Winter Warmers – This Season’s Drinks

Here are some of our favourite winter takes on some delicious classic drinks! Curl up for a cosy evening with some friends with one of these in hand…

Vanilla Cranberry Mimosa

Ingredients:

• 1 1⁄2 ounces of vanilla flavoured vodka
• 1 1⁄2 ounces of cranberry juice
• Sparkling wine

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, pour in the vanilla vodka, cranberry juice and some ice. Shake well and then strain into a champagne flute. Finally, fill the glass to the top with sparkling wine and serve.

Marshmallow Letters

You’ll need:

• Cookie cutters
• Flat marshmallows

Method:

Press the cookie cutter through the marshmallow and gently push out the cut shape, and they’re all ready to float in the drink of your choice.

Mint Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of milk
• 2 cups of half cream and half whole milk
• 12 ounces of white chocolate chips
• 1⁄2 teaspoon of peppermint extract or mint extract
• 1⁄4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Optional: A few drops of food colouring to give it a minty look.

Method:

First of all, in a large pot, add the milk and half cream and half milk, and put it over a medium heat until it’s hot but not boiling. Then, stir in the white chocolate chips. Continue stirring until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is creamy. Finally, stir in food colouring and extracts, and stir until smooth.

Bourbon Cider

Suitable for a small party.

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon of fresh apple cider
• 5 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
• 21⁄2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg
• 21⁄2 teaspoons of ground ginger
• 3 cups of bourbon

Method:

Firstly, in a stockpot, heat the apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger together. Then, when the mixture is hot but not boiling, remove from the heat and add the bourbon. Finally, stir to distribute the spices and divide the cider among twenty mugs.

Orange and Cranberry Spritz

Ingredients:

• 500 ml of smooth orange juice
• 500 ml of smooth cranberry juice
• 400 ml of sparkling elderflower drink

Method:

First, mix together the orange juice and cranberry juice in a large jug. Gently pour in the sparkling elderflower, otherwise it will fizz. Lastly, mix together and serve in tall glasses with ice.

 Recipes from BBC Good Food, Country Living, The Gracious Wife, Honey and Birch, and The Etsy Blog.

Written by: Ellen Dunkerton

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