Five Hot Cocktails to Curl Up With This Winter

When the weather outside is truly frightful, the last thing we want is a chilled cocktail. We like ours piping hot! Besides, what’s better than cozying up on the couch in your favorite blanket as you sip mulled wine or boozy hot cocoa? Here are five cocktails to curl up with this winter.

Mulled Wine

(image via gimme some oven)

It’s like a regular glass of wine but better. Mulled wine is red wine with a splash of brandy and a few pantry staples. If this sounds like your cup of tea, check out this recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle dry red wine
• ¼ cup brandy
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds (peeled, if you like a less-bitter drink)
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 2-4 Tbsp sugar, honey, or maple syrup
• Optional garnishes: citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise

Instructions:

1. Combine ingredients. Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 Tbsp sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.
2. Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. Avoid letting it bubble, as you don’t want to boil off the alcohol. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
3. Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Taste and stir in extra sweetener, if needed.
4. Serve warm in heatproof mugs topped with your favorite garnishes.

Rumchata Hot Cocoa

(image via the cookin’ chicks)

This cocktail is easy to prepare, satisfies a sweet tooth, and is the perfect way to warm up this season. Having a winter get-together? Throw your hot cocoa in a crockpot and set up a boozy hot cocoa bar complete with cute mugs, whipped cream, candy canes, cookie crumbles, marshmallows, and more for guests to create their own! Check out this recipe from The Cookin’ Chicks.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet hot cocoa mix
• 1 oz RumChata
• ¾ cup milk
• Whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles for topping

Instructions:

1. Heat milk in the microwave or over stovetop until desired temperature is reached.
2. Remove from heat and stir in hot cocoa mix.
3. Once mix is fully dissolved, stir in RumChata.

Werther’s Hot Toddy

(image via hy-vee)

Hot toddies are a cold-weather classic, but this recipe from Hy-Vee trumps them all thanks to the sweet addition of caramel.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup water
• 5 pieces Werther’s hard caramel candies, crushed
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 oz Maker’s Mark bourbon whiskey
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• Caramel sauce for garnish
• Werther’s hard caramel candies, coarsely crushed, for garnish
• Cinnamon sticks for garnish
• Fresh lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Dip the rim of an 8 oz mug into caramel sauce, then into crushed Werther’s candies. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, combine water, Werther’s candies, and cinnamon stick. Heat over medium until candies dissolve. Remove from heat; discard cinnamon stick.
3. Stir in bourbon whiskey and lemon juice. Carefully pour into prepared mug and serve with lemon slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Dirty Chai Latte

(image via recipe runner)

What could be better than hot spiced chai on a cold day? A spiked spiced chai on a cold day. Check out this recipe from Recipe Runner.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chai concentrate
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 3 oz spiced rum
• Whipped cream for topping

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the chai concentrate and milk. Stir together and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Once simmering, remove from heat and stir in spiced rum.
2. Divide the mixture into 2 or 3 mugs and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. Serve immediately.

Pumpkin Spice Eggnog White Hot Chocolate

(image via delish/natalie migliarini)

We might have saved the best for last with this pumpkin spice eggnog white hot chocolate recipe from Delish, which combines all our favorite seasonal flavors.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup white hot chocolate
• 1 oz rum
• ½ cup pumpkin spice eggnog
• 3 marshmallows for serving
• Cinnamon stick for serving

Instructions:

1. Add white hot chocolate, rum, and eggnog to a saucepan. Heat mixture, then add to serving glass.
2. Garnish with marshmallows and cinnamon stick.

Do you have a favorite hot cocktail recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!