Drinks Archives - A Beautiful Mess

Homemade Eggnog

Emma Chapman — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 14:01:00 +0000

While there is nothing wrong with store-bought eggnog, it might surprise you to know that homemade eggnog is VERY easy to make and in my opinion so much better. You can customize the sweetness level as well as make this creamy drink more or less spiced to your preferences.

I am a big fan of custard generally. And eggnog is essentially a spiced custard drink as it is made of mostly milk and egg yolks. This classic eggnog recipe is decadent and delicious and feels absolutely perfect for the holiday season.

Related: Need more festive drink recipes? Try Coquito , Butterbeer, Pumpkin Smoothie, Turmeric Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte and Medicine Ball Tea.

Ingredients

Egg yolks
Granulated white sugar
Heavy cream
Milk
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon stick

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, store the egg yolks, separating them from the whites. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, add the sugar, cream, milk, nutmeg, vanilla extract and cinnamon stick. Whisk over low/medium heat until very warm and the sugar has fully dissolved.

Slowly stir 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture in to the egg yolks at a time, stirring between each addition. The goal is to slowly warm the egg yolks because if they go from cold to hot too quickly they can curdle.

Once the mixing bowl with the milk and yolks feels very warm to the touch (on the outside of the bowl), whisk the mixture back into the pan. Heat until the liquid reaches 160°F (71°C).

Pour the eggnog through a fine mesh strainer to remove any sediments and the cinnamon stick. Store in the refrigerator.

Tips & Additions

You can use an instant read thermometer or candy thermometer to check the liquid for reaching its food-safe temperature.
If the egg yolks do curdle a little, it’s OK! While not ideal, the eggnog is not ruined. Once you strain the mixture before chilling, this will remove any curdled pieces.
Feel free to add more nutmeg, cinnamon or other spices like cloves to this recipe! Pumpkin pie spice might be a nice addition.
What about spiked eggnog?! You can add any liquor that goes well with cinnamon; so think bourbon, whiskey, brandy, rum or Kahlua. Add one shot (1.5 to 2 ounces) to a serving.
To add some caffeine you can add 1 to 2 shots of espresso to serving of this and top with whipped cream!

More Great Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eggnog served hot or cold?

Hot Buttered Rum

Laura Gummerman — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:35:00 +0000

When it comes to wintertime drinks, cozying up by the fire with a hot buttered rum is the top way to pass the time on a cold winter’s night. While the name may sound odd, this hot buttered rum recipe is actually a delicious drink that combines sweet, creamy, and buttery flavors with winter spices and a dose of rum to warm you from the inside out.

You can easily make a batch of hot buttered rum “batter” to keep in your fridge so you can make this Christmas cocktail at a moment’s notice, and you can even make it without the alcohol to be a family-friendly drink. Check out our instructional video to see how easy it is to make!

What’s the history of hot buttered rum?

Hot buttered rum dates all the way back to the American colonial period of New England in the 1650s. Rum was a popular drink as water wasn’t always safe to drink and the hot buttered rum was an alternative to a hot toddy as it also added some calories. The basic recipe consisted of rum, butter, spices, and sugar, which are still the main ingredients in modern hot buttered rums.

What does hot buttered rum taste like?

While the name may not sound appetizing to some, hot buttered rum has a creamy sweet taste punctuated with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The butter does give the drink a delicious buttery flavor similar to drinking a buttery cookie in a glass!

What type of rum is best for hot buttered rum?

While it’s possible to use white rum if that’s all you have on hand (and if that’s the rum you prefer), spiced rum or dark rum is a better flavor profile for this particular drink. Spiced rum will have some added caramel flavor and spices while dark rum will be a little more of a darker molasses flavor profile.

Hot buttered rum ingredients:

Unsalted butter: This is the buttery part of your hot buttered rum!

Brown sugar: You’ll get sweet notes of caramel by adding brown sugar to your batter mix.

Powdered sugar: Adding some powdered sugar gives the drink a lighter sweetness on top of the deeper brown sugar flavor.

Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove: These warm spices combined together make this drink taste like Christmas in a glass! Feel free to add some ground allspice or cardamom as well for even more levels of spice.

Vanilla extract: Try and use vanilla extract rather than imitation vanilla for a more pure vanilla flavor.

Rum: A dark or spiced rum is your best choice for the perfect hot buttered rum.

Hot water: Adding hot water to your hot buttered rum batter is what gives you a warm and cozy drink.

TIP: Rather than boiling water, you’ll want to use hot water that’s just under boiling as water that’s too hot can dull the flavors a little.

How to make hot buttered rum

For the batter:

Add unsalted butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until butter is melted and then whisk in your brown and powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove until sugar is melted and ingredients are combined.

Remove from heat and add in your vanilla and stir to combine. Use to make hot buttered rum or allow to cool and then store in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.

