A blue table topped with three mugs of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows

26 warming drinks

Published: November 4, 2022 at 2:51 PM

loading...

Get 5 months for £5 when you subscribe today

Keep toasty with our favourite warming drinks, including hot chocolate, mulled wine, boozy coffee and more

Looking for warming drinks? We've got plenty of recipes to try including Baileys hot chocolate, vegan eggnog and mulled gin.

Ad

Equip your home bar with the best cocktail accessories, and create a glassware collection using our guides to cocktail glasses and whisky glasses.

Baileys hot chocolate

If you thought hot chocolate couldn't get any better, think again – add creamy Baileys and aromatic cinnamon to create the most decadent festive drink.

A blue table topped with three mugs of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows

Orange hot chocolate

This rich and creamy hot chocolate comes with zingy notes of orange and intensity from dark chocolate. Add an extra layer of luxury if you like with a tot of spiced rum.

Two mugs of hot chocolate, next to a jug fo milk and shots of spiced rum

Hot toddy

Warm up with a hot toddy. This classic winter cocktail combines whisky with honey, lemon and spices. We’ve used traditional whisky here (single malt will really elevate the drink) but any dark spirit works well – try swapping it for bourbon, dark rum, cognac or calvados, or add a dash of orange or Angostura bitters.

A red background with a glass mug in front filled with a hot whisky cocktail and cinnamon stick

Mulled wine

Mulled wine is a Christmas party classic, and our homemade version is pepped up with a splash of brandy.

A blue background with two glasses in front filled with red wine, slices of orange and cinnamon sticks

Glühwein

The addition of rum to this Christmas market classic works really well – we've added some here to compensate for the evaporation of alcohol during cooking, but it’s not essential, if you prefer your drinks a little less punchy.

Glühwein in glasses served on a tray

Pumpkin gingerbread milk

This warming winter drink is just the thing to get you relaxed and ready for bed – perfect for sipping alongside a meditation or mindfulness session.

Two mugs of pumpkin gingerbread milk with cinnamon stick stirrers

Luxury hot chocolate station

Set up a hot chocolate station with all the toppings, then let people help themselves to create their own take on the ultimate hot chocolate.

Luxury Hot Chocolate Recipe

Karak chai

Karak chai – a strong Indian tea with warming spices – is lovely first thing in the morning or enjoyed with a biscuit for afternoon tea.

Two mugs of karak chai on a plate with cinnamon sticks and a bowl of cardamom pods

Mulled port

Warm those cockles with a heady concoction of ruby port, cinnamon, black peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves and rosemary – the perfect Christmas tipple.

Two glasses of mulled port with sprig of rosemary inside

Hot spiced cherry cup

The perfect pick-me-up on a chilly winter night, this spiced cocktail blends red wine with cherry brandy, plenty of fresh spices and citrus. Best served warm and garnished with cinnamon sticks.

Two glass mugs filled with a cherry cup and an orange slice

Chai latte

Infuse black tea and almond milk with fragrant spices for a dairy-free twist on this Indian-inspired drink.

A blue table topped with two blue mugs filled with spiced milk

Mulled tea punch

This is a take on kinderpunsch, a non-alcoholic German drink served as an alternative to glühwein. Make it for an easy, booze-free drink over the festive season.

Hibiscus Tea Punch Recipe

Mulled tea punch

Boozy hot chocolate

How do you make a mug of homemade hot chocolate even better? Add booze, of course! Mezcal or very peaty scotch whisky lend a welcome kick, and there's chilli in there for a bit of heat, too.

Smoky Hot Chocolate Recipe

Mocha

Marrying coffee and hot chocolate, mochas are ideal if you're craving something sweet, warming and comforting, but want a kick of caffeine, too.

A glass cup and saucer holding chocolaty mocha, with a creamy white top and chocolate shavings

Mulled beer

Forget cider and wine, mulled beer is the thing to be drinking this year over the festive season – our recipe has Christmas flavours of cinnamon, cloves, star anise and clementine.

Mulled Beer Recipe

Eggnog

Put a rosy glow in your cheeks with this classic winter cocktail, made with egg yolks, sugar, cream, sherry, rum and plenty of fresh nutmeg.

Eggnog in a glass on a snow-covered table

Mulled hot chocolate

Use up left-over red wine to jazz up your hot chocolate over the festive season. This quick and easy mulled hot chocolate is the perfect way to warm up during the winter months.

Red Wine Hot Chocolate Recipe

Mulled gin

We've paired apple juice with gin and aromatic spices for a warming festive tipple – a great alternative to mulled wine.

A blue background with a glass mug at the front filled with a dark yellow spiced drink and a cinnamon stick

Slow cooker hot chocolate

Indulge in the ultimate rich and velvety treat with our slow cooker hot chocolate. Let it simmer to perfection, then top with whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon or chilli for a luxurious twist.

Three mugs of hot chocolate topped with cream and cocoa

Vegan hot chocolate

This dairy-free hot chocolate is silky, sweet and topped with whipped plant-based cream – use oat or almond milk alternatives in this warming drink.

Two glass mugs of hot chocolate topped with cream and cocoa powder on a grey concrete background

Mulled white wine

Move over red, mulled white wine with a splash of dry cider is here and its comforting winter spices are guaranteed to leave you feeling festive and merry.

Mulled white wine cocktail

Pumpkin spice latte

Follow expert barista Celeste Wong's step-by-step guide to making the perfect version of this comforting, autumnal coffee

A mug of pumpkin spiced latte with a cinnamon stick balanced on top

Nutella hot chocolate

Swap cocoa powder for Nutella in this twist on hot chocolate, then top with cream for added luxury.

A green background with four cocktails in glasses

Gingerbread latte

Follow expert barista Celeste Wong's step-by-step guide to making the perfect version of this classic winter coffee, including how to make your own gingerbread syrup.

Two mugs of gingerbread latte on a wooden board with a dark slate background and plate of gingerbread bisciuts

Irish coffee

Try experimenting with this decadent, boozy coffee using different spirits such as bourbon, cognac, dark rum or amaretto. It's a great way to round off a dinner party, or can also be incorporated in desserts.

Ad

A glass of Irish coffee with a brass spoon on a green background

Calypso coffee

Easy to whip up after a long winter walk, strong coffee is spiked with coffee liqueur and rum before being topped with a snow-white layer of cream.

A ribbed glass of coffee with white cream on the top, garnished with two coffee beans next to a wooden bowl of coffee beans

Authors

Hannah GuinnessSenior sub editor and drinks writer

Comments, questions and tips

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

CommentQuestionTip

Ad

Ad

Loading...

Ad

Loading...

Want to see this content?

This page contains olivemagazine content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue