In our house, getting creative in the kitchen doesn’t always mean working with food! Whether we’re making some alcohol based or family friend, from cocktails to coffees and milkshakes, we get equally excited about the idea of making unique and interestingly flavoured drinks at home. That’s especially true around the holidays when a warm homemade drink can make the difference between a dark, chilly day and a cozy, comforting night in snuggled up by the fire or with a good book!
Just in case you love the idea of making hot holiday drinks at home just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the very best ideas that we’ve come across so far this year.
1. Hot buttered rum
If you like the sounds of something that’s simultaneously warm, smooth, spicy, and has a shot of something extra in it, then we have a feeling you’ll get along very well indeed with this hot buttered rum recipe featured step by step on Tasty Catering! It’s packed with a perfect blend of flavours without being overwhelming.
2. Kahlua hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is great any time of year, if you ask us. We even drink it in the summer sometimes! Even so, there’s nothing better during the holidays than a delicious much of creamy warm chocolate to counteract the chilly weather. If you’d like to add a little something extra (besides a pile of marshmallows, of course), take a look at how Damn Delicious made theirs with a shot of Kahlua!
3. Chocolate covered cherry hot cocoa
Maybe we caught your attention talking about hot chocolate with extra flavour but you’d prefer to steer clear of alcohol? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Five Marigolds made theirs taste a little more festive by adding the subtle but sweet taste of cherries.
4. Hot spiced cranberry cider
Did we almost have your attention when we started talking about hot spiced drinks but you’re not interested in making something that involves rum because you’ve never liked the taste? Then maybe you’d prefer a milder or non-alcoholic hot apple cider instead! This fragrant homemade recipe is outlined step by step on Confessions of an Overworked Mom.
5. Gingerbread latte
Every winter, we find that a little bit of caffeine can really help us through long periods of chilly weather and increased darkness, particularly if we’re working a lot around the holidays. That’s why we were so pleased to come across this fantastic gingerbread latte recipe featured step by step on Simply Stacie! This way, you get that little coffee kick you’re looking for but you also get the delicious flavour of a classic holiday cookie.
6. Apricot hot toddy
Have you always used the occasional hot toddy to warm up on particularly cold nights and also keep cold germs at bay? Well, that’s something we do too, but we often wonder whether there are other flavours we can try adding, just to keep things interesting throughout the winter. That’s why we loved this positively scrumptious apricot hot toddy idea from Blessed Beyond Crazy!
7. White chocolate peppermint eggnog
Maybe we’ve got you feeling a little bit intrigued by the idea of making hot chocolate with a fun holiday twist but you’d rather take things a step further and really make something so decadent it’s almost gourmet? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how The Kitchen is My Playground made this warm white chocolate peppermint eggnog in surprisingly few simple steps!
8. Healthy vegan pumpkin spice latte
By now, pumpkin spice lattes are a staple of the holiday season. Sure, pumpkin flavoured things are usually more of a fall treat, but these are so delicious that we always drink them late into the winter and savour them for as long as we can. We love this particular recipe from Happy Kitchen a lot because it’s diet friendly to make for anyone who visits us since it’s vegan!
9. White hot chocolate
Did we absolutely catch your attention when we started talking about white hot chocolate but you’re not sure you want something quite as rich as the recipe we showed you above? Then we have a feeling you might get along a little better with this simplified version from Crayons and Cravings that has a little less going on flavour-wise so you can just appreciate pure, creamy white hot chocolate taste.
10. Orange pomegranate cider
Have we really got you perked up talking about all these differently flavoured ciders and hot spiced beverages because you’ve spent most of your winters thinking that category was mostly just dominated by apple and cinnamon? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Finding Zest made this fragrant orange pomegranate cider that gives fruit lovers a hot beverage they can love as well!
11. Matcha hot chocolate
Green tea lovers rejoice! We’ve found a slightly more decadent recipe that your average steeped green tea that still gives you the natural flavour you love most! Check out how Oh How Civilized created this delicious matcha hot chocolate recipe quite easily. Besides tasting fantastic, the natural green colour of this drink looks a little more festive than usual too.
12. Hazelnut vanilla hot cocoa
Have hazelnut treats always been a Christmas tradition for you? We can understand that; our families have always been big on both hazelnut and cherry around this time of year. That’s why this smooth and rich tasting hazelnut vanilla hot cocoa recipe from Earth, Food, and Fire caught our eye so well.
13. Mulled pear juice
Just in case the fruit lovers out there are still looking for even more recipes to bookmark and try during their holiday time off, here’s a satisfyingly warm and flavourful mulled beverage for your consideration! Recipes From a Pantry guides you step by step through the process of making a mulled pear juice that will make your mouth water and your whole house smell fantastic.
14. Red wine hot chocolate
Now, when you think about enjoying a bit of red wine to celebrate family time over the holidays, you might think of it in conjunction with chocolate, but we’d be willing to bet that combining them the way Supergolden Bakes did here wasn’t what you immediately had in mind! Even so, we tried this one immediately because it was so unique and we’re pleased to report that it was absolutely delicious. Ten out of ten, would recommend!
15. Sugar cookie hot cocoa
If you’re going to combine the flavours of two different things you love making and enjoying over the holidays, why not make a warm drink that also tastes like cookies? We’re completely in love with this sugar cookie hot cocoa recipe from Mandy’s Recipe Box because it’s sweet, subtle, and filled with festive cheer in each sip.
