Best Drinks To Make In Winter

What Makes A Drink “Best” In Winter?

The best winter drinks are warming, balanced in sweetness, and easy to hold at a safe temperature. They usually lean on heat, spice, and richer textures because cold air dulls aroma and makes thin drinks taste flatter.

A practical rule is to choose drinks that fit your day: hydrating drinks for routine sipping, richer drinks for dessert, and lower-alcohol or alcohol-free options when you want warmth without feeling weighed down.

Which Hot Drinks Are The Most Reliable At Home?

Hot drinks that are built on water, tea, coffee, or milk are the most reliable because they heat quickly and tolerate small variations in timing. They also scale well, whether you are making one mug or a pot.

For most kitchens, the most dependable winter choices are:

• Hot tea and herbal infusions
• Coffee and coffee-with-milk drinks
• Hot chocolate and cocoa-style drinks
• Heated fruit juices, especially apple-based
• Broth-based sippers (savory “drinks” that function like a light snack)

What Are The Best Spiced Winter Drinks?

Spiced drinks are among the best in winter because warm spices are aromatic and read as “warming” even at moderate sweetness. The key is restraint, since spices intensify as a pot sits.

Common spice profiles that work well in hot drinks:

• Cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg
• Ginger, cardamom
• Citrus peel (thin strips, avoiding much white pith)

If you simmer spices in a pot, keep it gentle. Hard boiling can make spices bitter and can reduce volume faster than expected.

What Are The Best Creamy Winter Drinks?

Creamy winter drinks are best when they stay smooth, not grainy or scorched. That usually means moderate heat and frequent stirring, especially with dairy.

Reliable creamy bases include:

• Milk or a milk alternative designed for cooking
• Light cream (richer, but easier to curdle if boiled hard)
• Cocoa mixed with sugar before adding liquid (helps prevent lumps)

If you sweeten, do it gradually. Sweetness reads stronger in hot liquids than in cold ones, and it increases as the drink cools.

Are Cold Drinks Ever A Good Choice In Winter?

Yes, if you want refreshment without extra heaviness. Cold drinks can also help if indoor heat leaves you dry or you are drinking something alongside a rich meal.

Cold winter-friendly options are usually less sharp and more rounded:

• Water with citrus
• Iced tea with moderate sweetness
• Cold milk drinks that are lightly spiced

If you drink cold beverages outdoors, choose an insulated container. The goal is comfort, not grit-your-teeth cold.

What Are The Best Nonalcoholic Winter Drinks?

The best nonalcoholic winter drinks cover three needs: warmth, hydration, and a sense of “treat” without excess sugar.

A simple short list that covers most households:

• Unsweetened or lightly sweetened tea
• Cocoa made with milk or a milk alternative
• Spiced hot apple cider
• Warm lemon-ginger infusion (caffeine-free if you use only fresh ingredients)
• Savory broth with a pinch of salt and pepper

If you are reducing caffeine, pay attention to tea strength and steep time. Longer steeping can add bitterness and more caffeine extraction.

What About Alcoholic Winter Drinks?

Alcoholic winter drinks are best when they stay balanced and not overly sweet, especially when served hot. If you choose alcohol, keep portions modest and remember that “warming” is mostly a flavor and sensation, not a guarantee of safer cold-weather comfort.

Two safety points matter at home:

• Never heat alcohol directly over a flame without care, and never attempt flambé techniques unless you already know the method.
• Do not rely on alcohol to make raw ingredients safe. If a drink contains eggs, treat it like a custard base and heat it appropriately.

How Do You Keep Hot Drinks Safe For Serving And Storage?

Hot drinks are safest when you keep them out of the temperature range where bacteria grow quickly. A common standard is to hold hot foods and drinks at 140°F (60°C) or hotter when serving over time. If a drink is meant to be chilled and stored, cool it promptly and refrigerate.

Here is a small guide that works for most home kitchens:

Situation	Practical Target
Holding a hot drink for serving	Keep at 140°F (60°C) or hotter, stir occasionally
Leaving a perishable drink at room temperature	Limit to 2 hours (1 hour if the room is hot)
Refrigerating dairy-based drinks	Cool, cover, and use within 2 to 3 days for best quality
Reheating leftovers	Heat until steaming hot, then serve; do not repeatedly reheat and cool

When cooling a pot of hot drink, transfer it to smaller containers to cool faster, then refrigerate. Avoid putting a large, very hot pot straight into the refrigerator, since it can warm the surrounding food and slow cooling.

Recipe: Spiced Hot Apple Cider

This is a simple, forgiving winter drink that tastes full without requiring much sugar.

Yield: About 6 cups (1.4 L)
Time: 15 to 25 minutes
Equipment: Medium pot, spoon, fine strainer (optional)

Ingredients

• 6 cups apple cider or unsweetened apple juice (1.4 L)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 3 allspice berries (optional)
• 4 wide strips citrus peel (from 1 orange), avoiding most of the white pith
• Pinch of salt
• Sweetener to taste, if needed (start with 1 to 2 teaspoons, 4 to 8 g)

Instructions

1. Combine the cider, spices, citrus peel, and salt in a pot.
2. Heat over medium until steaming, then reduce to low so it stays hot without hard boiling.
3. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes, tasting once or twice. Stop when the spice level tastes clear but not harsh.
4. Strain if you want a cleaner cup. Sweeten only if needed. Serve hot.

Storage

• Cool promptly, cover, and refrigerate.
• Reheat only what you plan to drink, heating until steaming hot. Discard if it smells fermented, tastes fizzy, or has been left out too long.

Recipe: Classic Hot Chocolate

This method avoids graininess by dissolving cocoa with sugar before adding most of the milk.

Yield: 2 mugs
Time: 10 minutes
Equipment: Small saucepan, whisk

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk (480 mL)
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (10 to 12 g)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar (25 to 38 g), to taste
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2 mL), optional

Instructions

1. In a small pot, whisk the cocoa, sugar, and salt with 2 to 3 tablespoons milk (30 to 45 mL) to form a smooth paste.
2. Whisk in the remaining milk.
3. Heat over medium, whisking often, until steaming hot. Do not boil hard.
4. Remove from heat and add vanilla if using. Serve immediately.

Storage

• If made with dairy, cool promptly, cover, and refrigerate.
• Reheat gently, stirring, until steaming hot. Discard if it develops an off smell, curdling, or a slick surface that does not stir back in.

Recipe: Warm Ginger-Lemon Infusion

This is a straightforward hot drink when you want something light and not sweet.

Yield: 1 large mug
Time: 10 minutes
Equipment: Kettle or small pot, mug

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water (360 mL)
• 6 to 8 thin slices fresh ginger (about 15 g)
• 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice (5 to 10 mL), to taste
• Small amount of sweetener, optional

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil, then add ginger and lower to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Pour into a mug and let stand 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add lemon juice to taste. Sweeten only if you want it.

Storage

This is best made fresh. If you chill leftovers, refrigerate promptly and use within 24 hours.

Endnotes

[1] ask.usda.gov
[2] extension.umn.edu
[3] news.ncsu.edu