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These cozy hot drinks will keep you warm all season! Here are all the best warm beverages featuring coffee, tea, cider, and more.

Looking for a warm steaming mug of…something? Once the weather starts to get a chill, there’s nothing better than cupping your hands around a hot mug. Here are all our top hot drinks to take the chill off in fall or winter!
There’s something for everyone in this category, whether it be a rich and creamy hot chocolate or a healthy herbal tea. The types of drinks you’ll see in this collection are:
And now, our top hot drinks to take the chill off!
How cozy does this cup look? Yes, this vanilla chai latte is the equivalent of putting on a fuzzy sweater and curling up by a roaring fireplace. This hot drink is flavored with the beautiful spices of masala chai: cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. Add to it the frothed milk foam from a cafe latte, and you’ll feel like you’re drinking a fancy tea latte from your local coffee shop.
Did you know the absolute best hot chocolate is homemade in just 5 minutes? Here’s the very best homemade hot chocolate recipe: it’s creamy, rich, chocolaty, and tastes like a dream with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla on the finish. All you need are a few ingredients, and you might already have them on hand.
Also try: Spiked Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Vegan Hot Chocolate or Healthy Hot Chocolate
If there’s any hot drink that makes the cold better, it’s hot apple cider. It makes your kitchen smell amazing. It has the power to gather people, cupping their hands around the warm mugs. The aroma can lift you out of the winter blues, and it makes any party that much cozier. Hold it around a fire, and you’ll feel like you can move mountains.
Also try: Spiked Apple Cider
Here’s a hot drink that’s ideal for sipping by the fire on a chilly evening: Hot Buttered Rum! Even just saying the name makes you warm inside. This historic drink has been around for centuries. This version is subtly sweet, cozy-spiced with cinnamon and allspice, and spirit-forward with boozy dark rum.
What’s better than a creamy, steaming hot cup of cafe au lait? This French method of serving coffee is smooth and satisfying, with the perfect ratio of rich milk to bitter coffee. It’s the perfect sophisticated touch to a cozy brunch, or to pair with a croissant or muffin. This method is simple to make at home: and even easier to achieve than the perfect latte.
Also try: Cafe con Leche
There’s nothing quite like a cup of masala chai. This Indian spiced milk tea is popular all around the world. There’s something about the mashup of creamy milk, subtly herbal tea, warm cinnamon and cardamom, and nuanced sweetness that hits 100% on the cozy drink meter. This is the best hot drink for when you pull out your sweaters, or a warming drink for the depths of winter.
When the first chill starts to fill the air, it’s time for hot drink season! What better way to start the fun than a great Mulled Wine? Make up a big pot, and it fills your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma of toasted allspice and cinnamon. This recipe is just sweet enough, balancing the bold fruity wine with mulling spices, citrus, and oak and vanilla notes on the finish.
Love a hot tea latte? Here’s one for you: try this homemade Matcha Latte! This coffeehouse standard is perfect for a morning pick me up. Each sip is herbal, lightly sweet and subtly bitter from the matcha, contrasted by the rich and creamy milk. Here’s what you need to know to make a drink with the best brilliant green color and smooth, calming flavor.
Love booze in your coffee? Let’s make Irish coffee! There’s nothing more soul warming than that classic combination of bitter coffee, buttery whisky and frothy whipped cream. There are infinite variations on this hot drink theme, too. Here we’ll show you the best way to make that classic Irish coffee and a few favorite variations on the theme.
Also try: Amaretto Coffee, Kahlua Coffee, Baileys Coffee, Mexican Coffee, or Carajillo
There’s no better antidote to a cold day than wrapping your hands around a steaming hot drink like a tea latte. Here’s one to add to your homemade latte repertoire: the London Fog! This latte with Earl Gray tea is sweet and creamy, with the gentle essence of honey, vanilla and lavender blossoms. It’s a total treat!
