On the 9th Blog of Christmas

NINE, yes NINE hot drink recipes.
Seriously, there are 9 different ways to spice up cider, coffee, and cocoa for the holidays. Here are my favorites:

   1.  Now this one is listed as a Valentine's day treat, but it's perfect for Christmas too.
        White Hot Chocolate & of course I have found a great hot and frozen version of this delicious
         treat!

   2.  Kicked-up Apple Cider!  There are 2 things that you can add (but only 1 or the other, NEVER
        both!).

• Everclear/Diesel: it's clear, odorless, tasteless, but a SMALL HINT of it mixed in your cider will do the trick & add a little happy to your Christmas party.  Remember though, this stuff is VERY potent & a little will go a looooooooong way!!
• Apple Brandy: another great additive to kick it up a notch, but stray away from the deep alcoholic taste. 
• Apple cups: Shown below, hollow out an apple & pour the cider right in.  Perfect little touch

   3.  Peppermint Eggnog.  Peppermint- yum. Eggnog- yum. Together: OH YES!! Martha Stewart's

        recipes are always amazing & even suggest how much better this eggnog tastes for kids.

        ANYONE will love this, kiddos!  This recipe is actually pretty simple too.  If worse comes to

        worst, you can just add a touch of peppermint extract & a candy cane stick to store eggnog, but I 

        bet that won't work near as well, too much cinnamon and custard already added.

   4.  Okay this one I actually stumbled upon & wasn't even looking for... but it sounds DELICIOUS!

        They call it a Peppermint Paddy.  Warning, this is an alcoholic beverage!

   5.  My favorite Christmas drink at Starbucks is the Gingerbread latte. And here I've found a

        homemade version!  Make the syrup, then the latte.  Only 8 or so ingredients needed!

   6.  Another popular holiday drink at Starbucks is the Cinnamon Dolce Latte.  It's even better poured 

        over ice!  

   7.  Okay it's not too much of a drink, but I could not leave this out! It's a cute way to dress up a drink 

        for Christmas parties: Coke Bottle reindeers

• Peel Off Bottle Wrapper (use a wet wash-cloth for sticky, difficult wrapper parts)
• Glue on googly eyes from your local Hobby Lobby or Walmart
• Glue on a little red ball nose also from Hobby Lobby/Walmart
• Don't forget those pipe-cleaners for antlers at Hobby Lobby/Walmart. 
• Wrap around the bottleneck just below the cap
• Wrap separate, smaller Pipe Cleaners for the branches of the antlers

        So simple & easy & cute!!!

   8.  Salted Caramel Coffee. YUM YUM. You salt any kind of coffee and somehow it's magically
        even more delicioso!  Nutmeg Nanny prepared this recipe & it sounds perfecto.  It's listed as a
        spiked drink, but you can easily take out the Kahlua and use a non- alcoholic creamer as an
        alternative.  Great for anytime now

   9.  Holiday Cocktail! It's a simple Cranberry Sparkler actually, but it's so red and cheery looking for

        the holidays!  It's simply champagne, cranberry juice, & cranberries! yum yum yum! A healthier 

        alcoholic alternative!

Happy Drinking!  :)