For the hot buttered rum:

Add 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture to a heatproof mug and pour in 6 ounces hot water and 1-2 ounces of rum depending on how strong you want your drink. Stir and add more batter to taste if necessary and enjoy!

TIP: Since you are adding hot water to your drink, you don’t have to heat the rum as well, so feel free to use room temperature rum.

Tips for making hot buttered rum:

Add a dash of salt to your batter to really bring out the flavors.
Adding a dollop of whipped cream to the top of your drink will not only look pretty, but it will add extra creamy sweetness as it melts into the drink.
Sprinkle some cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg on top of your drink or add in a cinnamon stick before serving for a boost of cinnamon flavor.

TIP: To keep your drink warm longer, serve the hot buttered rum in pre-warmed mugs!

How do you make hot buttered rum nonalcoholic?

To make a family-friendly version of hot buttered rum, simply use just the batter and hot water to make your delicious drink. You can also add the batter into milk, apple cider, or coffee for a nonalcoholic treat.

How do you make hot buttered rum in a crockpot?

To make hot buttered rum for a crowd in a slow cooker, put the batter ingredients into the crockpot first and cook on high until all the ingredients are blended together (about 30-60 minutes).

Add in your hot water and rum and reduce heat to low until ready to serve. Ladle into mugs and garnish as desired before serving.

How long does hot buttered rum batter last in the fridge?

Hot buttered rum batter will last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.

You can also put it in the freezer and it will last around 3 months frozen. Just let thaw in the fridge before using.

Can you use salted butter in hot buttered rum?

While most recipes call for unsalted butter so you can control the salt level to taste, you can also use salted butter with great results.

Hot buttered rum variations:

Make it with tea: Use your favorite black tea bags to brew tea with your hot water before adding it to your drink.

Play with spices: Try adding ginger, allspice, or cardamom to your batter until your reach your favorite spice combo.

Swap the rum: You can try brandy, whiskey, or cognac in place of the rum for a twist on the classic.

Make it with ice cream: It’s also popular to add some melted vanilla ice cream to your hot buttered rum batter for extra creamy sweetness.

Add notes of orange: Orange is such a popular holiday flavor as well so try some orange zest in the batter or a touch of orange extract.

Try these festive appetizers at your holiday party!

Hot Buttered Rum

This hot buttered rum recipe is sweet, creamy, and buttery with warm winter spices and a dose of rum.

Course cocktail

Cuisine American

Keyword hot buttered rum, hot buttered rum recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings drinks

Calories 394kcal

Author Laura Gummerman

Ingredients

Hot Buttered Rum Batter

½ cup unsalted butter one stick
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail

2 tablespoons hot buttered rum batter
6-8 ounces hot water
1 ounce rum

Instructions

For the batter:

Add unsalted butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until butter is melted and then whisk in your brown and powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove until sugar is melted and ingredients are combined.
Remove from heat and add in your vanilla and stir to combine.
Use to make hot buttered rum or allow to cool and then store in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.

For the cocktail:

Add 2 tablespoons of the batter mixture to a heatproof mug and pour in 6-8 ounces hot water and 1-2 ounces of rum depending on how strong you want your drink.
Stir and add more batter to taste if necessary and enjoy!

Notes

Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Tips for making hot buttered rum:

Add a dash of salt to your batter to really bring out the flavors.
Adding a dollop of whipped cream to the top of your drink will not only look pretty, but it will add extra creamy sweetness as it melts into the drink.
Sprinkle some cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg on top of your drink or add in a cinnamon stick before serving for a boost of cinnamon flavor.

TIP: Rather than boiling water, you’ll want to use hot water that’s just under boiling as water that’s too hot can dull the flavors a little.

TIP: To keep your drink warm longer, serve the hot buttered rum in pre-warmed mugs!

Nutrition

Skinny Margarita Recipe

Laura Gummerman — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:03:00 +0000

This skinny margarita recipe is fresh and light, easy to make for a crowd, and is less calories than a classic margarita but still packed with flavor. Instead of simple syrup, we use agave syrup for a more natural sweetness and switch out the traditional orange liqueur of triple sec or Cointreau for fresh orange juice.

All you need is four simple ingredients and a few minutes to make the freshest low-calorie margarita you’ve ever had (and all without counting calories!).

Helpful Bar Tools

There are a few simple bar tools that will make your homemade margarita experience simpler and quicker. I recommend a handheld citrus squeezer, a measuring shot glass and a cocktail shaker.

Skinny margarita ingredients:

Tequila: The type of tequila you use is up to your personal taste preference, so white, silver, blanco, reposado, or añejo will all work. The better the tequila, the smoother your margarita will be, so try to at least buy a mid-shelf brand like Patron verses the cheapest option.

