9 WINTER WARMER DRINKS RECIPES

Recipes: winter warmer drinks to take with you on a blustery walk!

It’s getting to that point in the year where the lure of the fire (or radiator) is strong and venturing outside can seem like an arctic expedition. So, we’ve pulled together our favourite winter drinks recipes that’ll warm your cockles (whatever they are) and put a bit more pep in your step on any chilly walk.

Getting outside and getting moving is more important than ever to ward off the winter blues and keep our minds healthy, so wrap up warm, pull on your walking boots, grab a flask or insulated water bottle, fill it with your favourite hot drink from the list and set off on an adventure.

Our 9 favourite winter warmer drink recipes

Non-alcoholic:

1. Mulled Apple Juice (our own recipe)

Ingredients:
1l apple juice
About 5 orange slices
1 cinnamon stick
4 cloves
1 or 2 star anise
Honey or sugar to taste

Method: Simmer the apple juice with the spices and orange slices for about 10 mins until all the flavours have infused. Sweeten to taste with honey or sugar, then pour into your favourite flask.

2. Cinnamon Oat Milk Hot Chocolate (from Alpro)

Ingredients:
500ml oat milk
100g vegan dark chocolate, finely chopped, plus a grating to serve
1 small cinnamon stick
2 bruised cardamom pods (optional)
½ tbsp maple syrup (optional)
vegan marshmallows, to serve

Method: Heat all the ingredients, except the marshmallows, if using, in a small pan over a low heat, stirring frequently until the chocolate has melted. Remove and discard the whole spices with a slotted spoon. Divide the hot chocolate between two mugs or flasks and top with the vegan marshmallows, if using, and an extra grating of chocolate.

3. Vegan Turmeric Latte (adapted from Abras Kitchen)

Ingredients:
1 can of light coconut milk (400ml)
355ml water
3 pitted dates
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp coconut oil
Optional additional 1tbsp maple syrup or honey if you like it sweeter

Method: Mix all ingredients in a blender or in a saucepan with a hand blender.
Blend for 2-3 minutes, until well incorporated.
Heat in a saucepan on the stove on a medium heat until warmed.
Pour into your flasks and go!

4. Chai or Char :) (our own recipe)
For 350ml (that’s our small insulated flask)

Ingredients:
150ml any kind of milk
200ml water
3 cardamom pods bashed
Nice healthy pinch of coarsely ground black pepper
½ to ¾ teaspoon caraway seeds
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tea bag
Heaped teaspoon of soft brown sugar or grated jaggery (gur) if you can
get it. You might like more or less sugar.
1.5cm ginger root grated

Method: Put it all in a pan and bring to the boil then simmer for 2 or 3 mins.
Strain and look forward to drinking it when you’re half way up Snowdon - oh, wait - that’s not allowed at the min :( Soon!

5. Pepped up hibiscus tea (our own recipe)

Make hibiscus tea as you would usually. Either with a bag or the dried flowers (which are much cheaper!) or with a tea bag. Add a pinch of black pepper and squeeze a lime in there. You might like to add honey or sugar.

6. Turmeric Zingy Tea! (adapted from Melissa Hemsley)
For 500ml

Ingredients:
500ml just boiled water
Juice of at least 1 lime (2 is nice)
Tablespoon honey
3cm grated root turmeric (use ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric if you want)
2cm grated root ginger

Method:
Mix it together, strain if you want. This is equally delicious cold with an added mint leaf!

Alcoholic:

1. Hot Toddy (adapted from BBC Good Food)

Ingredients:
50ml whisky
3 tsp honey
1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
1 lemon, half juiced and half sliced
2 cloves

Method: Whisk the whisky and honey together and split between 2 flasks. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water. Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your preference. Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove. This works perfectly as a takeaway drink as it gives the flavours time to steep.

2. Vegan Hot Buttered Rum Punch (from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken)

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon Vegan Butter
1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Tiny Pinches Nutmeg
60 ml Spiced Rum (I used Kraken)
160 ml of your favourite plant-based milk
160 ml Water

Method:
Divide the brown sugar, vegan butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg among 2 mugs. Use a fork to mash and mix the mixture together in each mug.
Pour a shot of the rum in, then heat up the plant-based milk and water together until simmering and divide among the two mugs. Stir to dissolve the brown sugar. Now transfer to your flasks if you’re taking the drink away. Pure, creamy, vegan, adult indulgence. Cheers!

3. Mulled Pear and Cranberry Punch (from BBC Good Food)

Ingredients:
1l pear cider
1l pear (or cloudy apple) juice
1l cranberry juice
good handful fresh or dried cranberries
150ml sloe gin
2 cinnamon sticks
2 vanilla pods, scored lengthways

Method:
Put all the ingredients into your biggest saucepan or casserole dish. When you’re ready to serve, heat to just below simmering point, then ladle into mugs, glasses or flasks.

And that concludes our 9 favourite winter warmer drinks recipes! Cheers everyone! Hope your tummies have been warmed and your taste buds satisfied.

Note: all of these drinks can go in our flasks and insulated water bottles and will be kept warm for ages, they will just need a bit of a clean afterwards. For care instructions and top cleaning tips visit our blog on How to Care For Your Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Also, please don’t reheat your bottle in the microwave - metal and microwaves don’t mix!