In the winter, it’s so nice to warm up with a hot beverage!  But it’s easy to get stuck in a coffee-or-cocoa rut.  So to help us all out, I’ve rounded up a list of recipes and ideas for hot drinks that go beyond plain coffee or hot cocoa.  All of these drinks are non-alcoholic.  Many are special diet-friendly — and many are even healthy/nutritious!

First we’ll talk about some ways to switch coffee and cocoa up, then I’ll suggest some completely alternative options.

Make it Easy (Hot Drink Mixes)

Maybe you do want coffee or cocoa; you just want to simplify the process.  Or maybe you want a tasty warm beverage that will travel well or to give as a gift.  If that’s what you’re looking for, here are a few mixes to choose from.

• espresso mix
• cocoa mix (conventional style)
• cocoa mix (no creamer)
• cocoa mix (dairy-free, sugar-free, with stevia & erithrytol)
• cocoa mix (dairy-free, paleo, vegan, with AIP [carob] option)

(If you want to know how to make hot cocoa without a mix, try this recipe/method.   You can make it less thick by adjusting the milk.)

Change it Up

If you like cocoa and/or coffee, and you just want something a little different (or healthier), try jazzing it up with flavoring options, or adding a nutritional boost.

Flavor-Boosting Options:

• flavored stevia drops
• herbal tea (peppermint, etc.)
• cinnamon (add a sprinkle, or stir with a cinnamon stick)
• Pumpkin Spice Latte (includes dairy-free option)
• “tea bag” of spices like for spiced cider
• peanut butter
• dash of orange juice (It sounds weird, but for those who like orange & chocolate, it’s a delicious combination!  This also works for chocolate milkshakes in the summertime.)
• Chilie Mocha

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NOTE about essential oils: You can use them for flavoring, but there are a few caveats.  Your beverage must contain fat.  Essential oils are not water-soluble, so if the beverage does not contain fat or oil, the essential oils will not dilute properly.   They are very potent (one drop of peppermint essential oil is roughly equivalent to 24 cups of peppermint tea), so they are really not suitable for individual servings.  It’s better to use herbs and spices as noted above.  Stick with food-safe flavors, like peppermint and  sweet orange.  And do not use wintergreen; it is extremely toxic in even small amounts.)
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Nutrition-Boosting Options:

• maca-boosted hot cocoa   (Note: If your digestion is at all compromised, you probably want to be sure your maca is the gelatinized variety.)
• Laird creamer (non-dairy, gluten-free, junk-free [coconut-based])
• collagen (AIP-friendly) or other protein powder
• Frothy Coffee (This is a little like coffee-meets-smoothie.)

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Add Variety

• Crio Bru (Crio Bru is cacao that brews like coffee.)

• herbal tea

Honey Capsules are really handy for hot tea and other hot beverages you want to sweeten, especially if you’re enjoying them with young children, because they’re readily portable, and non-messy.

• chai
• Helen’s Chai-Biotic
• London Fog Latte (Earl Grey-based)
• broth
• Hot Vanilla (crockpot)
• White Hot Chocolate (dairy-free)
• coffee substitutes like  Teeccino (chicory-based), Dandy Blend (dandelion root-based), or macaccino (has some cacao in it)
• Hot Carob (AIP-friendly)
• Bowl of Soul (chamomile & almond milk)
• spiced cider
• Hot Ruby
• Holiday Punch (crockpot cranberry/apple cider)
• Wassail
• Warm Vanilla Lemonade
• Golden Milk
• Spiced Coconut-Almond Milk
• Maple Vanilla Almond Milk