Lime juice: You can use the bottled lime juice in a pinch, but try and squeeze fresh lime juice if possible for the brightest tart flavor.

Orange juice: If you only have store bought, that will work, but fresh is always the way to go if possible when it comes to the best tasting skinny margarita.

Agave nectar: Using light agave syrup provides a natural sweetener for your skinny margarita rather than using the classic simple syrup.

For your glassware, you can use either the classic margarita glasses or more of a shorter tumbler.

How to make a skinny margarita:

Mix: Add all of your ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake: Shake vigorously until cold and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime or orange wedge if desired.

TIP: To get the most juice from your limes and oranges, start with room temperature fruit and roll them back and forth gently on the cutting board for a minute before slicing widthwise and juicing.

How to make a salt rim:

While you can use lime juice to adhere your salt to the rim of your glass, agave is a little more hearty and holds more salt than lime juice alone. When you do a salt rim, be sure to only do the outside edge so unwanted salt isn’t falling into your drink.

To make a salt rim, add your agave to a small plate and roll the rim of the glass into the sticky substance (or run a wedge of lime around the top of the glass if using a lime). Next, dip the sticky rim onto a plate with a layer of margarita salt or course kosher salt so the salt sticks to the tacky surface. You can always salt just half the glass rim so that way guests can use either side depending on whether or not they enjoy a salted rim.

Try making your own homemade margarita salt mix at home!

Tips for making skinny margaritas:

If the flavor of your fresh-squeezed lime juice is too tart for your taste, add a splash of water to your drink to lessen the lime flavor.
The best way to serve a skinny margarita on the rocks is in a rocks glass with a few ice cubes.
Add extra citrus flavor with some citrus zest mixed into the salt rim.

Skinny margarita variations:

For a twist on the classic flavor, try adding some fresh grapefruit or watermelon juice to create a fresh, fruity flavor.
You can also muddle fresh fruit like strawberries, blackberries, or mango in the bottom of your shaker before pouring in your skinny margarita mixture (and you can also do the same with fresh herbs like basil or cilantro).
Add a slice of a jalapeño or serrano pepper for a spicy skinny margarita.
Try liquid stevia, monk fruit, or any other other liquid sweetener substitute to taste in place of the agave syrup.

How to make skinny margaritas for a crowd:

In a large pitcher with ice, add 1 1/2 cups of tequila, 1 1/2 cups of lime juice, 3/4 cup orange juice, and 2 tablespoons of agave syrup. Stir to combine and pour into 6 salted glasses filled with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

Pair a skinny margarita with:

Skinny Margarita Recipe

A bright and fresh skinny margarita with fresh lime and orange juice.

Course cocktail

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword skinny margarita, skinny margarita recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings person

Calories 189kcal

Author Laura Gummerman

Equipment

1 cocktail shaker

Ingredients

2 ounces tequila
2 ounces fresh lime juice
1 ounce fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon light agave syrup
lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

Make salt rim if desired.
Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake until cold and pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime or orange wedge.

Notes

Tips for making skinny margaritas:

- If the flavor is too tart for your taste, add a splash of water to your drink to lessen the lime flavor.

- The best way to serve a skinny margarita on the rocks is in a rocks glass with a few ice cubes.

- Add extra citrus flavor with some citrus zest mixed into the salt rim.

Nutrition

Frozen Margarita Recipe

Laura Gummerman — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:23:00 +0000

If you love a classic margarita you’ll love our frozen margarita recipe! Fresh lime paired with your favorite tequila and triple sec create a classic frozen margarita concoction that always hits the spot on a hot summer day. This is the best frozen margarita recipe to make for your next hangout as it is easy to make, cold and refreshing, and only uses five ingredients.

You can double this recipe to make a pitcher and serve a crowd, and when it comes to frozen margarita flavor profiles, the sky is the limit, so make sure to check out some of our flavor variation suggestions below and find your favorite!

What’s the best tequila for a frozen margarita?

The type of tequila you use is up to your personal taste preference, so white, silver, blanco, reposado, or añejo will all work. The better the tequila, the smoother your frozen margarita will be, so try to at least buy a mid-shelf brand like Patron versus the cheapest option.

Ingredients for a frozen margarita:

Tequila: Choose your favorite to suit your own budget and tequila tastes!

Lime juice: You can use the bottled lime juice in a pinch, but try and squeeze fresh limes if possible for the brightest tart flavor.

Triple sec: Triple sec brings a sweetness and a layer of citrus orange flavor to your margarita. You can also use Cointreau (or Grand Marnier) which is more expensive and lighter on the sugar or fresh orange juice if you want natural sweetness.

Agave nectar: Using light agave syrup provides a natural sweetener for your skinny margarita rather than using the classic simple syrup (it’s similar to honey).

