Warm Drinks for Cold Days

Aside from a small group of Americans who live in Southern California and Florida, the rest of the country is freezing this week!

Being that cold brings to my mind steaming cups of hot cocoa or other yummy beverages to warm my tummy  – and my spirits.

It seemed a good idea, then, to reshare some of the best warm beverages I’ve ever made so you might enjoy them, too!

Sadly, we can no longer enjoy most of these. Jed now has reactions to cocoa powder (and even carob powder), so all he can savor this winter is the Sorta Horchata served incorrectly (it’s typically a cold drink).

Oh, well. I hope you can enjoy at least one of these in your own home! They’re all delicious!

Just click on the photos to go straight to the recipe.

First up is the absolute best hot cocoa I’ve ever tasted in my life, and it’s dairy free. If you can eat coconut, by all means make this for your family. They’ll love you for it!

Next are two very simple, almost instant hot cocoas. One uses a pre-made powder mix:

And one uses a pre-made syrup:

They’re both excellent, and being fast makes them even better in my book!

Last, but by no means least, is the Sorta Horchata. As I said, Horchata is typically a cold beverage for summer. Last year, though, when I first made it, my taste testers wanted to try it both warm and cold, and some liked it better warm!

So if you can’t do cocoa, carob, or dairy, and want a warm beverage on a cold day, give this a try. You may like it!

Other than the Sorta Horchata, I’m going to try making just warmed goat milk with cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla for Jed and see if that hits the spot for him. Zac will just get plain warmed goat milk when it’s especially cold. Same for me, unfortunately, though I can add a little stevia to mine to – perhaps – make it a little tastier. (We’ll see how that works out.)

Hopefully, by next winter, Zac be able to safely consume at least vanilla and cinnamon so both boys can have the same treat at once! (And I can drink some, too!)

Oh, and I forgot coffee! Jed has adored coffee for years now. I can dress some coffee up with copious amounts of goat milk, some dextrose and vanilla for a special cold weather treat. (Don’t judge; it’s decaf coffee. He started begging for sips of his Daddy’s coffee when he was 2 years old, and it’s almost impossible to keep him away from it when he really wants some! So we give him half cups when he asks for some.  It’s better than soda, that’s for sure!)

Enjoy a nice, warm beverage, and stay warm out there!

Oh, and if anyone has any recommendations for an awesome winter hat that the wind doesn’t blow right through, please share! Preferably one that covers the ears, neck, and forehead, too. My head is freezing in Chicago! 

What’s your favorite warm winter drink? Any great suggestions for how to make warm goat milk more “special”? 

This post shared with:

Real Food Wednesdays, Gluten Free Wednesdays, Corn-Free Everyday, and Let’s Get Real