How to Make 5 Cozy, Classic Holiday Drinks

Winter is the perfect time to cuddle up with a good book or gather around a fire with loved ones, and adding a festive drink can bring your holiday festivities to the next level. From an indulgent eggnog to a rich hot chocolate, these classic holiday drinks will keep you feeling cozy throughout the season.

1. Eggnog

Eggnog is a classic holiday drink—the creamy, spiced concoction is a staple at many holiday parties. This eggnog recipe uses eggs, sugar, whole milk, and bourbon to create a comforting and satisfying beverage. The entire mixing process takes just a few minutes, so you'll be able easily whip some up and impress your party guests. For an even boozier option, you can try to recreate George Washington’s famous eggnog recipe.

2. Pink Peppermint Cocktail

Peppermint has long been associated with Christmas. According to the CBC, candy canes first appeared in the late 1600s, when a choirmaster who had been using candy to keep children quiet during a Christmas service went to a candymaker and asked him to make a candy cane that he could use as a teaching tool. 

Today, more than 1 billion candy canes are sold each year around the holidays. For an adult spin on the classic seasonal treat, use it as part of a cocktail. The How Sweet Eats Pink Peppermint Cocktail is festive, delicious, and easy to make. The blend of minty and sweet flavors is refreshing and comforting at the same time.

3. Homemade Chai

Chai, which means “tea” in Hindi, is a delicious blend of spices that originates from India. The warming concoction is perfect for sipping on Christmas morning or any other chilly winter day. Traditional chai ingredients include anise, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and black tea. By combining a mix of warming spices with a cup of milk, you can build a spicy yet comforting non-alcoholic beverage for the holiday season. According to this recipe, the whole process should take 30 minutes or less.

4. Creamy Hot Cocoa

Hot chocolate has been around for thousands of years. This sweet treat is believed to have originated in Mexico, where the Mayans drank a spicier version of it as early as 500 BCE. Today, people around the world sip a heavier, sweeter version of hot chocolate once a winter chill hits. This recipe for creamy hot cocoa requires unsweetened cocoa, sugar, milk, half-and-half, and vanilla. For a boozier option, add a bit of kahlua.

5. Purple Punch

Purple Punch blends Red Bull with lemonade, blueberries, and mint to make a refreshing, fruity drink. It's light but sweet; perfect for those who need a break from other heavier, creamier holiday drinks. In the same way that you would muddle mint for a mojito, you’ll muddle mint, blueberries, and lemon to create the base for this delicious mocktail. If you’d like to turn this classic drink into an alcoholic cocktail, you can add an ounce of the vodka of your choice.