Warm Holiday Drinks to Give Santa… or Treat Yourself!

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Warm Holiday Drinks to Give Santa… or Treat Yourself!

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 05:28 AM PST

Entry #855, December 22, 2011

Whether you are concocting a holiday drink for Santa, or you are wanting to cozy up to a nice warm drink – the holidays are the perfect time to try new recipes. From hot chocolate variations to peppermint surprises in a cup, here are some fabulous ones from Martha Stewart.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Peppermint hot chocolate

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 quart milk
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (3 ounces)
• 7 peppermint sticks; 3 crushed (1/4 cup), 4 left whole
• pinch of salt

Directions

1. Place cocoa in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk until cocoa has dissolved. Add chocolate chips and crushed peppermint; simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate and peppermint have melted, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Add salt. Ladle into mugs; serve each with a peppermint stick.

Apple-Pie Spiced Cider

Yummy, apple pie in a drink!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 quarts apple cider
• 3 tablespoons firmly packed light-brown sugar
• 7 whole cinnamon sticks, (6 sticks for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• Ground cloves
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt
• 1/2 cup Calvados, or other brandy (optional)

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together cider, sugar, spices, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove from heat; pour in brandy, if desired. Strain into a pitcher; discard solids. Serve in mugs, garnished with cinnamon sticks.

Roasted Pineapple Hot-Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and pod reserved
• 3 1/2 ounces (7 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large pineapple (6 pounds)
• 8 green cardamom pods, crushed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons whole allspice berries
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup dark rum (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with nonstick baking mats. Mix 1 cup sugar, the vanilla seeds, and 5 tablespoons butter. Slice 1/2 inch from both ends of pineapple, and discard. Cut 2 slices crosswise, 3/4 inch thick, and set aside. Peel the remaining pineapple, and slice into 3/4-inch-thick spears, working around core. Discard core.
2. Divide half the butter mixture between baking sheets, dropping it by rounded teaspoons onto mats. Arrange pineapple spears and rounds in a single layer on top of butter mixture. Top pineapple with spoonfuls of remaining butter mixture. Roast, rotating pans and basting with pan juices after 15 minutes, for 30 minutes. Flip pineapple, then roast until dark golden brown, about 30 minutes more. Let cool for 5 minutes. Cut rounds into 8 wedges, and reserve for garnish.
3. Meanwhile, bring reserved vanilla pod, cardamom, allspice berries, water, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain, and discard solids. Working in batches, blend liquid and roasted-pineapple spears with their pan juices on low speed until coarsely pureed. Increase speed to high, and process until smooth, about 2 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a medium saucepan, pressing firmly on solids. Discard solids.
4. Heat pineapple mixture over low heat until heated through, then add rum if using. Divide among glasses, and top each with some of the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and reserved pineapple wedges.

Classic Egg Nog

Who doesn't love classic eggnog?

Ingredients

• 2 quarts whole milk
• 2 2/3 cups sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
• 16 large egg yolks
• 2 cups cold heavy cream
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling

Directions

1. Heat milk, sugar, and vanilla bean and seeds in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking until sugar has dissolved. Whisk yolks in a large bowl. Pour hot milk mixture into yolks in a slow, steady stream, whisking.
2. Return milk-yolk mixture to pan, and cook over medium-low heat, whisking often, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 20 minutes (do not let simmer). Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard bean. Whisk in cream, bourbon, and rum. Let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour (up to 1 day). Serve sprinkled with nutmeg.

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.