Drink

Our 31 Best Hot Winter Drink Recipes To Spread Holiday Cheer

Hot toddies, steaming cocoas, and toasty punches to warm you up this season

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated: December 8, 2017

There's nothing better than a mug full of hot drink on a cold, wintry night. Start your mornings with a jolt of caffeine from a spicy masala chai, or spike an Irish coffee for a head start to your holiday weekends. You can put a little flare in your traditional hot cocoa by adding red wine or nutella. Or if you're an eggnog lover, try the tom and jerry. Whether you're looking for a warm, boozy punch for a crowd or a one-person cocktail to warm you up by the fire, our best hot winter drink recipes will warm you through the holidays.

Venezuelan Chocolate Rum Drink — For when you can't decide between a boozy nightcap or a creamy hot chocolate. Get the recipe for Venezuelan Chocolate-Rum Drink »Matt Taylor-Gross

Spiced Percolator Punch — If a coffeemaker upgrade relegated your old percolator to the attic years ago, here's another use for it: cocktail hour. Thrifty housewives have long repurposed the pot to make aromatic punches. The percolator continuously cycles hot liquids, which infuses spices and concentrates juices, making for a fragrant winter drink. Get the recipe for Spiced Percolator Punch »Ingalls Photography

White Nun — For this hot version of the White Russian, bartender Isaac Shumway of San Francisco's Tosca Cafe ditches the vodka, mixing brandy and coffee liqueur with a hot coffee-cream mixture, and topping with cappuccino-like crown of frothed cream. Get the recipe for White Nun »Ingalls Photography

Spicy Hot Chocolate — This mix goes way beyond the typical flavors with umami Chinese fermented black bean chile paste and chile powder for a spicy, savory hot cocoa that delivers a kick of heat to the back of your throat. This is one hot cocoa that doesn't taste like anything else you've ever tried. Get the recipe for Spicy Hot Chocolate »Matt Taylor-Gross

Mulled Apple Cider Concentrate — This cider concentrate makes your kitchen smell divine. It's good drizzled over pancakes, added to homemade vinaigrettes or used as a ham glaze. For a quick, warming drink, spoon three tablespoons into a large mug and fill with just-boiled water. This recipe comes to us from Marisa McClellan, author of Food in Jars: Preserving in Small Batches Year-Round. Get the recipe for Mulled Apple Cider Concentrate »Matt Taylor-Gross

Tom and Jerry Cocktail — In this riff on the hot eggnog-like classic, Rachael Thompson of Chicago's Violet Hour perks up the traditional rich base of egg batter and cognac with two New Orleans favorites: the anise-y liqueur Herbsaint and a coffee-chicory syrup, a nod to the coffee at Café du Monde. Get the recipe for Tom and Jerry Cocktail »Matt Taylor-Gross

Cocoa Tea — With roasted and ground cacao nibs, milk, and warming spices, this traditional Caribbean "tea" is more of a hot chocolate. Get the recipe for Cocoa Tea »Matt Taylor-Gross

Coconut Horchata — This version of the classic Mexican rice-based drink, which writer Sara Deseran adapted from one at Fresno's El Mercado Super, is made with a mix of coconut milk and coconut water for a beverage that is both luxurious and refreshing. Get the recipe for Coconut Horchata »Romulo Yanes

Cabin Fever — Robby Haynes of Analogue in Chicago gives mulled apple cider some extra kick with spicy Old Overholt rye whiskey and a zippy demerara syrup accented with vanilla bean, cardamom, and blade mace. Get the recipe for Cabin Fever »Matt Taylor-Gross

Hot and Heavey Grog — Overproof rum, honey syrup, and lime come together to make a simple but powerful hot toddy. This recipes comes from Celeste in Chicago. Get the recipe for Hot and Heavey Grog »Matt Taylor-Gross

Last of the Ancient Breed Cocktail — In this warm drink, Alex Bachman of Billy Sunday in Chicago adds a mix of Jamaican and St. Lucian rums to a dry red wine reduction flavored with quince, chamomile, and bitter cacao nibs to balance the fruitiness. Get the recipe for Last of the Ancient Breed Cocktail »Matt Taylor-Gross

Irish Coffee Riff — Drew Hamm at Henry's in Chicago makes a toasty spin on the traditional Irish coffee by adding Flor de Cana rum and a cinnamon syrup to the usual Irish whiskey base. Get the recipe for Irish Coffee Riff »Matt Taylor-Gross

Kuhano Vino — In central Europe, winter parties are fueled by this mulled wine. A fruity red wine works best for this richly spiced punch, so try a bright-cherry merlot or a jammy syrah. Get the recipe for Kuhano Vino »Ingalls Photography

Rakomelo Raki Drink — On Greece's Cyclades islands, this sweet, anise-flavored drink is said to boost libido. Get the recipe for Rakomelo »Ingalls Photography

