One of the best parts of winter is getting the cozy feeling of curling up with a warm spirit. This season brings with it so many great flavors and scents; there’s almost nothing that captures them better than the perfect spiced beverage. A cup of spiced cider, hot toddy, or even gin punch can be the perfect accessory to a warm evening in, a way to celebrate with loved ones or enjoy a quiet moment to yourself. Here are 10 recipes for hot toddies and other comforting warm cocktails to keep coming back to no matter how chilly it gets.
1. Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Apple cider is always a seasonal favorite, and its combination of sweet and spiced flavors make it perfect to turn into a nice warm cocktail. Make a classic hot toddy by mixing in warm honey, lemon, and your choice of whiskey or bourbon and enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz apple cider
- 1 oz whiskey or bourbon
- 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp honey
Heat the apple cider on the stove until boiling, then mix in the other ingredients. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple slice.
2. Butterscotch Schnapps Spiked Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t love a piping mug of hot chocolate to fight the winter chills? Add a grown-up flare with butterscotch schnapps and a few garnishes and you’ll have a sweet, enjoyable beverage to chase the cold away.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp sugar
- dash of salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 oz spiced rum
- 1.5 oz butterscotch schnapps
- dash of orange bitters
Mix the cocoa powder and sugar with the salt in a large mug. Heat the milk on your stove and slowly mix it into the cocoa mixture. Next, add the vanilla, schnapps and rum and top with bitters, whipped cream, and any other garnishes you want!
3. Old Fashioned Wassail
Go old-school by creating a homemade wassail this winter! This tasty combination of mulled juices and spices will be the perfect way to warm your entire household or just cap off a particularly wintry evening.
Ingredients:
- 2 quarts apple juice
- 1 quart apple juice
- 1 can pineapple juice
- 1 orange
- 20 whole cloves
- 5 cinnamon sticks
Cut the orange into 5 slices and push 5 cloves into each orange slice. Combine the juices, oranges and cinnamon sticks in a crockpot and simmer on low for half an hour.
4. Spiced Cranberry Hot Toddy
Strikingly red and seasonably tart, cranberry cocktails can make an atmospheric evening anytime. If you’ve gotten tired of all the sugar this holiday season can bring, you might like the dryer, less sweet option this hot toddy recipe provides.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 small orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 piece of fresh ginger
- 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 oz bourbon
Heat cranberry juice, half of the orange, cinnamon sticks, ginger, peppercorns, cloves, and star anise over the stove until the mixture simmers. Partially cover with a lid and let simmer for 10 minutes before removing from heat. Strain the liquid, return to stove and mix in honey. Pour a shot of bourbon into each glass and add the heated mixture.
5. Warm Old Fashioned
If old fashioneds are your go-to drink, you’ll love this seasonal take on your forever favorite. Orange and cherries combine in this deep whiskey beverage, filling it with flavor and holiday cheer.
Ingredients:
- 1 sugar cube
- 3 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 orange slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
- splash of club soda
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
- 2 oz hot water
Drop a sugar cube into a serving glass and saturate it with the bitters. Add the orange slice, cherry, and soda and muddle. Remove the fruit remnants and add the bourbon and warm water. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
6. Spiced Pineapple Rum Hot Toddy
A tasty mashup of tropical and seasonal, this sweet warm drink will keep you feeling toasty all winter long. If you’ve been longing for the perfect hot toddy recipe that provides a fruitier zip, this recipe will be the perfect choice for any cold day.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/4 cups pineapple juice
- 3 tbsp raw honey
- 6 oz spiced rum
- 8 oz ginger ale
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Heat juice, water, ginger ale, and alcohol over the stove and mix in cinnamon and nutmeg. Let simmer for 5 minutes and then serve. Garnish with an orange peel, star anise and whole cloves.
7. Hot Apple Pie
An apple pie in a glass, this super simple beverage is the perfect liquid dessert anytime you need a pick-me-up or a special celebration. It tastes exactly how it sounds; this beverage will taste just like a hot apple pie, with an alcoholic zip.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Tuaca
- 1/2 cup hot apple cider
Simply heat apple cider, add the Tuaca, garnish with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, and enjoy!
8. Hot Buttered Rum
Harken back to cozy taverns and old-timey carolers with this delicious buttery treat. If you’ve always been curious about buttered rum, this simple recipe will show you why it’s such a timeless favorite.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 6 oz dark rum
- 24 oz boiling water
Mix the softened butter with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and nutmeg until all are combined. Combine the butter mixture with rum and boiling water in a large pitcher and mix well; garnish with orange zest, ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
9. Blackberry Mulled Wine
If you love the taste of fresh blackberries this thick, sweet mixture will warm up your night perfectly, mixing the fragrant dark berries with all the spices we’ve grown to love this time of year.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle red wine
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1 juiced orange
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Add all the ingredients to a pot and simmer for 30 minutes on a stovetop. Serve and garnish with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
10. Hot Gin Punch
A sweet, fizzy mixture, this punch is full of delicious fruits, spices and garnishes that will bring you cheer anytime.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle gin
- 1 bottle Madeira wine
- 6 lemon twists
- 1 orange slice
- 3 pineapple chunks
- 3 oz honey
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 3 cloves
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Combine the gin and wine over the stove. Add the lemon twists, orange slice and pineapple chunks, then stir in the honey, lemon juice, spices and sugar until dissolved. Simmer for 20 minutes and strain before serving; garnish with orange slices studded with cloves.
A hot toddy can be the perfect way to celebrate the season and warm the chilliest evening. Whether you prefer fizzy, fruity or tart, these recipes will keep you company and help you keep the holidays fun and delicious. Curl up with one of these toddies the next time you need to warm up.