Ice: Adding crushed ice cubes will give you the slushy consistency that you’ve been dreaming of! You can also sub in some frozen fruit for an additional flavor.

For your glassware, you can use either the classic margarita glasses or more of a shorter tumbler.

TIP: You can make your frozen margaritas a few hours ahead of time and store the mixture in the freezer until ready to serve.

How to make a salt rim:

To make a salt-rimmed glass, add your agave to a small plate and roll the rim of the glass into the sticky substance (or run a wedge of lime around the top of the glass if using a lime). Next, dip the sticky rim onto a plate with a layer of either margarita salt, course kosher salt, or course sea salt so the salt sticks to the tacky surface (try zesting a lime or orange peel into your salt as well for an extra zing). You can always salt just half the glass rim so that way guests can use either side depending on whether or not they enjoy a salted rim.

Try making your own homemade margarita salt mix at home!

Helpful bar tools

There are a few simple bar tools that will make your homemade frozen margarita experience simpler and quicker. I recommend a handheld citrus squeezer, a measuring shot glass and countertop blender.

Instructions for making a frozen margarita:

Add your ingredients to a countertop blender.

Blend until smooth.

Pour into margarita glasses (optionally rimmed with salt) and garnish with a lime wedge.

TIP: If your drink looks too “loose” and not slushy enough, add a little more ice and blend again until desired thickness is achieved. If it ever gets too thick to drink or pour, add a little more of each liquid ingredient and blend again.

Variations on a frozen margarita:

Limeade frozen margarita: In place of the fresh lime juice, try a can of frozen limeade concentrate instead!

Strawberry frozen margarita: Sub out half the ice for frozen strawberries to make a berry flavored treat.

Mango frozen margarita: Try our frozen mango recipe for a tropical variation on the classic.

Hibiscus frozen margarita: This delicious cocktail uses homemade hibiscus syrup for a unique flavor and a vibrant color.

Avocado frozen margarita: For a creamier margarita, add some avocado to your recipe!

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of orange liqueur?

Copycat Recipes

Elsie Larson — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Today, we’re sharing our best copycat recipes. We LOVE recreating recipes at home like our Chick-fil-A sauce recipe and homemade Butterbeer. We’ve made the Hailey Bieber Erewhon Smoothie and the Starbucks Medicine Ball. Learn to make these popular recipes at home.

Chick-fil-A Sauce Recipe

Learn to make a copycat version of the famous Chick-fil-A sauce at home.

Get the Recipe

Wendy’s Frosty Recipe

Make your own Wendy’s Frosty using just three ingredients: chocolate milk, whipped topping and sweetened condensed milk.

Get the Recipe

Hailey Bieber Smoothie

Learn to make the Hailey Bieber Strawberry Skin Glaze Smoothie from Erewhon. A classic strawberry smoothie with extra skin boosting benefits.

Get the Recipe

Starbucks Egg White Bites

Try our simple recipe for baked egg white bites with variation ideas.

Get the Recipe

Starbucks Medicine Ball

Make this delicious herbal tea drink that can soothe a sore throat. Perfect for winter.

Get the Recipe

Cherry Limeade Recipe

Learn to make a homemade version of the Cherry Limeade from Sonic.

Get the Recipe

Butterbeer Recipe

Learn to make Harry Potter Butterbeer at home.

Get the Recipe

Pumpkin Juice

Learn to make Pumpkin Juice from Harry Potter at home. It tastes like a pumpkin spice apple cider.

Get the Recipe

Blooming Onion Recipe

Learn to make the popular Blooming Onion at home.

Get the Recipe

Strawberry Acai Refresher

Learn to make the Strawberry Acai Refresher from Starbucks at home!

Get the Recipe

Orange Julius Recipe

A copycat recipe that tastes just like the iconic Orange Julius.

Get the Recipe

Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher

Learn to make the Starbucks Dragon Fruit Mango Refresher at home.

Get the Recipe

Paradise Drink

Learn to make the Paradise Drink from Starbucks at home with this easy to make recipe.

Get the Recipe

Pink Drink

Learn to make the famous Starbucks Pink Drink at home.

Get the Recipe

Iced Mocha

Learn to make the iced version of a classic mocha.

Get the Recipe

Apple Crisp Macchiato

Another tasty Starbucks copycat recipe.

Get the Recipe

Gingerbread Latte

If you love to order a Gingerbread Latte, try this tasty at home recipe.

Get the Recipe

Peppermint Mocha

Learn to make the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha at home.

Get the Recipe

Eggnog Latte

A rich and creamy latte made with eggnog. Starbucks discontinued their Eggnog Latte, so now you can make it at home.

Get the Recipe

How to Make a Cappuccino

Learn to make an easy cappuccino at home.

Get the Recipe

Caramel Macchiato

Try our homemade recipe for a Caramel Macchiato.

