Cozy Drinks for Chilly Days

October 12, 2010
William Dickey
Drink up the warm comfort of these delicious recipes for hot chocolate, cider, coffee, and tea.
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Heartwarming Cider

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Heartwarming Cider

Spiced with the right ingredients—ground ginger, allspice, nutmeg—this classic fall drink is transformed into a festive treat. Optional: Serve with rum.

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Grape-Apple Cider

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Grape-Apple Cider

Fresh grapes sweeten the cider and turn it a beautiful amber hue. For an adult brew, stir in 1 cup rum just before serving.

See the full Fall Party Menu

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Gingerbread Cocoa

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Gingerbread Cocoa

Apple pie spice and ground ginger liven up the flavor in Gingerbread Cocoa.

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Decadent Chai Latte

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Decadent Chai Latte

Chai is an Indian spiced tea. This rich version is a wonderful complement to a thick slice of Sweet Potato Pound Cake.

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White Chocolate Latte

Recipe: White Chocolate Latte

Enjoy the intoxicating aroma from a steamy cup of this frothy latte. It will warm you from the inside out.

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Pineapple Wassail

Recipe: Pineapple Wassail

Bring the flavor of the tropics to your next winter gathering. This quick wassail will warm you to the toes and make your kitchen smell incredible at the same time. Strain the drink before serving to remove any remaining fruit or spice bits.

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    Warm Citrus Cider

    Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

    Recipe: Warm Citrus Cider

    Orange and lemon juices add sweet wintry flavor to spiced cider. Garnish with an apple slice.

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    Apricot-Apple Cider Sipper

    Recipe: Apricot-Apple Cider Sipper

    Make the perfect cool-weather party punch. This warm fruity sipper is sweet and spicy, and guaranteed to warm you from the toes up.

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    Honey-Ginger Tea

    Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling-Hontzas, Ralph Anderson

    Recipe: Honey-Ginger Tea

    We like it with a touch of fresh lemon juice. This recipe also easily doubles or triples.

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    Cinnamon-Orange Coffee

    Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rose Nguyen

    Recipe: Cinnamon-Orange Coffee

    A tangy, aromatic blend of fruit and spices lends warmth to this citrus coffee. For an extra-special treat, top with Coffee Liqueur Crème and serve with Biscuit Beignets.

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    Orange Spiced Cider

    Recipe: Orange Spiced Cider

    Deliciously sweet with a kick of tart flavor, this rich spiced cider has all the flavor elements you want for your next winter party.

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    Spiced After-Dinner Coffee

    Recipe: Spiced After-Dinner Coffee

    Steep coffee with cloves and cinnamon sticks for a delightful warm treat on a cool evening.

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    Orange Spiced Tea

    Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

    Recipe: Orange Spiced Tea

    Cinnamon, cloves, and orange scent the air, while orange liqueur spikes this cold weather soother.

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    Rich ‘n’ Thick Hot Chocolate

    Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

    Recipe: Rich ‘n’ Thick Hot Chocolate

    Indulge in this luxurious treat after your meal, with a dollop of Marshmallow Whipped Cream for an extra bit of sweetness.

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    Apple-Ale Wassail

    Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

    Recipe: Apple-Ale Wassail

    Cozy up by the fire with a warm apple-ale flavored with allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.

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    Orange-Scented Mocha

    Credit: William Dickey

    Recipe: Orange-Scented Mocha

    When serving this twist on traditional hot chocolate, place the whipped cream in individual matching glass dishes so friends can pile on as much as they prefer.

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    Spiced Pomegranate Sipper

    Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rose Nguyen

    Recipe: Spiced Pomegranate Sipper

    Pomegranate, white grape, and pineapple juices simmer with cinnamon, clove, and ginger to make a fragrant, elegant beverage for a special holiday dinner or gathering.

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    Capital Eggnog

    Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

    Recipe: Capital Eggnog

    This decadent beverage qualifies for the name “sipping dessert,” whether you serve it with or without alcohol. You’ll have lots of egg whites left over—use them in angel food cake or meringue cookies.

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    Hot Buttered Rye

    Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

    Recipe: Hot Buttered Rye

    This warm whiskey cocktail will keep you cozy on cold nights. Topped with a maple-cream mixture and fresh nutmeg, it may taste more like a dessert than a cocktail.

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    Mexican Hot Chocolate

    Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

    Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate

    From the kitchen of Georgia Johnson, Austin, Texas, thecomfortofcooking.com

    "Simmered with a cinnamon stick, vanilla extract, and a touch of chili powder, this hot chocolate is amazingly fragrant and delicious with a dollop of whipped cream."

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    Mulled Cranberry Cider

    Credit: Photo: William Dickey

    Recipe: Mulled Cranberry Cider

    Cranberry lends festive color and sweet-tart flavor to this traditional spice-mulled beverage.

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    Hot Spiced Cider

    Credit: Photo: Tina Cornett; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill Jenkins

    Recipe: Hot Spiced Cider

    Cider—that delicious apple drink—is the perfect autumn beverage, so it should be a part of your Halloween menu planning. It is also the perfect way to warm up a chilly afternoon or evening, or the best drink you can imagine after you have finished trick-or-treating. With only six ingredients—including the garnishes—this cider is incredibly easy to make. To offset cider’s delicious, tart flavor, some molasses stirred in gives this cider a sweet kick. Once you are ready to settle down, and to let a cup of Hot Spiced Cider heat you up, garnish yours with lemon wedges, cinnamon, or whole cloves.

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    Chocolate Latte

    Credit: Photo: Jim Franco

    Recipe: Chocolate Latte

    End your meal with a decadent cup of richly flavored Chocolate Latte.

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    Hot Cider Nog

    Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

    Recipe: Hot Cider Nog

    Apple cider combines with eggnog for a delicious holiday twist.

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