Looking for some hot cocktails to warm you up this winter? Here are some of my favorite hot cocktails. They are perfect for cozy evening at home or even a fancy cocktail party with friends and family. All of the hot cocktails are easily to make and have simple ingredients everyone will love. You can always leave out the liqueur and liquors and substitute extracts from the baking aisle if you need to include the kids in on the festivities.
Hot Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps Cocktails
1 quart milk (skim, 2 percent or whole) or half-and-half
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (recommended: Scharffenberger)
9 ounces peppermint schnapps
Whipped cream, for serving
6 peppermint sticks, for serving
Heat 1 cup of the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate, stirring constantly, until melted. When the chocolate has melted, increase heat to medium and add the remainder of the milk while whisking rapidly. Do not allow to boil.
Serve in small cups fortified with a jigger (1 1/2 ounces) of peppermint schnapps and a dollop of whipped cream. Add a peppermint stick to stir.
If transporting in a thermos, heat thermos up with hot water to get it warm for 1 minute. Pour water out and fill with hot chocolate.
Hot Irish Coffee Cocktails
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 jigger Irish whiskey (1 1/2 ounces or 3 tablespoons)
Heavy cream, slightly whipped
Fill footed mug or a mug with hot water to preheat it, then empty. Pour piping hot coffee into warmed glass until it is about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top with a collar of the whipped heavy cream by pouring gently over back of spoon. Serve hot.
Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch salt
3/4 cup spiced rum
2 cups boiling water
4 sticks cinnamon, for garnish
Using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl until blended and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a 4-cup (or larger) measuring cup. Add the rum and then 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until the butter mixture dissolves. Divide the buttered rum among 4 mugs. Garnish with the cinnamon sticks and serve.
Melanie’s Hot Apple Cider Rum Cocktail
6 ounces of apple cider
1 ounce run
Heat the apple cider in a sauce pan. Put the ounce of rum in a mug. Add the heated apple cider and stir. Be sure to use apple cider and not apple juice.
Starbucks Hot Mocha Cocktail
4 1/2 cups whole milk
4 ounces Starbucks coffee liqueur
3 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
3 cups espresso
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream
Combine the milk and cinnamon sticks in a heavy large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Remove from the heat. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Whisk in the espresso, sugar, and 1 cup of cocoa powder. Bring the hot chocolate to a simmer, whisking often. Discard the cinnamon sticks. Add the Starbucks coffee liqueur.
Meanwhile, whisk the powdered sugar and remaining 1/4 cup cocoa powder in a large bowl to blend. Add the cream and whisk until the mixture is thick.
Ladle the hot chocolate into 8 mugs. Spoon the chocolate whipped cream atop and serve immediately.
