We love prioritizing all things warm and comfy—from lounging in fuzzy socks and slippers to cozyfying our beds, to—of course—hot drinks. After all, when the temperature drops, what's more soothing than wrapping frozen fingers around a piping hot mug of rich hot cocoa or spicy mulled wine?
Whether you're in the mood for eggnog, warm apple cider, a creamy caramel latté, or a spirited hot toddy, we have hot drink recipes to warm you up from the inside out. Make one (or several), grab a blanket, light a fire, and settle in until spring.
If mixing your own hot drink isn't for you, pick up a store-bought warming beverage or a bottle of wine for cold weather.
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Sweet and Spicy Mulled Wine
This warm, boozy beverage is super simple to make and perfect for a crowd. Make a big batch, keep it warm on the stove, and let guests ladle it themselves. Thanks to a hearty dose of black peppercorns and spicy fresh ginger, this mulled wine recipe delivers a balanced (not sticky-sweet) co*cktail.
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Easy Chai Tea
This café classic is easier to make than you think. Simply bring crushed spices, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and milk to a boil. Next, add tea bags and steep for 10 minutes. For an extra caffeine kick, add a shot of espresso for a DIY dirty chai.
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Spiced Vanilla Almond Milk
This warm drink recipe calls for almond milk, but any milk, whether that's dairy or non-dairy, will work. If you don't have nutmeg in the pantry, swap it with a sprinkle of allspice or ginger.
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Warm Mulled Cider
Aromatherapy meets delicious in this hot drink recipe! Simmer apple cider with mulling spices, orange zest, and ginger to make this warming drink that smells as good as it tastes. Sip while mulling over a good book to read on a cold winter day.
You can make this luscious latté without fancy ingredients, an espresso machine, or a milk frother. For a barista-quality beverage, replace espresso with extra-strong coffee from a French press or pour-over machine. Froth the milk in a Mason jar, and drizzle caramel sauce on top for an extra-sweet way to start the day.
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Mexican Hot Chocolate
To turn up the heat in this winter classic, add an extra touch of ground cayenne pepper and cinnamon. This hot chocolate recipe calls for all-natural unsweetened cocoa, but you can use a package of hot cocoa mix in a pinch.
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Slow Cooker Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
Change up your favorite hot chocolate by adding molasses and traditional gingerbread spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Mix up a batch in the slow cooker for your family and guests to sip all day (or night) long.
Apple cider is a classic for good reason, but adding molasses, fresh ginger, and rum takes this fall favorite over the top. Pair with a cozy sweater and serve with pumpkin pie on the side.
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Magic Cocoa
This hot chocolate recipe calls for just two ingredients, making it a speedy and effective antidote for winter chills. Just add cocoa candy melts or semisweet chocolate chips to hot milk, stir, and let the coziness begin.
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Chai Hot Toddy
This unique, warmingco*cktail is worlds away from a traditional hot toddy. We punched up dark rum with a hearty dose of warming spices, milk, and black tea for a deep, complex flavor you'll love curling up with.
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Chai and Irish Cream
All you need is the two titular ingredients to make a warming co*cktail you'll crave all winter long. Somehow, magic happens when a glug or two of Irish cream mingles in a mug of spicy, freshly brewed chai tea, resulting in rich, sweet, and creamy in every sip.
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Pink Hot Chocolate
For a warm drink that's fun and whimsical, you can't beat a pink hot chocolate. To make it, start with grated sweet white chocolate, and then add your milk of choice with a bit of natural beet juice (instead of artificial dye) for color. Finish with whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon, and smiles all around.
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Spiked Cider Tea
What happens when you mix hot apple cider, freshly brewed black tea, a little vanilla, and gin? This recipe answers that query with a cozy co*cktail that's flavorful, rich, and satisfying.
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Spiced Hot Toddy
Created as a whiskey-based cure for colds and sniffles, today's hot toddy and its many variations are more than medicinal. To create this spicy version, we use honey to draw the flavor of baking spices—namely cardamom and star anise—into an infused simple syrup. Add bourbon, and let the healing begin.
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Easy Blender Eggnog
To save time without sacrificing taste, use your blender to prepare this holiday classic. The recipe calls for whirling heavy cream, sugar, and nutmeg until frothy and then adding brandy (or Bourbon or cognac—or not). Serve warm.
Drinking ginger tea has multiple health benefits, but in terms of increasing energy, it is famous for its use in Chinese medicine as a way of targeting the energy pathways of the body.
Hot beverages like tea and coffee also contain compounds that can help lower your body temperature. For example, green tea contains catechins, which promote sweating and help lower body temperature.
This will provide a healthy dose of immune-boosting vitamin C. If you crave a soothing hot drink first thing, simply go for the good old hot water and lemon. You can't go wrong. If this is a tad too bitter for your taste buds, try a small drop of honey to sweeten it.
Chai. Chai is a spiced tea that originated in India, and is now popular around the world. It is made with black tea, milk, and a blend of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Chai is known for its warming, invigorating qualities.
A YouGov survey of 1,000 US adults who are 21 or older found the nation's favorite winter drink is a cocoa classic: hot chocolate. One-third of Americans (34%) select hot chocolate as their top holiday beverage. It is the top choice of women (35%), men (30%), and adults under the age of 50 (34%).
Black or green tea may lower blood pressure, according to a 2020 review and meta-analysis. Meta-regression findings suggested that drinking more tea over extended periods of 3 months or more resulted in greater decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Besides water, green tea is often considered the healthiest drink in the world. The flavonoids and antioxidants in green tea have been linked to improved brain function, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and a reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks.
Go for a walk or a jog. If it's too cold outside, hit the gym, or just do some jumping jacks, pushups, or other exercises indoors. Not only will it warm you up, it helps build and keep your muscles, which also burn calories and make body heat.
"You've got to think that most of your body is water," White said. "You're putting a little bit of a warm fluid into it. So, it will increase your body temperature temporarily for a little bit of time." Smalling said that temperature change is about 2.5 degrees and will only last for about 20 minutes.
Base layers such as thermal vests or long sleeve tops are fairly inexpensive and can work well to trap heat. Keep a look out for clothing made from wool, cotton or fleecy fabric. One reader, Irene Horsburgh, said: "Layer your clothes, even inside. Get a good warm pair of slippers and wear socks with them."
Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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