Get the Recipe

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

How to make your favorite Starbucks fall drink at home—The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.

Get the Recipe

Homemade Frappuccino

A blended, cold coffee drink anyone will love. Try this simple recipe!

Get the Recipe

Flat White

Learn to make a Flat White at home.

Get the Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Learn to make this spicy seasonal espresso drink.

Get the Recipe

More Recipes to Try

Wassail Recipe

Laura Gummerman — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 14:15:00 +0000

Wassail is a traditional drink that is warm and comforting in the fall and holiday season. It’s sweet and spicy notes of apple and fresh oranges mixed with spices like clove and cinnamon will warm you from the inside out and you can make yours alcoholic or kid-friendly as needed.

This hot wassail recipe is the perfect drink to serve at holiday parties or to pour into mugs before you go caroling, tree lighting, or any outdoor holiday activity. It’s easy to make and you can make larger batches of it to serve a crowd. Check out our video below to see how easy it is to make!

“Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand’ring
So fair to be seen.”

What is Wassail?

Wassail is a more complex and layered version of apple cider as it adds in other citrus and spice notes and is often paired with a shot of alcohol as well. Traditional wassail was hot mulled cider made with spices, hard liquor, apples, and brandy. It is slow simmered on the stove to release the flavors and is served hot to warm you from the inside out.

What’s the history of Wassail?

The word “wassail” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon phrase “waes hael,” which means “good health.” This spiced warm cider was usually spiked with dark rum or sherry and had fruits like baked apples and oranges studded with cloves floating in the cider. Tempered eggs were added to the mixture and small piece of toast was laid on top, which is still where we get the tradition to raise our glasses to “toast” each other or the occasion.

The tradition of making Wassail goes all the way back to the English middle ages to help ensure a good apple harvest on Twelfth Night (January 17). Villagers would bring wassail to drink as they encircled the biggest apple tree and sing in the orchards to ward off evil spirits that could impair the harvest. As Christianity began to spread across the region, the drink was moved to the Christmas holiday where it has stayed ever since and became associated with Christmas carolers drinking it as they went from door to door.

What’s the best alcohol to use for Wassail?

While it’s up to your personal taste which alcohol you want to add, the most popular choices are brandy, rum, whiskey, or bourbon.

Why you’ll love Wassail:

Nostalgic: Drinking this classic drink connects you to how people have celebrated the holiday for centuries so you can participate in the storied ritual.

The aroma: No Christmas candle can compare to a fresh batch of Wassail being heated on your stove—it smells amazing!!

Crowd-pleaser: Since you can serve this with or without alcohol, you don’t need to make separate party drinks for different ages … just add in a shot for those who want it!

Ingredients for Wassail:

Apple cider: This drink has mostly apple cider for its base, so if you are an apple cider fan then chances are you will love this drink too! Some wassail recipes have you add whole apples or apple slices to the pot as it simmers, so feel free to add those as well.

Oranges and orange juice: The juice adds some sweet citrus notes to the wassail and the halves and slices of whole oranges bring out the oils in the zesty peel and give you something to stick your whole cloves into.

Lemon juice: A small amount of lemon juices adds a tart note and gives it a bit of a zing.

Spices: Whole spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise make this drink taste and smell amazing, and the addition of ground nutmeg and ginger add another deeper level of flavor. Feel free to leave out out if you’re missing one or do a ground option if you don’t have a whole spice available.

Sugar: While you can use regular sugar, brown sugar adds a bit of a caramel sweetness.

Hard alcohol (optional): For your adult guests, you can choose to a shot of brandy, rum, whiskey, or bourbon to your Wassail to help it warm you from the inside out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use apple cider or apple juice for Wassail?

Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)

Laura Gummerman — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:20:00 +0000

This spicy and warm Glühwein is traditionally served at German Christmas markets during the winter, and if you haven’t tried it in your home yet, chances are it’s about to become a holiday tradition for you as well! German Mulled Wine is made with dry red wine that is slowly cooked with citrus (like oranges and lemon) and cozy spices like cloves, cinnamon, and star anise, so all the flavors meld together (and it will make your house smell amazing while it cooks!).

You can make this Glühwein recipe “mit Schuss” (which means with a shot) by pouring in a shot of rum or brandy to the drink right before serving. Because of the temperature and alcohol content, this spiced wine is a drink that’s intended to warm you from the inside out as the name translates to “glow wine.”

How is Glühwein different from regular mulled wine?

Served at Christmas markets across Germany and Austria, German Glühwein is a spiced hot wine meant to be sipped to warm the shoppers while they peruse the outdoor markets. You will find regional differences in the recipe across the countries, so the recipe will vary from place to place, but the ingredients are very similar to the types of things you would find in a classic mulled wine recipe, which also usually contain a red wine, spices, citrus notes, and hard alcohol added.

