13 Hot Drinks to Sip by the Fire
Your slippers will soon be called into service, as will your mugs. The season for hot drinks means cozying up with a steamy wassail or a frothy latte, a cup of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows, or a pot of green tea with mint. Below you’ll find our favorite hot chocolate recipes, plus more winter drinks both nonalcoholic and boozy. If you’ve never been one for hot buttered rum, read on for a wide range of other options to sip while you snuggle under a blanket and catch up on all of our latest stories.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones1/13Mulled Apple Cider With Orange and Ginger
As soon as it's apple-picking season, we get excited for hot drinks like this mulled cider, which is spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves and is guaranteed to make your house smell amazing. Add cinnamon sticks to each mug of hot apple cider to bump up that aroma. Want to serve some hot spiced wine, too? It's the same basic idea, but here's a mulled wine recipe that we really love.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/13Fresh Ginger Masala Chai
Make yourself a cup and curl to read the fascinating history of masala chai. No fresh ginger around? We also have a chai recipe made with dried ginger instead.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Styling by Joseph De Leo3/13Simple Hot Cocoa for One
Looking a rich, creamy, luxurious hot chocolate? Click over for this luscious hot chocolate recipe. But if you came to this list of hot drink recipes for an easy hot cocoa that reminds you of childhood, start with this recipe, which can be made with dairy or any alt-milk you prefer.
Photo by Paul H. Christian, Food Styling by Michele Figliuolo4/13Hot Toddy
This hot beverage couldn't be simpler, and it's flexible enough to work with whichever spirit you prefer. Bourbon is great, but brandy or Scotch are also delicious options. (While we're at it, go ahead and toddy whatever cocktail you're craving this winter.)
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton5/13Hot Butterscotch
If you like salted caramel, you'll adore this hot butterscotch, which is toasty and buttery, with a sophisticated espresso-like edge. A little cup full can really turn a cold day around. Head over here for tips before you make the recipe.
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo9/13Cherry and Smoke
This nonalcoholic nightcap gets deep flavor and tannin from smoky Lapsang Souchong and tart cherry juice. It works equally well warm or cold.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton11/13Moroccan Mint Tea
Photo by Khadija M. Farah, Jennifer May12/13Shaah Cadays
Serve this Somali spiced tea with milk in the afternoon, or for breakfast with canjeero.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi13/13Hot White Russian
There are some cocktails that we'd never imagined would work as hot drinks, but this recipe from Gourmet opened our minds. It's a creamy, cozy beverage that goes a little heavier on the coffee than the classic icy version, and it's just the thing to sip while you cuddle up under a fuzzy blanket.
