5 Easy Recipes for Cold Weather Beverages to Stay Warm This Winter

As the temperatures drop, you’ve got to work a little bit harder to stay warm. Enjoy time outside even after winter winds have blown into your backyard by preparing warm drinks for everyone. Using one of these five recipes for cold weather beverages, you can soon have something to sip on while warming up on the patio. Bring it with you and sit around the fire with family and friends or curl up on the couch with a good book.

 

1. Creamy Cocoa Coffee for Cold Mornings

 

Coffee can be enjoyed any time of the year, but this particular recipe makes for a great drink to warm you up on cold winter mornings. Nice and warm, with a jolt of caffeine to help you power through the day and some chocolate for extra sweetness, this cold weather beverage will surely satisfy.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

• 3 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp coffee powder
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (+ more for topping)
• 2 tsp sugar (+ more for topping)
• 1 cup milk
• Chocolate shavings (for topping)

 

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small pot.
2. Meanwhile, add coffee powder, cocoa powder, and sugar to a mug.
3. Once the water has boiled, pour it into the mug and mix well.
4. Bring the milk to a rapid boil in a small pot.
5. Use a milk frother to create a layer of frothy foam on the milk, and add foamy milk to the cup of coffee, making sure to top it with the froth.
6. Dust with additional cocoa powder and add chocolate shavings as a topping, and enjoy a calm moment outdoors by bringing your cup of coffee onto the patio.

 

2. Hot Holiday Tea with Spices

 

Coffee and tea are often fierce contenders for favorite cold weather beverage. While there are many different varieties of tea you can choose from, this recipe infuses black tea with spices. Enjoy it throughout the holiday season and during the cold months that follow.

 

 

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 6 black tea bags or 6 tbsp loose leaf tea
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 1 orange (for garnish)

 

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a kettle or pot.
2. Remove water from heat and drop in tea bags, and let it steep for at least 3 minutes.
3. Remove the bags and add the sugar, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
4. Let it simmer for 30 minutes before removing the cloves, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
5. Serve warm with an orange slice for garnish, and enjoy. 

 

3. Mulled Wine for Making Winter Memories

 

Add an extra kick to your winter moments by serving mulled wine. This alcoholic cold weather beverage is made by slowly heating red wine with spices and fruits to create a warm, flavorful drink. It’s a great option for complementing a warm meal, shared around the outdoor dining table on a chilly winter night.

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle (750 ml) of dry red wine
• ¼ cup brandy
• 2 oranges, sliced (1 for the mix, 1 for garnish)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 4 whole cloves
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 1/4 cup honey
• Extra cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
• Extra star anise (for garnish)

 

Instructions:

1. Combine wine, brandy, orange slices, lemon slices, cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and honey in a large saucepan. Stir and bring to a simmer.
2. Simmer for 30 minutes. Do not let the mixture rise above a boil – you don’t want to burn off the alcohol.
3. Strain with a fine mesh strainer to remove the fruit slices and spices. 
4. Serve the mulled wine in mugs or heat-proof glasses. Garnish with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise, as desired, and enjoy your warm and comforting mulled wine! 

 

4. Hot Seasonal Spiced Apple Cider

 

Apple cider may be a fall favorite, but it can continue to be enjoyed throughout winter, or any time there’s a chill in the air. It’s made by simmering apple cider with spices, fruit, and something sweet to create a warm, aromatic drink. Serve this cold weather beverage at your next holiday party or have a nice winter moment with apple cider in hand in your own backyard.

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts of apple cider
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole cloves
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 1/4 cup of honey
• 1 apple, core removed and sliced (for garnish)

 

Instructions:

1. Combine all apple cider, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and honey in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Strain with a fine mesh strainer to remove the fruit slices and spices.
3. Serve the spiced apple cider in mugs or heat-proof glasses. Garnish with apple slices.
4. Enjoy sipping your cider while seated on the patio!

 

5. Homemade Hot Chocolate

 

We’ve truly saved the best for last, as this hot chocolate is a sweet treat that both the kids and the adults will love. There’s something about the rich, creamy flavor of hot chocolate that just hits the spot on a cold day. Prepare it to share at movie night in the backyard or take it with you on winter walks around the neighborhood.

 

 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup milk chocolate - chips or chopped
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp peppermint extract
• Whipped cream (for topping)
• Drizzled chocolate syrup (for topping)
• Crushed peppermint candies (for topping)
• Chocolate shavings (for topping)

 

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk and heavy cream in a saucepan and briefly bring to a boil.
2. Reduce to a simmer immediately and add remaining ingredients. Mix in chocolate, sugar, and peppermint extract and stir until the chocolate is melted and everything is well combined.
3. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream, drizzled chocolate syrup, crushed peppermint candies, and chocolate shavings. Warm up with sips of this sweet hot chocolate!

 

Warm Up to a Wonderful Winter Outdoors

 

Savor one of these cold weather beverages during your next outdoor entertaining event this winter and see how they delight your guests.

 

For more tips to help you enjoy your outdoor space any time of the year, be sure to sign up for the Ledge email newsletter.

 

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