Category: Drinks

Cranberry-pomegranate cider is a sweet twist on a homey classic. Make a single serving for a quiet afternoon or a batch in the slow cooker for winter entertaining. 

Welcome to the second week of our Warm-Up Drink Series, hosted by Ellen at Family Around the Table. If you missed me last week, I shared with you my favorite cinnamon spice hot toddy – a 4-ingredient belly-warmer that really hits the spot when sick.

This week’s recipe is a fall/winter cider recipe – apple cider with a splash of cranberry and pomegranate juice, with a bit of ginger to kick up the flavor. It was such a lovely mug to curl up with on the couch, under a hand-knit blanket and snuggle one cold and cloudy afternoon. (PS. The cloudy and rainy weather combined with it getting dark so early is really making it difficult to get good photos for you!)

In fact, all of the below recipes are just perfect for curling up with this cold week. Caramel Marshmallow Latte? Yes please! Citrus Cider? Bring on the winter fruit!

• • Bulletproof Chai Tea by Our Good Life
  • Caramel Marshmallow Latte by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
  • Cranberry-Pomegranate Apple Cider by Books n’ Cooks
  • Hot Citrus Cider by Family Around the Table
  • Irish Coffee for Winter by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
  • Jamaican Tea Toddy by Palatable Pastime
  • Strawberry White Hot Chocolate by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
  • Vanilla Almond Hot Cocoa by Jolene’s Recipe Journal

Recipe Notes

• This recipe can be easily scaled to serve a crowd. The ratio is simple: equal amounts pomegranate juice and cranberry juice, twice as much apple cider, chunk of ginger. i.e. for 8 servings, you’ll use 4 cups of cider, 2 cups each of pomegranate and cranberry juice, and a 1-inch piece of ginger. For large servings, recipe can be made completely in a slow cooker or on the stove top. Cooking time will vary based on quantity.
• Want fewer dishes for a single serving? Make this in the microwave – 2 minutes on high. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before removing the piece of ginger. Microwave for another minute to warm it back up.

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Cranberry-Pomegranate Cider

Cranberry-pomegranate cider is a sweet twist on a homey classic. Make a single serving for a quiet afternoon or a batch in the slow cooker for winter entertaining. 

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 1

Calories 134 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 4 oz. apple cider
• 2 oz. pomegranate juice
• 2 oz. cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail
• 1/4 in. ginger peeled
• whole cranberries or apple slices optional garnish

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Lower heat slightly and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes.
   

2. Remove from heat and remove piece of ginger. Pour into a mug. Garnish with fresh cranberries or apple slices, if desired, and enjoy while hot.
   

This 4-ingredient Cinnamon Spice Hot Toddy features bright spicy cinnamon flavors and belly-warming liquor in a beverage that will warm you up, no matter how cold it is outside.

Today kicks off a 6-week Winter Warm-Up Drink Series, hosted by Ellen at Family Around the Table. So every Friday for the next 5 weeks (I hope), I’ll be bringing you a new winter drink recipe, as well as a whole bunch of recipes from my blogging friends,designed to keep you warm during these frigid winter months. Our little group has started the week strong, with lots of recipes I want to try:

• • Cinnamon Spice Hot Toddy by Books n’ Cooks
  • Dirty Earl Grey Latte by The Baking Fairy
  • Earl Grey Hot Toddy by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
  • Hot Ginger Coffee by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
  • Oatmeal Cookie Latte by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
  • Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
  • Ultimate Hot Chocolate by Family Around the Table

I have a confession. Throughout the winter months, I’d routinely see recipes for hot toddies, but I never really knew what one was. Wikipedia defines a Hot Toddy as “a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or, in some recipes, sugar), herbs (such as tea) and spices.” With that definition, I can get on board with that, can’t you?

But here’s the thing. I kept seeing recipes suggesting whiskey or bourbon as the main liquor, and that’s not really my thing, so I was hesitant to even try one.

