For many people, autumn is the perfect time of year. The colors are changing, and it’s not too cold or not too hot. Plus, the air is usually cool enough for a hot beverage to taste great. After spending some time outside this fall, nothing is better than coming indoors and sipping on a warm beverage to heat you up. There are different ways of creating an enticing variety of drinks.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Some people may associate this drink with wintertime or, specifically, Christmas. But peppermint hot chocolate is a crowd-pleaser for a fall morning or night. Using a slow cooker is a great way to create this concoction. Start by setting your crockpot or slow cooker to low and then gather the following ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 5 ½ cups skim milk
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
Then, combine all of the ingredients in the pot and let it cook. You may want to occasionally stir the mixture. After about two hours, it should be ready to enjoy. Top the drink with marshmallows and mini candy canes.
Hot Apple Cider
Store-bought cold cider can taste good — and there are even homemade options — but nothing beats hot apple cider on a cool day. Your do-it-yourself blend can include not only apples but other tasty fruits. Here are the ingredients:
- 4 apples
- 2 persimmons
- 1 pear
- 1 orange
- 9 cups of water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tablespoons mulling spices
- A handful of pomegranate arils
- Honey or maple syrup to taste
Begin by removing the cores of the apples, persimmons, and pears. Leave the skins on but cut into quarters. Then, cut the orange into slices. Put all of the fruit and the water, mulling spices, and cinnamon sticks into a crockpot. Put it on low and let the mixture cook for eight hours. After this time, remove the cinnamon, mulling spices, and as much of the fruit as you can. Put the rest of the liquid in a blender and blend it well. Then, strain into a container. Put the cider back in the crockpot and add a touch of honey or maple syrup.
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London Fog
Get a taste of England right in your own home on a cool autumn day. This drink is ideal for a relaxing evening with a book or your favorite show. This is a simple recipe but one that will make a hot beverage you’ll turn to time and again. Here’s what you need:
- 2 bags of Earl Grey tea
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup water
- Vanilla sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender
Bring the water to a boil and place one tea bag in a mug. Once the water is boiling, distribute it evenly among the mugs. Steep the tea bags for five minutes before removing them. Combine the milk and lavender in a saucepan and heat on medium-high until hot. Remove the pan and whisk the mixture until it becomes foamy. Pour half a teaspoon of vanilla sugar into each mug, along with half a cup of milk.
Try these hot beverages this fall. Whether you’re at home alone or entertaining guests, these are perfect drinks for a cool day.
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