea
Chai tea is one of those drinks that we all love but don’t know how to make. Made by combining black tea with a variety of aromatic herbs and spices, the ingredient list can seem daunting for a drink. Luckily, we have the perfect go-to chai tea recipe that not only makes for a delicious cup of chai tea, it’s made with all dry, powdered ingredients! This way, you can make chai tea mix in bulk and have it on-hand anytime you’re craving a cup of this delicious hot drink! To make, combine 1/4 nonfat dry milk powder, 1/4 cup powdered non-dairy creamer, 1/4 cup French vanilla powdered non-dairy creamer, 10 tablespoons granulated sugar, 6 tablespoon unsweetened instant black tea, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom. Store the chai tea mix in a large airtight container. To serve, stir 2 tablespoons of the chai tea mix into a mug of hot water. Enjoy anytime of day!
6. Classic Hot Toddy
Not all hot drinks are made with coffee and tea! This whiskey drink is perfect for your next holiday party or simply for a cold night in with your SO. All you need for this classic hot cocktail is whiskey, water, lemon juice, and honey. To make, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a simmer. Next, pour the hot water into 2 mugs. Add 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey, 3 teaspoons honey, and 3 teaspoons lemon juice to each mug. Stir each drink until the honey has dissolved. Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick. This hot drink will be the perfect way to warm up on a chilly night!
7. Hot Mulled Wine
This hot drink will be a hit at your next holiday party! Not only is it made with wine, it’s served hot which makes it the perfect cold-weather adult beverage. The hot mulled wine recipe is best made with claret wines like cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, or malbec. To make this festive drink, stir 1 1/2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of sugar in a saucepan on the stove until the sugar dissolves. Drop a thick lemon wedge into the water and sugar mix, add in 8 whole cloves, and throw in 1 cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a boil to combine the flavors. Next, strain the water mixture and return it to the saucepan without the lemon wedge, cloves, or cinnamon stick. Stir 1 bottle of red wine into the water mixture and continue to heat everything on the stove until hot but not boiling. To serve, pour the mulled wine into a slow-cooker to keep warm. Place a ladle next to it along with garnishes like cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and cinnamon! Cheers!
8. Vanilla Almond Milk Matcha Latte
Matcha, a tea that is made of powdered green tea leaves, is super trendy these days! Not only is matcha trendy, it’s the perfect hot drink ingredient when you’re looking for something hot and caffeinated that’s not too sweet and not coffee. Matcha is also super nutritious. It’s packed full of antioxidants, boosts metabolism, and detoxifies the body naturally. This recipe also calls for almond milk instead of regular milk making it vegan-friendly. To make this super simple, super rich 2-ingredient hot drink, combine 4 cups of vanilla almond milk and 1 1/3 tablespoons of latte grade matcha powder in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk well until the matcha has dissolved and the milk is frothy. Remove from heat, pour into a mug, and enjoy! This recipe makes 2 servings!
9. Ashwagandha Moon Milk
Despite it’s popularity on Instagram, moon milk is not just made to be photographed! Although it totally does make for a photo-worthy drink. Perfect for sipping before bedtime, moon milk is intended to help with sleep. While moon milk can be made in a variety of ways, this recipe calls for ashwagandha. Ashwaghandha, a medicinal herb that’s known to relieve stress, helps relax the body which aids in putting you to sleep that much faster! To make this bedtime hot drink, pour 1 cup of your milk of choice into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Don’t let the milk boil. Then, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon ground ashwagandha powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and a pinch of ground nutmeg. Simmer for 5 minutes. Last, stir in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, pour the moon milk mixture into a mug, and sweeten with a teaspoon of honey. Sip and enjoy! Before you know it, you’ll be fast asleep, dreaming of your next cup of moon milk!
10. Hot Buttered Bourbon
What do you get when you combine tart apple cider, soft butter, sweet honey, and a half-cup (or more!) of bourbon? A rich, creamy, and comforting cold-weather hot cocktail that will surely warm you up on even the coldest nights! Spiced with cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, this festive cocktail is perfect for any get-together or simply sipped solo on a quiet winter night in! Start by bringing 1 cup of apple cider in a saucepan to a simmer on low heat. Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger until well-combined. Add the butter mixture to the apple cider, whisking until it melts. Remove the saucepan from the heat, whisk in a 1/2 cup of your favorite bourbon, and serve immediately! Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy! This recipe makes 2 servings!