What is the best wine to use for Glühwein?

Since the drink is made up mostly of red wine, you’ll want to choose a dry variety that is something you would enjoy drinking on its own. A Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, or Pinot Noir are all good choices. You don’t need a super expensive bottle for this recipe, but go for something mid-range so you get a good quality wine.

Ingredients for Glühwein

Dry red wine: Choose your favorite mid-range dry red wine for this recipe. You don’t want the alcohol to cook out while you warm it, so make sure that your Glühwein doesn’t boil or bubble at any point.

Sugar: Depending on how sweet your wine is, you may want to add a little more granulated sugar to taste, so adjust your recipe to your particular bottle you choose. You can also use maple syrup or honey to taste.

Orange Juice and Peel: For this recipe, you’ll use the zesty peel and juice to add layers of orange flavor. You can also add orange slices to your pot or into the drink itself when serving.

Whole spices: Spices like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise add warm spices to the Glühwein. You can also experiment with adding slices of fresh ginger, nutmeg, a vanilla bean, or cardamom pods to your brew.

Rum, bourbon, or brandy: While optional, it’s popular to add in a shot of rum, bourbon, or brandy (or amaretto) to the glass before pouring in the warmed wine mixture to make the drink more potent and really warm up the drinker on a cold night.

How to make Glühwein

Make your syrup base: Add your orange juice and sugar to a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the juice to a boil and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Add your citrus and spices: Add your orange peel and then stir in your whole spices of cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Simmer on low for 1-3 minutes or until the mixture is thick and syrupy.

Pour in your wine: Pour your bottle of wine into the pot and let it cook at a very gentle low simmer for at least 20 minutes. You can cook your Glühwein up to 2 hours at this low heat to really let the flavors meld, but place a lid on the pot if cooking for longer than 20 minutes.

Pour and enjoy! When ready to serve, strain your Glühwein into your glasses and add a shot of brandy or rum if desired.

TIP: Be careful not to let your wine come to a boil or you will lose some of the alcohol content as it cooks—slow and low is the way to go!

How to make Glühwein in a crock pot:

To make Glühwein in a crock pot, simply add all your ingredients to it and cook on low for one hour. Give your wine a stir and set the crock pot to warm until you are ready to serve.

Can you make Glühwein ahead of time?

Yes! You can make your Glühwein ahead of time to prep it for a party or gathering by cooking according to the directions, letting it cool to room temperature, and then placing it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days until you’re ready to warm it on the stovetop before serving.

TIP: If you don’t have whole spices, you can also use 2 chai tea bags to steep in your simmering wine to add the warm spices of the chai tea to your mulled wine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Glühwein and Glögg?

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Laura Gummerman — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 13:18:00 +0000

Is there anything better than a cup of creamy and velvety homemade hot chocolate on a cold winter day or during the holidays? While you can always keep a box of store-bought hot chocolate mix on hand for emergencies, making it from scratch is easy, fast, and tastes so much better. Our hot cocoa is also easy to make in larger batches, so you can dole it out to a crowd or pour it into carafes to keep warm until needed.

This perfect homemade hot chocolate gets its rich chocolate goodness from two different sources: first, from the cocoa power, which adds a strong chocolatey flavor (and the little bit of sugar you add counteracts the slight bitterness of the powder), and second, from the chocolate chips, which make it extra creamy, velvety, and rich.

Try this, Wassail, Hot Buttered Rum, or our homemade Glühwein (German Mulled Wine) to take out caroling with you!

More Hot Chocolate Recipes: Non-Dairy Spiked Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread Hot Chocolate, Nutella Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Spoons, Cookies & Cream Frozen Hot Chocolate

Can you use non-dairy milk for this hot chocolate?

Yes! While cow’s milk will give you the creamiest, you can also use whatever non-dairy milk you prefer (like almond milk, oat, coconut, or cashew) and then just choose a chocolate chip that’s also dairy-free (we love these!).

Can I substitute powdered hot chocolate mix for the cocoa powder?

You can, but you’ll want to leave out the added sugar as well since the mix will contain sugar already to sweeten it.

Ingredients for Hot Chocolate:

Cocoa powder: You’ll want a classic unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. The powder will help create that familiar “hot chocolate at home” taste.

Chocolate chips: Adding in some chocolate chips will bring the richness of your hot chocolate to another level. Try milk chocolate, semi-sweet, and dark chocolate chips to see which is your favorite! You can use whatever size you have, but mini chips will melt faster than larger chips. You can also chop a chocolate bar into small pieces.

Whole milk: While you can use skim or 1% milks, the higher the fat content, the richer your hot chocolate will be, so go for a whole milk or 2% if possible.

Sugar: Just a little white sugar will help to balance the bitterness of the unsweetened cocoa powder, but you can try using brown sugar as well for a deeper caramel flavor to see which is your favorite!

