5) Spiked (and Spiced) Hot Chocolate

​Probably the most popular of all the drinks listed here, hot chocolate transcends time and space to emerge as the front runner of awesome warm beverages. Add a shot of something tasty and alcoholic and you’ve got a drink that would make Santa jealous.

Recipe from allrecipes.com:
6 cups skim milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until lukewarm; stir the cocoa powder and sugar into the warmed milk until dissolved. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, chili powder, nutmeg, and cloves. Heat another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add a shot of Irish Cream liqueur, Kahlua, or any other complementary-flavored alcohol for an adult version.

6) Poinsettia

​You can drink the drink, and you can actually eat the plant, too, as the myth that poinsettias are poisonous is untrue. So drink away your fears of eating a poisonous decorative plant, and enjoy the season. For the record, we do not condone eating poinsettias, but we do recommend a good cocktail of the same name.

Recipe from drinksmixer.com:
1 tbsp orange liqueur
1 part cranberry juice
1 part Champagne

Mix the champagne and cranberry juice, then float the orange liqueur on top.

7) Candy Cane

​After the first few weeks of December pass, you’ll probably be in the mood to start a bonfire with all the candy canes you’ve collected. Here’s a great drink to garnish with all your extra (and probably unwanted) “J”-shaped confections.

Recipe from foodnetwork.com:
1 shot vanilla rum
1 shot white chocolate liqueur (recommended: Godiva)
1 shot peppermint schnapps
Candy cane, garnish

Add all liquid ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, and strain into martini glass. Garnish with candy cane.

8) Hot Toddy

hot-toddy.jpg

​Not a cheer screamed at Ole Miss games, but a warm, throat-soothing tea-based drink that has more to do with getting through a winter cold or flu than celebrating the holidays, but we still thought it was appropriate.

Recipe from epicurious.com:
1 oz (2 tablespoons) bourbon
1 tablespoon mild honey
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup boiling-hot water

Put bourbon, honey, and lemon juice in a 6-ounce mug. Top off with hot water, and stir until honey is dissolved.

We always want to be transparent and honest about our article content. From time to time, we may link to products and services that compensate us for the referral. This does not affect your cost, but it does help us fund future content for this site.