Warm and delicious winter drinks

There's nothing better than snuggling up with a mug of hot chocolate or mulled cider on a cold winter day. Try these recipes when you're looking to keep cozy and stay inside.

We've become so accustomed to just-add-water packets of hot chocolate that we forget how good this drink can really be. Take a cue from the Mexican version. A few pinches of ground ancho chili pepper give the drink more spunk and a faint hint of earthiness.

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 0 minutes 

Serves 4

• 750 ml (3 c) half-and-half
• 250 ml (1 c) skim milk
• 110 g (1/2 c) firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 50 g (1/4 c) cocoa powder
• 2 g (1/2 tsp) ground ancho chile pepper
• 1 g (1/4 tsp) ground cinnamon
• 75 g (1/3 c) semi-sweet chocolate
• 5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
• 175 ml (3/4 c) heavy cream
• 50 g (1/4 c) confectioners' sugar1. In a medium pot over medium heat, whisk together the half-and-half, milk, brown sugar, cocoa powder, chili pepper and cinnamon. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, one minute.
  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate and vanilla until the chocolate has melted. Keep warm over low heat.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar. Beat until the cream has stiff peaks.
  4. Pour the hot chocolate into four coffee mugs and top each with a ­generous dollop of whipped cream.

Here's a warm drink with an edge. In addition to the usual sweet spices — cinnamon, allspice and cloves — this mulled cider includes cranberry juice for a tart counterpoint to the sweet cider.

Preparation time: 5 minutes 

Cooking time: 55 minutes 

Serves 12

• 1 L (4 c) apple cider
• 500 ml (2 c) cranberry juice
• 250 ml (1 c) orange juice
• 175 ml (3/4 c) lemon juice
• 100 g (1/2 c) sugar
• 5 g (1 tsp) whole allspice
• 5 g (1 tsp) whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks1. Pour the apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice and lemon juice into a large pot; then stir in the sugar.
  2. Make a spice bag by placing the allspice, cloves and cinnamon pieces in the centre of a small piece of cheesecloth or a clean coffee filter. Bring up the edges and tie securely with cotton string. Add the spice bag to the juice mixture. Cover and simmer for 55 minutes. Remove and discard the spice bag. Serve warm ladled into mugs.

For a more pronounced orange flavour to complement the cranberry juice, add the zest of one orange removed in one continuous strip. Remove from the cider before serving.

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