Vanilla extract: A few dashes of vanilla extract add some light vanilla notes to the chocolate flavor in this drink.

How to make Hot Chocolate:

Warm your milk: In a saucepan, warm your milk over medium-low heat (don’t let it boil).

Add your cocoa: Using a whisk, add your cocoa powder and sugar to the pan and stir until combined and sugar is dissolved.

Dissolve your chocolate chips: Add your chocolate chips to the mixture and whisk until they have melted. Add vanilla extract.

Pour and enjoy! Pour your hot chocolate into your mugs and add your favorite toppings before enjoying.

Hot Chocolate Toppings:

Crushed peppermint or whole peppermint sticks
Chocolate shavings
Whipped cream
Mini marshmallows
Mini chocolate chips
White chocolate
Maraschino cherry
Chocolate sprinkles
Chocolate syrup

Try topping yours with our Homemade Marshmallows, Peppermint Marshmallows, Fresh Mint Marshmallows, Espresso Marshmallows, or Caramel Sauce!

Hot Chocolate Tips and Tricks:

For richer hot chocolate … use part half-and-half or even heavy cream for your milk base.

For less sweet hot chocolate … try semi-sweet chocolate chips and/or leave out the added sugar.

For flavored hot chocolate … add in your favorite flavored syrup like peppermint, or hazelnut.

For caffeinated hot chocolate … add a shot of espresso to make it more of a mocha.

For boozy hot chocolate … add a shot of bourbon, whiskey, peppermint schnapps, rum, or Baileys.

You can also bring out the flavors of your hot chocolate by adding a tiny pinch of salt to it!

How do I make my hot chocolate a Mexican hot chocolate?

To turn your hot chocolate into a Mexican hot chocolate, substitute your chocolate chips for bittersweet chocolate and add:

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit or use less if heat sensitive)

More fun recipes for kids and families

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword acai, homemade hot chocolate, hot chocolate, hot chocolate recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Servings people

Calories 321kcal

Author Laura Gummerman

Cost $5

Ingredients

4 cups milk
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar

Instructions

Warm your milk: In a saucepan, warm your milk over medium-low heat (don’t let it boil).
Add your cocoa: Using a whisk, add your cocoa powder and sugar to the pan and stir until combined and sugar is dissolved.
Dissolve your chocolate chips: Add your chocolate chips to the mixture and whisk until they have melted. Add vanilla extract.
Pour and enjoy! Pour your hot chocolate into your mugs and add your favorite toppings before enjoying.

Notes

Hot Chocolate Tips and Tricks:

For richer hot chocolate … use part half-and-half or even heavy cream for your milk base.

For less sweet hot chocolate … try semi-sweet chocolate chips and/or leave out the added sugar.

For flavored hot chocolate … add in your favorite flavored syrup like peppermint, or hazelnut.

For caffeinated hot chocolate … add a shot of espresso to make it more of a mocha.

For boozy hot chocolate … add a shot of bourbon, whiskey, peppermint schnapps, rum, or Baileys.

You can also bring out the flavors of your hot chocolate by adding a tiny pinch of salt to it!

How do I make my hot chocolate a Mexican hot chocolate?

To turn your hot chocolate into a Mexican hot chocolate, substitute your chocolate chips for bittersweet chocolate and add:

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit or use less if heat sensitive)

Nutrition

Caramel Macchiato

Emma Chapman — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:06:00 +0000

I love a cozy afternoon pick-me-up and lately I’ve been loving a caramel macchiato. This is one of my Starbucks copycat recipes. You can to learn to make a traditional macchiato here. This version is more like a latte macchiato with foamed milk and flavored with caramel. It’s sweet, caffeinated, and the perfect morning or afternoon treat, IMO.

Related: Next up, try a homemade Frappuccino, Pink Drink, Mocha or Paradise Drink. And if you’re looking for a breakfast recipe try our tater tot casserole.

Ingredients

Espresso
Steamed Milk – dairy or any milk alternatives like soy milk, almond milk or oat milk
Simple syrup or vanilla syrup – store-bought or make your own
Caramel sauce

I like the Torani caramel sauce (and other flavors like chocolate). They are a great consistency for drinks or to drizzle over ice cream and I love the squeeze bottle package. You could also choose to use a homemade caramel sauce instead.

How to make a Caramel Macchiato

Brew the shot of espresso according to your machine’s instructions.

Heat the milk and froth (create foam). If your espresso machine has a frothing wand, you can do these at the same time. Or you can use a milk frother, or heat in a pan and use a handheld frothing wand or even a whisk.

Add the simple syrup to your coffee mug. Then pour in the milk and foam. Then pour the fresh espresso through the foam. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top.

