Keep Warm During Winter with These 7 Hot Drinks

By Meghen Jones

The cold, winter days are now in full effect, and it’s likely that you’ve already broken out those cozy winter clothes and adjusted the indoor climate of your off-campus apartment accordingly. And honestly, it wouldn’t surprise us if you’ve taken down all your best blankets from the top shelf of the closet to keep yourself bundled up as you Netflix and Chill—quite literally.

But, sometimes the usual precautions we take to survive the cold are just not enough, and there just aren’t enough blankets in the world to keep us warm. So, what do you do next? Your heart says, “Starbucks!” but your brain tries to remind you of your already thin budget—especially after the holidays completely slashed your checking account. But you can please your heart’s impulsive “want” by stocking up on a few supplies to make your very own hot beverages, saving both time and money.

With so many recipes to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The tried-and-true favorites include hot chocolate, coffee, and warm apple cider, but how do you figure out exactly where your palate’s loyalty lies? Well, we suggest giving uCribs’ list of hot drinks a shot before making any final decisions, and you’ll just be “snow” happy that you did.

Gingerbread Hot White Chocolate

Warm spices, creamy milk, and sweet white chocolate set the perfect tone for wintertime. So, why not enjoy all three in a warm mug of this Gingerbread Hot White Chocolate. The aroma of this beverage will fill your home with appealing scents like vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and molasses. It would put anyone in a good mood—even a student who knows that they are returning to the grind of the school semester very soon. With one sip of this drink, you’ll be reminded about all the goodness of the most beloved season of the year!

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1 teaspoon molasses

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Generous pinch of ground clove

Generous pinch of salt

Directions:

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, add milk, heavy whipping cream, and chocolate chips, then stir until the chocolate chips melt. Be careful not to boil the mixture.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients, then remove from the heat before tasting and adjusting the spices as needed.
3. Pour the Gingerbread White Chocolate into a mug and top with whipped cream.

Oatmeal Cream Pie Drink

Do you remember those days as a kid when you munched on those delectable Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies? Maybe you still remember them so well because you still enjoy them from time to time. Now, you can transform those soft, chewy baked oatmeal cookies stuffed with a layer of creme into an equally delicious hot beverage. All you need is brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, butter, vanilla, and eggs to create this rich, drinkable cookie!

Ingredients:

4 cups half-and-half

4 cups almond milk

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup butter, cut up

1 vanilla bean

4 egg yolks, beaten

1 1/2 cups sweetened whipped cream

4 3-inch oatmeal cookies, crumbled

Directions:

1. In a 4-quart slow cooker, whisk together half-and-half, almond milk, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk until sugar is dissolved, then add butter.
2. Use a small, sharp knife to split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the cooker. Add the pod, too. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, whisking once or twice, if possible.
3. Remove vanilla bean pods and discard. Gradually whisk about 2 cups of the hot drink into egg yolks in a medium bowl.
4. Serve topped with whipped cream and crumbled cookies.

Warm Vanilla Milk

Although it may seem a little basic to some, sometimes all that is needed to soothe your cold, tired bones is a mug of Warm Vanilla Milk. Hey, it’s also Santa’s favorite, and how could the jolly man in red be wrong? If anything, it’s the classic choice when served beside a plate of fresh cookies. But, cookies or not, it’ll help keep you warm as you bundle up in one of those blankets you brought out of storage. We also highly suggest pairing this drink with a good book on your list of wintertime must-reads.

Ingredients:

1 cup milk

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon sugar

Cinnamon

Whipped Cream

Directions:

1. Warm milk in the microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
2. Add vanilla and sugar then stir.
3. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Warm Strawberry Cider

Anytime winter rolls around, it’s almost a must to have a warm cup of apple cider before the season ends. Like warm milk, the recipe for warm apple cider can only be reimagined so many times. But, when you hear this recipe for Warm Strawberry Cider, you may feel differently. Imagine all of the things you love about apple cider, in addition to sweet, juicy, and flavorful strawberries. Once you try this delightful spin on a wintertime favorite, we think it’s safe to say that you’ll be back on your warm apple cider game for good.

Ingredients:

8 cups apple juice

1 10-ounce package of frozen sliced strawberries

4-inch cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon whole cloves

Optional:

Fresh strawberry or apple slices

Cinnamon sticks

Directions:

1. Combine apple juice, frozen sliced strawberries, cinnamon stick, and cloves in a large saucepan. Bring the ingredients to a boil and reduce heat then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Strain through a sieve lined with a 100% cotton cheesecloth.
3. Garnish each serving with a cinnamon stick— and a fresh strawberry or apple slice, if desired.

Tea-Chino

Enjoy the bold, rich flavor of your favorite herbal tea as you mix up this new concoction, a Tea-Chino. If you didn’t already guess, a Tea-Chino is a play on the ever-popular cappuccino. So, if you’re not one for coffee, or if you’re trying to cut back as per your New Year’s resolution, this may be the hot beverage for you. Plus, it comes with many health benefits including a natural energy boost and improved digestive health. Made with only water, herbal tea, and your favorite milk, this soothingly warm drink is simple and affordable—two adjectives college students love.

Ingredients:

1-quart water

2 herbal tea bags

1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Bring 1 quart of water to a boil. One the water is boiling, remove from the heat and add the tea bags.
2. Steep for about 10 minutes or until the whole pot is flavored. While the tea is steeping, steam your milk by shaking it up in a jar then microwaving for 30 seconds without the lid attached.
3. Pour cup of tea into a cup, add the foamed milk on top, and serve.

Hawaij Coffee

Allow this blend of coconut milk, cocoa and espresso powders, sugar, and vanilla extract to warm you up on a cold morning. What hot beverage are we talking about now? Well, Hawaij Coffee, of course. This simple-to-make, coffee-based drink is concocted around the hawaij spice blend, which consists of cumin, turmeric, and cardamom. If anything, it is sure to take your taste buds to a whole new world of flavors, while satisfying all of your coffee cravings as you prepare for another jam-packed day ahead.

Ingredients:

1 14-ounce unsweetened light coconut milk

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch kosher salt

Hawaij spice blend

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients except the hawaij.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a whisk until the mixture is hot but not boiling.
3. Pour into a mug then top with a pinch of hawaij.

Coconut Tres Leches Hot Chocolate

We, at uCribs, are pleased to introduce you to the soon-to-be favorite drink of the winter season: Coconut Tres Leches Hot Chocolate. Taking you away from the hot chocolate norm, Coconut Tres Leches Hot Chocolate is infused with a blend of coconut, vanilla, and cocoa powder. Better yet, it combines your favorite flavor profiles: Tres Leches and Almond Joy. Topped with curls of chocolate, this lightweight, chocolatey drink will help you unwind after a day spent on campus in harsh, cold weather conditions.

Ingredients:

3 cups fat-free milk

1 14-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Optional:

Sweetened whipped cream

1/4 cup chocolate shavings

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine fat-free milk, coconut milk, and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Whisk in cocoa powder until well-combined.
2. Remove from heat, then stir in vanilla.
3. Serve in mugs topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

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