15 Hot Drink Recipes to Heat Up Your Soul, With and Without Alcohol (2024)

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

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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) cocktail.

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Easy Chai Tea

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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

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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

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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.

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Creamy Caramel Latté

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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

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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

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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.

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Spiked Hot Apple Cider With Molasses

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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

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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

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This unique, warmingcocktail 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

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All you need is the two titular ingredients to make a warming cocktail 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

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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

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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 cocktail that's flavorful, rich, and satisfying.

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Spiced Hot Toddy

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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

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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.

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15 Hot Drink Recipes to Heat Up Your Soul, With and Without Alcohol (2024)

FAQs

What drink can warm you up? ›

7 Winter Drinks To Keep You Warm This Winter
  • Spiced Apple Cider. This classic drink is perfect for chilly days and nights. ...
  • Hot Chocolate. A winter favorite, hot chocolate or cocoa is a great way to warm up and get your sweet fix simultaneously. ...
  • Mulled Wine. ...
  • Hot Toddy. ...
  • Chai Latte. ...
  • Ginger Tea. ...
  • Coffee.
Nov 15, 2022

What are common hot drinks? ›

8 Hot Beverages that Will Warm Your Bones Over the Campfire
  • HOT CHOCOLATE. You know we had to include this. ...
  • IRISH COFFEE. ...
  • GINGER TEA. ...
  • MULLED WINE. ...
  • CHAI TEA. ...
  • HOT TODDY. ...
  • HONEY MILK. ...
  • SPIKED HOT APPLE CIDER.

What is a warming alcoholic drink? ›

For a classic drink, try a Hot Toddy made with whiskey or brandy, hot water, honey and lemon. Or, indulge in something more special for winter drinks, like mulled wine—a traditional holiday drink made with red wine, cinnamon sticks fresh cranberries, orange slices and cloves.

What hot drink gives you energy? ›

Green tea packs enough caffeine to substitute for coffee, even if you're an avid coffee-drinker. Cozying up with a mug of something warm is half the appeal of coffee. Swap it for antioxidant-rich green tea, which still has plenty of caffeine for an energy boost.

What is the most hydrating warm drink? ›

HOT LEMON WATER

Water is still the best hydrator because it is the simplest and, therefore, easiest fluid for the body to process. Adding a twist of lemon adds flavor and some vitamin C. The steam from the water held close to the face may help loosen clogged sinuses, and the water aids digestion as well as hydration.

What is the most popular hot drink in America? ›

Coffee retains its position as the most favored hot beverage in the United States, largely due to the proliferation of coffee shop chains such as Starbucks, Dunkin', and Peet's.

What is a fluffy hot drink? ›

Fluffy: “Fluffy” is a term commonly used in New Zealand and Australia to describe a similar drink for children. A fluffy is essentially a frothed milk drink, similar to a babyccino. It's usually served in a small cup or glass and can also include a sprinkle of chocolate or other toppings.

What hot drink burns fat? ›

Green tea. Green tea is rich in catechins, which are powerful antioxidants believed to be effective in boosting metabolism and burning fat.

What hot drinks do Americans drink? ›

American Hot Drinks
  • Nestle Coffee Mate Creamy Chocolate 425g. ...
  • Nestle Coffee Mate Original Fat Free Powdered Creamer 453g (16oz) ...
  • Coffee Mate Irish Creme Liquid 50 Count 10.60g (0.375oz) ...
  • -49% ...
  • Cafe Bustelo Espresso Coffee Can 283g (10oz) ...
  • Nestle Coffee Mate French Vanilla Sugar Free 289g.

What is a calming alcoholic drink? ›

The study found that red wine and beer make people feel relaxed, while spirits make people feel sexy and energetic.

What's in a hotty toddy? ›

To make a hot toddy, you'll need bourbon (which is a type of whiskey), honey, lemons, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and whole cloves. Simply combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey in a mug and add boiling water (use more or less water depending on how strong you'd like your hot toddy to be).

How can I warm up my body fast? ›

Here are some activities you can try.
  1. Jumping jacks. While “getting your blood flowing” does help increase core body temperature, intense or long-term cardio exercise (such as running) can actually lead to a short-term decrease in skin temperature as you sweat. ...
  2. Walking. ...
  3. Putting your hands in your armpits. ...
  4. Clothing.
Jan 5, 2021

What hot drink is good for a cold? ›

For boosted immunity and/or sickness relief, try making lemon-ginger-cinnamon tea or a hot toddy. To make the immune-boosting tea, simply squeeze half a lemon into a mug and add the lemon rind. Add one or two cinnamon sticks and five slices of peeled ginger root.

What should I eat or drink to warm up? ›

I also use certain foods that keep you warm to boost my temperature – and energy – levels.
  • 6: Hot Drinks. It might seem a little too simple, but you can sometimes overlook the obvious answers. ...
  • 5: Soups And Stews. ...
  • 4: Whole Grains. ...
  • 3: Cinnamon. ...
  • 2: Coconut Oil. ...
  • 1: Ginger.

Can a hot drink warm you up? ›

According to Professor Peter McNaughton, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, consuming hot beverages, such as tea or hot water, will raise your core body temperature and this makes you to sweat at an increased rate.

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