Hot chocolate is not the only winter warmer. There’s a whole variety of spiced, sweetened, and heated beverages that contain no milk, no chocolate, and no caffeine. At Bubby’s, I’ve tinkered with some of these traditional hot drinks to come up with some beverages that have become pretty popular in their own right. Here are a couple of examples of our spiced, sweetened, and heated beverages.

　　

Ingredients

　　

Mulled Spiced Cider

Step 1

Combine 2 quarts fresh apple cider; 2 cinnamon sticks; 4 whole cloves; 1/2 orange, cut into quarters; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; and 6 black peppercorns in a large pot. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit in the fridge for a day to allow the flavors to marry. Reheat and serve hot.

　　

Hot Honeyed Lemonade

Step 2

Mix together 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/3 cup honey, and 2 cups of hot water in a large saucepan. Stir briskly. Pour the mixture into an insulated container such as a thermos or a slow cooker to keep warm.

　　

Spiced Rose Hip Tea

Step 3

In a large saucepan combine 2 whole cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 6 cups of boiling water, 1 whole lemon, cut in half, and 3 tablespoons honey. Simmer over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 4 rose hip tea bags. Let steep for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

　　Bubby’s Brunch Cookbook by Ron Silver and Rosemary Black. Copyright © 2009 by Ron Silver and Rosemary Black. Published by Ballantine Books. All Rights Reserved.