Last year I ended up getting a bad cold and feeling pretty miserable and finally decided to give one a try. Somewhere, I found a version that used cinnamon tea – one of my favorite black teas. It’s become a recipe that I make time and time again during the colder months. Although it doesn’t hold strictly to Wikipedia’s definitions, I’m still calling this a hot toddy. Easy as can be, bright spicy cinnamon flavors, and a little extra warmth from the liquor. I have made this recipe with bourbon, brandy and spiced rum (Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum to be exact), all with good results, although the latter is my favorite.

Recipe Notes:

• • • Tip: If you have an organic or other market near you that sells spices in bulk, stop there are stock up on cinnamon sticks. It’s sooo much cheaper than what you find in the standard grocery store.
    • Tip: I sometimes use the cinnamon sticks in the tea two or three times before tossing them (much like a vanilla bean). Simply remove from tea and allow to dry out on a small plate or balanced on the rim of a glass.
    • My favorite cinnamon tea for this recipe is Harney & Sons, available at Amazon (of course! affiliate link below) as well as Barnes & Nobles.

Do you enjoy hot toddies? Leave me a comment and tell me about your favorite recipe or flavor combination!

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Cinnamon Spice Hot Toddy

This 4-ingredient Cinnamon Spice Hot Toddy features bright spicy cinnamon flavors and belly-warming liquor in a beverage that will warm you up, no matter how cold it is outside.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 3 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Calories 170 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 1 cinnamon spice tea bag
• 8-10 oz. very hot or boiling water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1-2 oz. brandy, bourbon, or spiced rum

Instructions

1. Combine tea bag, boiling or almost boiling water and cinnamon stick in a mug and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Add liquor of choice and stir. Enjoy while still hot. 

Recipe Notes

Quantity of water and liquor used will depend on your mug. Mine was very large, so I used 10 oz. hot water and 2 oz. brandy (or other liquor). If you use a smaller mug, you may want to use a little less liquor.

The nutrition information for this post has been calculated using 2 oz. brandy.

Please drink responsibly. 

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The Bailey’s Chocolatini is a sweet, slightly creamy cocktail – delicious as an after dinner beverage. Or indulge yourself when you can steal a few minutes of quiet – it will taste even sweeter. 😉

This post is sponsored on behalf of #Choctoberfest. Our generous sponsors have provided products for a giveaway for our readers, and may have provided product to bloggers. As always, all opinions are my own.

Want to know a secret? I made this recipe last weekend, and man, did I need it!

I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed and unmotivated lately. I had a whole lot of plans for the past couple of weeks – from personal to professional, chores to fun family time activities, blogging included – and just couldn’t muster up the energy or excitement to follow through on them. That happens to me sometimes – too much to do makes me overwhelmed and then I end up not wanting to do anything, exacerbating the problem. So the chocolate bars that I bought for my s’mores-inspired dessert will remain in my pantry a little longer.

Instead, I took the easy way out from my final #Choctoberfest post – a cocktail. But I have to tell you, this martini really hit the spot after I was done shaking it up, testing it, and photographing it. The kids were off somewhere else in the house. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, slightly creamy cocktail while reading a book. Those few minutes of quiet were AMAZING.

More Recipes Using Chocolate Liquor

Just in case you are worried about buying the bottle of chocolate liquor… here are a few more recipes that use chocolate liquor. I’ve made both of these recipes with Godiva’s Dark Chocolate liquor, but you could use a milk chocolate liquor and/or another brand as well.

• Godiva Cream
• Dark Chocolate Caramel Martini

Don’t Forget:

• To scroll to the bottom of this post and check out the other #Choctoberfest recipes that went live today! Or, search the hashtag on social media and drool a bit over the deliciousness of the day.
• Enter to win one of the prizes donated by our sponsors in the Rafflecopter below. For information about the PRIZES, check out this post.

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Bailey's Chocolatini

The Bailey's Chocolatini is a sweet, slightly creamy cocktail - delicious as an after dinner beverage.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream
• 2 oz. chocolate liquor (I used Godiva dark chocolate liquor)
• 1/2 oz. vodka

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add all ingredients and shake well for 10 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and serve immediately.
   

Peach Rose Sangria combines a light rose wine with peach fruit and liquor to create a refreshing summer cocktail that will have you going back for more.

