Here are eight of our favourite warm cocktail recipes that are sure to be a hit at any holiday party you’ve got planned.

8 Warm Cocktails for Winter Entertaining

Toddies:

Toddy recipes vary greatly from family to family and bar to bar. However, the main ingredient tends to be whisky. Really you can probably use whatever spirit you choose to prepare a hot toddy as long as it is boozy and hot to shake off the chill of the evening. In fact, many will swear this is the best cure for cold symptoms as well. Toddies as warm cocktails also often contain spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, or nutmeg. The main ingredients tend to be two parts water, and two parts whisky. You can then sweeten to taste with honey and add a squeeze of lemon or a fresh lemon slice that will steep like a cup of hot tea.

Hot Chocolate:

When entertaining, set up a hot chocolate bar with choices of white or milk chocolate and an assortment of liquors and Irish cream. People can create their own concoctions, or you can prepare your own. Classic blends that work well are white hot chocolate with Frangelico, hot chocolate with any type of Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, and (of course) Kahlua. About a shot will suffice. Don’t forget our easy peasy homemade hot chocolate recipe!

Calvados and Cider:

You can prepare this drink in the same manner you would a hot toddy. Replace the water with fresh apple cider and the whisky with calvados and, of course, a cinnamon stick and cloves are musts to complete the warmth and fragrant welcome of this classic warm cocktail.

Mulled Wine:

This is a spicy treat that’s perfect to melt the frost off cold noses. Sugar is dissolved into fruity red wine and simmered with whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, oranges, and lemons. Some people even add a splash of brandy before serving. Think of it as hot sangria.

Tipsy Coffee:

Never mind dessert, warm cocktails are way better offering following a meal — especially “tipsy” coffee. You can use just about anything to make the coffee tipsy and treat it the same way as you would your hot chocolate bar. Put out your liqueurs and see what people come up with to create their own freshly brewed nightcap.

Arnaud’s Café Brûlot Diabolique:

This is a traditional New Orleans drink perfect for chilly evenings. Sip this by a fire with some zydeco music playing in the background. Deep, robust, dark coffee is infused with sugar, lemon peel, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves, and finished with a splash of brandy. Traditionally the ingredients are warmed and then mixed in a large bowl that is set aflame. The hot coffee is added before serving and then ladled into elegant demitasse cups. Très chic.

Hot Coconut Milk:

For a tropical and quite healthful warm cocktail, combine warm coconut milk with bourbon or rum and sweeten with brown sugar. This is nice with a touch of allspice or vanilla for a more fragrant drink. It’s also perfect for dairy-free guests.

Hot Buttered Rum:

Even the name sounds decadent for this traditional drink that took off the edge of harsh Colonial rum. The nice thing about this drink is it is made ahead of time. Butter is beaten with dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and then kept in the fridge overnight. You then simply boil water and pour into cups with 1. 5 ounces of the rum and two tablespoons of your butter mixture when you are ready to serve. Rummy and yummy.

These warm cocktails will be like a cozy embrace that welcomes your guests on a cold winter’s night.

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I suggested she try offering them ham. Not that I think that’s in any way a superior replacement for poultry or fish, but I have yet to meet a kid that didn’t like ham. Ham and cheese sandwiches are popular for a reason, right? I know that with my own kids, if I make a soup they’re less than crazy about and add some bacon or ham to the pot, it’s devoured much more easily than if the meat was missing altogether.

Which brings me to my new favourite slow cooker recipe: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham. I’ve long been a lover of split pea soup, with or without the ham, but seeing as we’re in ham-serving season (side note: why do we almost only ever eat ham at the holidays or for Sunday supper?) this a great family-friendly soup recipe to keep tucked in your back pocket for weekend lunches or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

After you’re finished serving your ham supper, reserve the bone and keep it for soup. If you don’t feel like making it right away, it will keep in the fridge for a few days. Alternatively, you can easily purchase ham hocks from most butchers so if you don’t happen to have ham on menu plan for the coming week, feel free to use one of those in place of the reserved bone.

Note:

This soup is thick and stocky, which is how I like it. If you prefer a thinner soup, feel free to add more water or chicken stock to the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham:

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Of course a slow cooker is made for dishes like stew. Some of us are staunch supporters of a slow cooker stew whereas others believe part of the stewing process is getting a good canalization of flavour on the meat prior to cooking.

So, in order to make everyone happy, we have combined the two methods.

Prep everything in the morning and cook on low instead of high and you’ll come home to an amazing-smelling house and easy meal. Or you can easily whip this up on a chilly afternoon for a warm, comforting dinner.

Serve with a crusty, fresh bread or skip the potatoes and serve over rice.

Servings:

Serves 4 to 6

Easy Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker

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This classic pumpkin pie recipe uses 1 recipe of our no-fail quick and easy shortcrust pastry. But of course you can use a mix or pre-bought pie shell.

Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Or both.

Servings

Makes 1 9-inch Pumpkin Pie

Classic Pumpkin Pie Recipe

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This salad pairs wonderfully with any grilled chicken, fish, or steak!

Servings:

Serves 4-6

Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad Recipe:

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