6 Hot Winter Cocktail Drinks Guaranteed to Keep the Winter Blues Away
Bored of hot toddies, Irish coffee, and mulled wine? Update your winter beverage game with these boozy cocktail drinks that are sure to warm you up from the inside out.
Each recipe makes two adult beverages. Hot cocktail drinks are usually served best in a glass Irish coffee-style mug with a handle.
1. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
Melt ½ cup milk chocolate chips and ½ cup milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often. After the chocolate chips are melted, add two more cups of milk, ¼ cup pumpkin puree, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.
Whisk together well until everything is blended and hot. Pour into two Irish coffee mugs, along with one ounce of Kahlua in each of the cocktail drinks. Stir, and top off with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
2. Hot Chai Cocktail
Brew two cups of hot water and pour over two black chai tea bags in two glass coffee mugs. In each mug, add one tablespoon of honey and stir well. Steep for five minutes, then remove the tea bags and add two ounces of bourbon and one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to each drink. Garnish with a lemon wheel and dash of cinnamon on top.
3. Maple Syrup Sipper
In each of two pre-heated glass Irish coffee mugs, add two teaspoons of maple syrup, two ounces of cognac, and two ounces of hot apple cider. Stir, then add two ounces of hot water. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon wheel.
4. Hazelnut Coffee Cocktail
Brew or otherwise prepare approximately one cup of hot coffee. In each of two glass coffee mugs, add ½ ounce of hazelnut liqueur (such as Frangelico), ½ ounce of Irish cream liqueur (such as Bailey’s), and one ounce of bourbon. Top the glasses off with the hot coffee, stir well and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream.
5. Sweet & Salty Buttered Apple Cider
Mix together one tablespoon of salted butter (softened or melted), three tablespoons of maple syrup, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract in a small bowl. Set the mixture aside. Now grab a small saucepan and add eight ounces of spiced apple cider and four ounces of dark spiced rum.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then pour the mixture (carefully!) into two glass coffee mugs. Pour half of the butter mixture in each mug, and garnish with a lemon wheel dipped in kosher salt.
6. Hot Chocolate-Covered Cherry
In a small saucepan on low-medium heat, melt ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and ½ cup heavy cream, whisking often. Once melted, add two cups of milk and cook until warm but not boiling.
In each of two glass coffee mugs, add 1 ½ ounces of almond liqueur (such as Disaronno), then top off with the chocolate mixture. Let cool for two minutes, then garnish with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a maraschino cherry.
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