Warm up winter with spiced drinks

photo by vivekrajkanhangad

Chase away the winter chills with seasonal drinks you can mix at home. Plain coffee, tea and hot cocoa are delicious, but there are times you’ll want to make something different. The following recipes have high fat content, so they’re a special treat, and you shouldn’t drink them daily. But they can help make your home more welcoming and cozy for friends and family when they pop in for a visit.

Hot-Buttered Rum Batter

1 pound butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 pound brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 quart French-vanilla ice cream, softened
1-1/2 ounces rum, optional
boiling water
nutmeg

Cream together the first six ingredients, and freeze until needed. To serve: Add the rum and 2 to 3 tablespoons batter, and fill with boiling water to fill cup. Sprinkle with nutmeg. — Brenda, Missouri

Amy’s Grandma’s Eggnog Didn’t get your holiday fix? Make it yourself anytime throughout the year. Would be great in eggnog bread.

6 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 pint whipping cream (or you can substitute soft ice cream) — I always use the whipping cream
1 pint half-and-half
1-1/2 cups liquor (whiskey, bourbon or the like). Grandma was known to stand by the bowl and pour in the alcohol, never measuring anything. Hers could get a little strong!
1/4 cup rum
nutmeg

You can leave out the alcohol completely, if desired. Beat the egg whites until fluffy. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks until fluffy. Add 1/2 cup sugar. Add the cream, half-and-half, and liquor. Sprinkle with nutmeg. I make this in a punch bowl, with the alcohol on the side for people who want to spike their own. — Amy, Ohio

Winter Punch

4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
cinnamon sticks

Mix together all the ingredients, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Warm in a slow cooker. Serve with a cinnamon stick in each mug. — Ellise, South Carolina

Pumpkin Latte

3 cups hot milk
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
6 ounces double-strength brewed coffee
3 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream

Combine the hot milk, sugar, vanilla and pumpkin-pie spice in a blender; blend until frothy. Pour the milk mixture into three mugs, each two-thirds full. Add equal amounts of coffee into each mug. Adjust sweetness to taste. Top with whipped cream. — Debbie, Louisiana

Chai Tea

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer
1 cup French-vanilla-flavored nondairy powdered coffee creamer
2-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Using a blender or food processor, blend 1 cup at a time, until the mixture is a fine powder. To serve: Stir 3 heaping tablespoons of the Chai-tea mixture into a mug of hot water. Store the dry mixture in an airtight container. — Kathy, Texas

Posted by Sara Noel on January 7 2010. Filed under Frugal Cooking.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook