These 10 Hot Drinks Are Your Cold-Weather Saviors

Cinnamon Coffee
Photo: Blaine Moats

When the cold weather of fall and winter hits, eliminate the chill with comforting hot drink recipes. Our collection of hot alcoholic drinks and warm mocktails includes festive hot rum drinks, flavorful teas, fruity hot wine drinks, coffee drinks (PSL fans, we've got you covered!), and more. Bonus: Some of these hot drinks are made in the slow cooker for a no-fuss toasty beverage perfect for hosting duties!

01 of 10

Hot Chocolate Seven Ways

Hot Chocolate Seven Ways
Carson Downing

When the next polar vortex blows into town, pick one version of this hot drink recipe to warm your bones each day of the week. Start with a rich base of half-and-half, cream, vanilla, and chopped bittersweet chocolate. Then work your way through the flavor options, including peanut butter, espresso, almond, and raspberry.

02 of 10

Cider Mulled Wine

cider mulled wine with apples and cinnamon
Brie Passano

At long last, white is now totally appropriate between Labor Day and Memorial Day—when it's wine. For this hot wine drink, we crank up the temperature on summer sangria in a slow cooker and stir in baking spices for even more warmth. Try any dry white wine variety. (We like Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, and Chenin Blanc.)

03 of 10

Cinnamon Coffee

Cinnamon Coffee
Blaine Moats

Upgrade your morning coffee with this cinnamon-spiced hot coffee drink. Each sip offers the same coziness level as your favorite pair of fleece-lined slippers. Add a dollop of whipped cream to make the sipper as pretty as the fresh coat of snow outside.

04 of 10

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte
Matthew Clark

No need to wait until Starbucks adds it back to their coffee shop menu. This hot coffee drink is always available in your kitchen once you have this luscious latte recipe. Canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and maple syrup give it undeniable winter appeal. Set your slow cooker to "keep warm" and sip all afternoon long.

05 of 10

Cinnamon-Pumpkin Toddy

Cinnamon-Pumpkin Toddy
Andy Lyons

The combo of rye whiskey and apple-cinnamon schnapps is sure to shake off your winter chill. Featuring real canned pumpkin (no uncommon extracts or hard-to-pronounce additives here), this hot toddy drink will be your new go-to. Especially when you garnish each glass with a generous dollop of cinnamon whipped cream.

06 of 10

Bourbon-Citrus Sipper

Bourbon-Citrus Sipper
Andy Lyons

Use your slow cooker to brew this apple-and-citrus beverage while you conquer your to-do list. Bonus: Your house will smell amazing as the pie-spiced hot bourbon drink simmers. Try it with cider or juice, and splash in the booze right before serving.

07 of 10

Aztec Hot Chocolate

Aztec Hot Chocolate
Blaine Moats

Cook up this chipotle-infused hot chocolate recipe in your slow cooker while you tackle shoveling the snow. A cozy batch of these hot winter drinks will be ready and waiting for you to enjoy when you are done.

08 of 10

Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider

Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider
Andy Lyons

Warm your cider with surprising ingredients, such as tart pomegranate, warm cloves, and peppery cardamom, in this big-batch hot drink recipe. Optional fresh kumquats add a surprising hint of bright citrus flavor.

Test Kitchen Tip: Can't find or don't like kumquats? Substitute strips of orange peel.

09 of 10

Mulled Cranberry Punch

Mulled Cranberry Punch
Blaine Moats

Cranberries are for much more than sauces. Put your slow cooker to work simmering this warm winter drink recipe to punch perfection. The ruby-red hot drink, featuring cranberry juice and white grape juice, is the perfect mocktail option for an open house or an all-day family feast.

10 of 10

Hot Buttered Cider

Hot Buttered Cider
Blaine Moats

A spoonful of sugar? Nah, a spoonful of butter separates this rich cider from other ciders. If you're in the mood for a hot alcoholic drink, simply add ½ cup rum for a hot buttered rum twist.

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