Canelazo Ecuadorian Tea Cocktail — At Christmas, Ecuadorians sip this warm cinnamon tea, spiked with a sugarcane-based spirit and sweetened with passionfruit. Get the recipe for Canelazo »Ingalls Photography

Atholl Brose Scotch Cocktail — In 1475 in the Scottish Highlands, the Earl of Atholl captured a rebel leader by spiking his well water with honey, whisky, and oatmeal. Lucky rebel. Get the recipe for Atholl Brose »Ingalls Photography

Wassail — This British punch has its roots in a pagan rite in which revelers toasted to apple trees to ensure the harvest. The name comes from the Old Norse ves heill and Old English was hál, meaning "be fortunate," which is how we feel when we drink it. Get the recipe for Wassail »Ingalls Photography

Pearman's Toddy — Laced with cinnamon, lemon, and Angostura bitters, this gin-based drink is a brisk, warming twist on a toddy. Get the recipe for Pearman's Toddy »Helen Rosner

Calvados Hot Toddy — This variation on a toddy combines calvados, a French apple brandy, with hot cider for a drink that's autumn in a glass. Get the recipe for Calvados Hot Toddy »Laura Sant

Spiced Tea (Masala Chai) — Cardamom gives this Indian drink a bright, piney sweetness tempered by a creamy base of evaporated milk and black tea. Get the recipe for Spiced Tea (Masala Chai) »Todd Coleman

Arnaud's Café Brûlot Diabolique — Our simplified version of the flaming coffee cocktail served at Arnaud's in New Orleans uses strong black coffee spiced with whole cloves and citrus peels. Orange curaçao and brandy give it a sweet, boozy kick. Get the recipe for Arnaud's Café Brûlot Diabolique »Todd Coleman

Colts Neck Toddy — Named for the New Jersey birthplace of Laird's Apple Brandy, this toddy gets bittersweet complexity from cardoon-flavored amaro. Blow out the burning bourbon that floats atop the drink, then stir it in. Get the recipe for Colts Neck Toddy »Todd Coleman

Hot Chai Toddy — The warm spices in chai echo the flavor of a typical clove-infused toddy. The addition of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and flinty black pepper, coupled with the tannic tang of the tea, made this warming drink even more appealing. Get the recipe for Hot Chai Toddy »Helen Rosner

Honeyed Hot Cocoa — Honey adds unique depth as a sweetener for hot cocoa, balanced by a pinch of salt. Get the recipe for Honeyed Hot Cocoa »Maxime Iattoni

Bittersweet Hot Chocolate with Red Wine — We love nibbling dark chocolate alongside a glass of red wine; the two flavors combined in a warming hot chocolate is an unexpected treat. Get the recipe for Bittersweet Hot Chocolate with Red Wine »Maxime Iattoni

Nutella Hot Chocolate with Hazelnut Liqueur — Nutella stirred into hot chocolate lends a luxurious texture and great, chocolate-hazelnut flavor. For an extra dose of hazelnut, add a splash of Frangelico. Get the recipe for Nutella Hot Chocolate with Hazelnut Liqueur »Maxime Iattoni

Hot White Chocolate with Cardamom — White chocolate is the perfect canvas for warm, winter spices such as cardamom and nutmeg. Get the recipe for Hot White Chocolate with Cardamom »Maxime Iattoni

Fluffernutter Hot Cocoa — The winning combination of marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, and chocolate makes an over the top cup of cocoa. Get the recipe for Fluffernutter Hot Cocoa »Maxime Iattoni

Hazelnut White Hot Chocolate — White chocolate and Frangelico combine for a sweet, creamy drink that makes a perfect winter nightcap; all it needs as embellishment is a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg. Get the recipe for Hazelnut White Hot Chocolate »Helen Rosner

Irish Hot Chocolate — Salted hot milk chocolate is enhanced with just a touch of Irish whiskey and a generous dollop of whipped cream. Get the recipe for Irish Hot Chocolate »Maxime Iattoni

Mexican Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Caliente) — The best early morning breakfast to be found on the street of any Mexican city is a nice hot cup of chocolate caliente with some churros, sweet tamales, or fresh-baked sweet goods from a bakery. Made from just chocolate and milk or water, it's a simple, rich drink. Get the recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Caliente) »Maxime Iattoni

Latest

Support Our Small Food Producers and Buy Direct

Bean Eaters Unite! “Cool Beans” Author Joe Yonan on Why He Loves Legumes

How to Help Your Favorite Restaurants Through the COVID Closures

9 Livestream Culinary Classes to Upgrade Your Quarantine Cooking

Bake Our 25th Anniversary Cake

The Best Miso Soup is Only 4 Ingredients Away

10 Recipes to Cook with Frozen Peas

Teff Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Five Ways that COVID-19 Has Rocked the Food Industry