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A hot cocoa mix that’s not for kiddies
Recently, a group of friends came over unexpectedly and I didn’t have much to offer as a proper host. Scanning my bare cupboards, I found a box of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate packets and a bottle of Bailey’s. Ding, ding, ding! With the cold weather and rain, the warm beverages were a hit – even for the dudes who don’t usually like girly drinks. One excited friend named them Hot Chockis and the proclamation has stuck ever since.
There’s something enjoyable and comforting about drinking alcohol as a heated concoction, after the jump are some crowd-pleasing, cozy beverages to take the chill out of your Los Angeles winter.
Hot Chocki
1 Swiss Miss Chocolate Packet
1 shot Bailey’s
5 oz. hot water
Dissolve hot cocoa mix with water, stir in the Bailey's. If you're feeling fancy, garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows or leftover candy canes from Christmas.
Photo by alexstaubo via Flickr
Hot Buttered Rum
This tastes exactly what it sounds like. Because it takes a little more effort to prepare, the recipe is for a batch of 4 drinks instead of individual cocktails.
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 stick unsalted butter (room temp)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup spiced rum
2 cups boiling water
4 sticks cinnamon for garnish
Mix brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a bowl until well-blended. Add 2 cups of the boiling water, stir until everything is dissolved. Add the rum, then mix it all evenly. Pour into mugs, garnish with cinnamon sticks if you are so inclined. Note: the Spiked Cider and Hot Toddy recipes can use the cinnamon too. People really oooh and ahhhh over those little fragrant sticks.
Spiked Cider
4 oz. Hot Apple Cider (the spiced kind from Trader Joe’s is good)
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 shot brandy
Bring cider to a slow boil with the bay leaf in it. Remove the leaf, pour brandy into cups and add cider. How easy is that?
Blueberry Tea
I had this for the first time at the Rose & Thistle in Portland. It tasted like blueberries and came served in a brandy snifter.
1 shot Amaretto
1 shot Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1 tea bag (Orange Pekoe if you have it)
4 ounces hot water
Steep the tea bag in the hot water, remove bag. Add shots and mix.
Hot Toddy
1 shot brandy or whiskey
1 tablespoon honey
1 lemon wedge
4 oz. hot water
a few cloves (optional)
Dissolve the honey in the hot water, squeeze the lemon and leave the wedge in the mixture with the cloves. Add the shot of alcohol. Done.
Photo by petit hiboux via Flickr
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