Optional: Sometimes I drizzle some of the caramel sauce along the side of the coffee mug in addition to the top. It’s up to you!

Home Espresso Makers

We’ve tried many espresso makers over the years, and here are our favorites at different price points and skill levels:

Cafe Automatic Espresso Machine – My current machine. It uses any whole beans, so if you use high quality beans you’ll get high quality espresso. It makes espresso shots automatically (no barista skills required) and includes a milk frothing wand to heat and froth milk. We’ve used this machine almost every day since we got it nine months ago and we love it! It comes in three colors.
Stovetop Espresso – This is the cheapest way to make espresso at home. It’s more labor intensive and you will also need a way to grind your beans for best results. But, this is a classic method that works great when done well.
Breville Barista Touch – We bought this for a good friend as a wedding gift once and they said they love it. It’s a higher end machine that you will need some barista skills to operate, but it’s an excellent home espresso maker.
Nespresso Vertuo – For those who want an espresso maker that uses pods, this is my favorite. Depending what pod you use, it can make espresso or coffee.

More Caramel Recipes You’ll Love

Caramel Macchiato

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword caramel, espresso

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings

Calories 249kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

2 shots espresso
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1 tablespoon caramel syrup

Instructions

Brew the espresso according to your machine's instructions.
Heat the milk and froth (create foam). If your espresso machine has a frothing wand, you can do these at the same time. Or you can use a milk frother, or heat in a pan and use a handheld frothing wand or even a whisk.
Add the simple syrup to your coffee mug.
Then pour in the milk and foam.
Then pour the fresh espresso through the foam. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top.

Notes

I typically use 2% or whole milk, but any milk or milk alternative can work fine.

Sometimes I drizzle some of the caramel sauce along the side of the coffee mug in addition to the top. It’s up to you!

Nutrition

London Fog Drink

Emma Chapman — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:01:00 +0000

If you are looking for a cozy beverage that’s easy to make at home, look no further than this London Fog drink recipe. This is essentially an earl grey tea latte sweetened with honey and vanilla or lavender simple syrup. While earl grey tea contains less caffeine than coffee, this London Fog drink will still deliver a jolt to your morning or a little afternoon pick me up if you need.

London Fog is a drink you can find on the Starbucks menu as well as many large and small coffee shops. If you prefer tea over coffee, it’s certainly something you should try! The drink gets its name from the steamed milk (foam) on top, resembling a foggy London day. This combined with the fact it’s a tea-based drink, rather than coffee or espresso.

Related: Next up, try a Chai Latte, Dirty Chai, Matcha Latte, Turmeric Latte, or Starbucks Medicine Ball tea. And if you’re looking for a breakfast recipe try our tater tot casserole.

Ingredients

Earl Grey tea
Water
Honey
Vanilla extract
Simple syrup

Sometimes London Fog drinks include lavender simple syrup, like in a Lavender Latte.

How to make a London Fog

Brew the earl grey tea. I brew this rather strong, with less water as we will be adding milk. Stir in the sweetener(s) and vanilla.

Now to make the frothed milk. If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, place the wand just below the surface of the milk and turn it on.

Tilt the pitcher slightly to create a swirling motion. Continue steaming until the milk has doubled in volume and has a smooth, velvety texture.

If you don’t have a steam wand, you can heat the milk on the stovetop and whisk by hand or use a milk frother vigorously until it becomes frothy.

Pour the frothed milk into the hot tea mixture and enjoy.

More Coffee & Tea Drinks

London Fog Tea Latte Variations

Substitute earl grey for another black tea or, if looking to avoid caffeine, an herbal tea.
You can use any kind of milk or milk alternative you prefer. While I typically use whole or 2% milk in latte recipes, you could use oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, etc.
While many add lavender to a London Fog, it’s optional. You could also choose to add other flavors like mint simple syrup or rosemary simple syrup.

London Fog Drink

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, English

Keyword latte, tea

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3

Servings

Calories 97kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

1 cup water
2 bags earl grey tea
1-2 teaspoons honey
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup milk

Instructions

Brew the earl grey tea. I brew this rather strong, with less water as we will be adding milk.
Stir in the sweetener(s) and vanilla.
Now to make the frothed milk. If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, place the wand just below the surface of the milk and turn it on.
Tilt the pitcher slightly to create a swirling motion. Continue steaming until the milk has doubled in volume and has a smooth, velvety texture.
If you don’t have a steam wand, you can heat the milk on the stovetop and whisk by hand or use a milk frother vigorously until it becomes frothy.
Pour the frothed milk into the hot tea mixture and enjoy.

Notes

Substitute earl grey for another black tea or, if looking to avoid caffeine, an herbal tea.

You can use any kind of milk or milk alternative you prefer. While I typically use whole or 2% milk in latte recipes, you could use oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, etc.

Nutrition