Have you tried ginger tea? This healthy hot drink is cozy and warming: full of spicy ginger flavor, with a hint of tangy lemon and sweet honey. It’s a good substitute for coffee, if you’re trying to avoid caffeine, and there's not alcohol either. It's a feel good herbal tea that takes off the chill!
Also try: Lavender Tea, Sage Tea, Rosemary Tea, Oregano Tea, Mint Tea, or Thyme Tea
Last up in our hot drinks to take the chill off: the Classic Hot Toddy! Pour boiling water over a shot of bourbon, then top off with lemon and spices. It’s spirit-forward and perfect for sipping on chilly evenings.
Also try: Brandy Hot Toddy, Rum Hot Toddy, Bourbon Hot Toddy or Apple Cider Hot Toddy
The French press is one of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to brew a great cup of coffee. It’s a forgiving method that works for all sorts of coffee beans and roasts, and you don’t need lots of extra equipment. It’s the ideal tool for your cozy hot drink ritual!
What’s better than a warm, creamy mocha? The mocha is one of the most famous espresso drinks, possibly because it’s so rich and chocolaty it’s like drinking chocolate pudding. Did you know you can make a barista-quality mocha in the comfort of your own home? This one comes out just like one at a coffee house: no shortcuts like hot chocolate mix or whipped cream.
Are you a tea lover? Then there’s quite like a steaming cup of matcha, aka Japanese green tea! This Japanese beverage has spread across the world: and for good reason. It’s full of anti-oxidants and a great healthier caffeine boost. The purity of the bitter, herbal flavors is incomparable.
More warm drinks
There are lots more recipes in each of these categories! Here are a few more hot drinks to add to your repertoire:
- Espresso drinks like Cortado, Gibraltar, Breve, Latte, Americano, Macchiato, Cappuccino, Flat White, or Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Coffee like Spanish Coffee, Pour Over Coffee, or Moka Pot Coffee
- Tea drinks like How to Make Tea, French Press Tea, Perfect Tea Latte or 8 Tea Latte Recipes
Hot Drinks to Take the Chill Off!
A vanilla chai latte combines the spices of masala chai with a classic latte! This hot drink will keep you cozy all season. Or try easy Masala Chai.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 large or 2 small 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Warm
- Cuisine: Latte
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Homemade Chai Spices
- 1 cup water
- 1 bag black tea (or 1 teaspoon loose leaf black tea in a tea strainer)
- ½ cup fresh 2% milk (or whole milk)*
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (or honey, agave, or simple syrup)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium high heat, whisk together chai spices, water and tea bag and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove it from the heat and allow it to rest for 1 minute. Then strain through a fine mesh strainer** into one or two mugs (one for a large latte and two for small).
- Rinse the saucepan. Add the milk, vanilla, and maple syrup. Heat the milk to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (measure using a thermometer): this is hot with some small bubbles forming around the outside, but not simmering. The exact temperature is helpful for getting the perfect foam (if you don’t have a thermometer you can approximate).
- Use hand frother, whisk, or French press to foam the milk. (The French press is a favorite method: Add the scalding milk to the French press and pump vigorously until frothy, about 100 times for 2% milk or approximately 1 minute; use 50 times for whole milk.) Rest the foam for about 30 seconds, which allows it to set. Go to How to Froth Milk if it’s your first time frothing.
- Pour the milk and foam evenly between the mugs (or into 1 mug). Sprinkle with additional chai spices and serve.
Notes
*Fresh milk is best for getting a nice frothy foam. You may find that a container of milk that has been open for several days will no longer froth.
**You can skip straining if desired: the spices will settle to the bottom of the drink.
More seasonal drink recipes
These warm drinks are great for fall and winter! Here are a few more recipes for the season you might enjoy:
- 15 Fall Cocktails for the Season
- 12 Fantastic Fall Drinks (includes non-alcoholic)
- 12 Top Winter Cocktails
- 12 Winter Drinks for the Season (includes non-alcoholic)
Let us know if you have any questions!