The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer (and chillier) now that fall is here. It’s a time to slow down, spend more time indoors with the family. Or, snuggle up by the fire with a book, a cozy blanket, and a warm drink.

Adding warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cayenne pepper to beverages has a warming effect from the inside out. Not only do these spices have a warming effect on the body, but some help to dry out mucous membranes and improve the immune system.

6 Delicious Winter Beverages to Spice Up the Cold Winter Nights

While my family loves to drink hot tea with honey, we also make some of these winter beverages for a warm treat to spice up the cool season.

Apple Pie Spiced Cider

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 quarts apple cider
• 3 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
• 7 whole cinnamon sticks, (6 sticks for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• ground cloves
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt

Instructions:

In a medium saucepan, whisk together cider, sugar, spices, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove from heat. Strain into a pitcher; throw out solids. Serve in mugs, garnished with cinnamon sticks or apple rings.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 6 (12-ounce) cans evaporated milk
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 (12-ounce) bags semisweet chocolate chips
• Cocoa powder, for serving

Instructions:

For stove-top: In a large pot over medium heat, whisk together milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Add chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted. Cover and turn heat to low for 5 minutes.

For slow cooker: In a 4-quart slow cooker, whisk together milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Add chocolate chips. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 2 to 3 hours, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Source: Food Network

Apple Spice Green Tea

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 Granny Smith apple, seeded and coarsely chopped, plus slices for serving
• 4 strips orange zest, from 1/2 orange
• 1/3 cup loose green tea

Instructions:

Combine water, honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, apple, and orange zest in a medium pot; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 2 minutes.

Cover, remove from heat and let steep 15 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve over the green tea leaves, pressing all the juices from the apple. Let steep for 1 minute. Strain out the tea, reheat if necessary, and serve. Garnish with apple slices.

Chai Tea

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 8 cardamom seeds
• 8 cloves
• 4 black peppercorns
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 one-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 bags black tea
• 8 tsp of sugar (or more, to taste)

Instructions:

Place the cardamom seeds, cloves, and peppercorns in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a heavy skillet.

Put the crushed spices in a medium saucepan, along with the cinnamon sticks, ginger, milk, and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.

Strain into cups. Add sugar to each serving as needed, to taste.

Source: Real Simple

Barcelona Hot Chocolate

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup boiling water
• 2 ounces good quality dark or bittersweet chocolate (60-70% cocoa), finely chopped
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 1 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
• 1 two-inch strip of orange rind

Instructions:

Combine the boiling water and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan. Stir until chocolate melts. Add the milk, espresso or coffee, cocoa powder, sugar, and orange rind. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring with a whisk. Heat 5 minutes or until tiny bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Do NOT boil. Discard the rind and pour into mugs.

Source: My Recipes

Hot Cranberry Tea

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 1 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup honey (or sweetener of your choice)
• 1 orange, juiced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions:

Combine water and cranberries in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add sugar, orange and lemon juices, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Cover and steep for 30 minutes.