Stay warm and toasty with these hot holiday beverages~
Nutella Hot Chocolate
Courtesy of Cafe Delites
INGREDIETNS
•4 cups low fat/skim milk
•2 tablespoons Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread (or any hazelnut cacao spread)
•2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
•2 tablespoons natural sweetener of choice/raw sugar
Optional Toppings:
•Marshmallows
•Crushed hazelnuts
•Chocolate chips
•Extra Nutella
Heat milk in a medium sized saucepan on medium – high heat until beginning to warm and steam. Add the spread, cocoa powder and sugar, and whisk until dissolved and combined. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring, and take off heat.
Serve with your desired toppings.
Recipes yields 4 drinks | Courtesy of Brown Eyed Baker
INGREDIENTS
6 tablespoons Sweet Ground White Chocolate
3 ounces (2 shots) whipped cream vodka (optional)
2 candy canes, crushed, plus more for garnish
24 ounces steamed (or warmed) milk
Whipped cream
Place 1½ tablespoons of the ground white chocolate in four 8-ounce mugs. Add ½ of a shot to each mug and stir together with the ground chocolate. Sprinkle in a quarter of the crushed candy canes and stir.
Slowly pour the hot milk into each mug. Top with whipped cream and more crushed candy canes, if desired.
Courtesy of My Baking Addiction
INGREDIENTS
2 quarts fresh apple cider
2 quarts pear juice (no sugar added), I found a 100% juice option in the organic section of the grocery store. I would not substitute pear nectar here…it will end up being too sweet.
2 cinnamon sticks
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 star anise
1 vanilla bean pod
Rum or Bourbon (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Add juices and spices to a large soup pot or crockpot. Slice vanilla bean pod in half lengthwise and toss in pot. On low heat bring the cider up to a simmer, whisking often. The spices and vanilla will infuse into the cider. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Ladle into a big mug and add a shot of rum or bourbon if you’d like.
Courtesy of Minimalist Baker
INGREDIENTS
For the Ginger Syrup:
•1 1/2 cups filtered water
•1 cup organic cane sugar (or sub granulated or raw)
•1 cup roughly chopped fresh ginger (~1 large knob)
For the Latte:
•1 1/2 – 2 Tbsp ginger syrup
•1 1/4 cups unsweetened plain almond milk
•Optional: ginger tea | ginger powder or cinnamon (or other spices) for topping
Instructions
To make the ginger syrup, bring the water, sugar and ginger to a boil, and stir to dissolve sugar. Then reduce heat to a low simmer and continue cooking for 45 minutes.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bottle or jar for easy storage.
To make the ginger latte, heat almond milk in a saucepan or in a mug in the microwave. Then add 1-2 Tbsp ginger syrup. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed. For even more ginger flavor, first steep a ginger tea packet in your almond milk for 3-5 minutes before adding syrup.
Sprinkle with a little ginger powder, cinnamon or any other preferred spices, and serve.
Ginger syrup should keep in the fridge for up to a month. Use for lattes, as a ginger-infused sweetener in cocktails, or with tonic water to make “ginger soda.”