TGIF!

I had considered ending this week with a dessert but I’d been dying to make a sangria recipe this summer, and #FarmersMarketWeek was the perfect excuse to make one. And after I made it? I almost couldn’t wait to share it with you. It was that good. Still don’t believe me? Only a couple days after I made this, my husband was asking when I could make it again.

This Peach Rose Sangria is light and refreshing. The peach flavor is just strong enough for peach fans, but my husband (not the biggest fan) felt like the flavors were subtle enough to enjoy.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. And cheers!

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Peach Rose Sangria

Peach Rose Sangria combines a light rose wine with peach fruit and liquor to create a refreshing summer cocktail that will have you going back for more.

Course Drinks

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of chilled rose wine
• 1/4 c. brandy
• 4 Tbs. 2 oz peach schnapps
• 2 c. seltzer
• 1 peach sliced thinly
• 1 c. raspberries

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher.
   

2. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.

Friday #FarmersMarketWeek Recipes

Thanks again to Ellen at Family Around the Table for hosting!

• Bourbon Roasted Cherry Ice Cream by The Redhead Baker
• Broccoli Salad by Palatable Pastime
• Brown Butter-Braised Salmon by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Charlotte de Chou et de Pommes de Terre by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Homemade Mint Ginger Lemonad by Everyday Eileen
• Green Beans with Bacon by Simple and Savory
• Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Stacks by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Lemon Sorbet by Family Around the Table
• Old Bay Corn by Cookaholic Wife
• Panzanella Salad by Caroline’s Cooking
• Peach Rose Sangria by Books n’ Cooks (above!)
• Roasted Peach Lemonade by Kate’s Recipe Box
• Satay Beef Noodle Bowl by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Strawberry Olive Oil Cake by The Baking Fairy
• Summer Corn Salad by Cooking With Carlee
• Summer Veggie and Shrimp Quesadilla by The Freshman Cook
• Watermelon Basil Feta Salad by House of Nash Eats

The Gin-Gin Mule is a sweet, minty cocktail using gin, instead of the vodka found in a classic Moscow Mule.

Where has June gone? I took a week off to catch up on chores, prep some posts for you all, and relax some and yet… I still feel like I’m struggling to keep up. That week flew by with lots of chores and errands but not so much blogging or relaxing. I’ve been working slightly longer hours and our home time has been packed with kindergarten play dates (can’t believe kindergarten is happening in a few months!), more errands, slightly cranky kiddos and time with visiting family – strawberry and cherry picking at a local farm, followed 6 batches of strawberry jam last weekend and a long weekend of activities that will be earmarked when I can more accurately predict the weather.

Even though today’s Father’s Day (Happy Father’s Day Hubby! Me and the Littles love you!), with the unexpectedly busy schedule, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to give you a recipe that would take long to prepare, cook, photograph, and type up. So instead, I’m sharing a quick single-serving cocktail with you. And I knew just what to make. 🙂

A friend first made me this cocktail when I had dinner at his house this past fall, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. In fact, I may or may not have had this cocktail in mind when I planted mint in my garden this year. It’s fairly light and refreshing. For me, it’s perfectly sweet, although you can use a bit less simple syrup or agave (I actually used agave nectar) if you prefer. This cocktail has a lovely mint flavor and just a hint of the bubbles from the ginger beer. Let me tell you, I enjoyed every minute of putting together this post this week (as I sit here, sipping my cocktail and typing away)…

Cheers and enjoy!

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Gin-Gin Mule

The Gin-Gin Mule is a sweet, minty cocktail using gin, instead of the vodka found in a classic Moscow Mule.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 Drink

Calories 266 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 10 mint leaves
• 1 oz. simple syrup or agave nectar
• 3/4 oz. lime juice
• 1 1/2 oz. gin
• 2 oz. ginger beer
• Mint sprig for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Add mint leaves, simple syrup and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Muddle.
2. Add ice and gin. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
3. Pour into a martini glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a mint sprig, if desired. Serve immediately.

This recipe was rewritten but not really adapted from Saveur.