Easy Drink Recipes for the Holidays
Making Quick Hot Cocoa, Eggnog, and Milk Tea
With the holiday season just around the corner, many people think they must buy pre-packaged hot cocoa or overpriced eggnog for their families. But they can be made in no time at home, leaving even the most challenged cook enjoying delicious holiday warmth before It’s a Wonderful Life even starts.
Easy whipped cream
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4-1/3 cup sugar.
(You can use vanilla sugar, white sugar, or confectioner’s sugar for this recipe.)
Use a hand mixer to beat the heavy whipping cream with the sugar.
Hot Cocoa
About 4 servings
Tired of those powdery mixes from the supermarket that never quite mix in? Hot cocoa is one of the fastest of the holiday drinks to mix. Eying a recipe usually works the best, as then the drinks are tailor made for each person’s taste. Approximate sizes are included below.
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
3-5 cups of milk
cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or vanilla as desired
- Boil ½ cup of water.
- Add 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of cocoa. Whisk constantly.
- When thoroughly mixed, add cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or vanilla, if desired.
- Add 3-5 cups of milk, depending on the level of richness desired.
- Warm it up, but do not boil.
- Serve with a cinnamon stick, whipped cream, or marshmallows.
Eggnog
About 4 servings
No holiday celebration is truly complete without eggnog. There are many ways to make this delicious treat, including cooked versions and non-cooked version. Below is a slightly cooked version in which alcohol can be added if desired.
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups cugar
4 cups milk
bowl of ice large enough to fit your saucepan in
1 whipped cream recipe from above
nutmeg
- In a saucepan, beat 5 eggs, 1 ½ cups of sugar and 4 cups of milk together.
- Heat slowly until slightly steaming, but do not boil.
- Place entire pan quickly into a bowl of ice while whisking. (This prevents the eggs from becoming sweet scrambled eggs.)
- Pour mixture into a container.
- Add whipped cream mix together.
- Add nutmeg and alcohol if desire. Mix before serving.
Remember that people who are pregnant, younger, older, or with weakened immune systems should not eat raw or undercooked eggs.
Milk Tea
About 4 servings
Milk tea is not really seen as a traditional holiday drink, but could easily become one with its warm, comforting taste and richness. It is also very easy to make, and can be made with any variety of black tea (although citrus teas are not recommended, as they may make the milk curdle).
4 cups of milk
1/4 cup of sugar
your favorite tea bags
- In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of milk to a light simmer.
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar (more or less depending on taste).
- Heat until steaming, just under a boil.
- Pour into cups, and steep whatever flavor tea you like for 2-4 minutes.
- You can add some vanilla or whipped cream to add richness if desired.
These drinks make the perfect after dinner delight, and keep the cook out of the kitchen and into the heart of the holiday celebration.
Christmas is the Perfect Time to Enjoy Warm Drinks
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