11 Warming Drinks to Make This Fall
As the weather cools down, we're finally looking to trade ice-filled cocktail shakers and frosted martini glasses for piping hot mugs of comfort. Join us in taking the edge off of the shorter days and longer nights with a booze-forward toddy, kickstarting a slow afternoon with a matcha latte, or debating whether or not hot chocolate can possibly be improved (hint: It can, with a little Jack Daniel's). These warm drinks are our absolute favorite for the autumn days ahead.
Oaxacan Coffee
With a float of whipped cream and just enough sweetness to temper the bitter coffee and herbal notes in the mezcal, this spiked coffee cocktail is well-balanced and fortifying. To make piloncillo syrup, simmer 1 (8-ounce) cone of piloncillo in 1 cup water in a small saucepan until dissolved, about 10 minutes.
Matcha Latte
A steaming hot matcha latte is a delicious drink that is easy to make at home. TV host, cookbook author, and blogger Molly Yeh shares her easy recipe that calls for matcha powder, milk, and honey for sweetness. A fine powder made of ground green tea leaves, matcha contributes an earthy, somewhat bitter flavor as well as bright green color. Making your own matcha latte not only saves you money but also allows you to control the level of sweetness. It's important to first sift and then whisk the matcha until there are no lumps; traditionally, a bamboo whisk is used, but a regular metal whisk will work just fine. To get a frothy finish, whip in the milk with a milk frother.
Indulgent Hot Chocolate
Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
Layers of chocolate — in the silky hot chocolate itself, infused into the whipped cream topping, and in the garnish of shaved chocolate bars — make this indulgent hot chocolate the ultimate treat.
Hot Buttered Spiked Cider
This spiked cider recipe is warming, sweet, and has just the right amount of spiced gold rum. Pumpkin pie spice offers an easy way to add autumnal flavor, while butter adds richness and makes the drink velvety. The cider is perfect for fall and winter, especially if you're entertaining outdoors and dealing with chilly weather.
Apple Brandy Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is basically a shot or two of any potent spirit added to a cup of hot water. At Paley's Place in Portland, Oregon, bartender Suzanne Bozarth puts a French spin on this warming drink with a slug of apple brandy, such as Calvados.
Gin Toasty Cocktail
All it takes is a bit of hot water to give this warm alcoholic drink— a riff on a gin and tonic — a hot toddy–like edge: When heated, the botanicals in gin act like mulled spices. Using tonic syrup instead of tonic water is crucial to the drink; hot water does the same trick that effervescent bubbles do to ferry the aromatics in the gin and the syrup right up to your nose. The result is an ingeniously simple warm cocktail, perfect for a snowy winter day.
Double-Chocolate Hot Chocolate
Thanks to a generous amount of heavy cream and whole milk, this hot chocolate is just as delicious without the kick from Jack Daniel's. Don't skip the marshmelows!
Walker's Mulled Wine
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
Over-boiled mulled wines, made with headache-inducing quantities of sugar, have long given this holiday classic a dire reputation. This version, from Walkers Maine restaurant in Cape Neddick, Maine, is gently infused with nutmeg, vanilla, and star anise, then lightly sweetened with honey and maple syrup. The result is a concoction you'll want to sip all winter long.
Frenched Hot Chocolate
"Chartreuse and chocolate is among the world's most underrated combinations," says Bobby Heugel, co-owner of Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston. He melds the two ingredients in this boozy, rich hot chocolate.
Café Cubano
No Cuban meal is complete without a café cubano (Cuban coffee). A well-made café cubano has a thick layer of sweet crema floating over strong espresso. To get the crema right, whisk about 1 tablespoon of the espresso with sugar until it turns foamy, then pour the pot of espresso over it. Lourdes Castro says you can't overbeat a crema, so stir it energetically.
Shortcut Café Brûlot
Scholar and cookbook author Jessica B. Harris shared her shortcut recipe for a Cafe Brûlot, a signature cocktail of New Orleans.
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