Winter holidays call for cozy hot drinks. When it's cold outside, pulling out your favorite warm winter cocktail recipes and cuddling up under some blankets is a special indulgence. Whether you're enjoying some quiet time in front of the fire or entertaining friends, there are hot cocoa and winter cocktail recipes that highlight the season's best flavors—all brought to you by Reddi-wip®.
1. Irish Coffee
One of our favorite winter cocktail recipes, perfect for a lazy Saturday morning, is this Irish Coffee recipe. It features a not-so-secret ingredient that will make you feel like you have a live-in barista: the Reddi-wip Barista Series Sweet Foam Coffee Topper. Simply brew your favorite coffee, pour it into your favorite mug, then add a little brown sugar and whiskey to give it a decadent finish. If you're hosting out-of-town guests, this is the perfect warm winter cocktail welcome to wake them up on a chilly morning. Waffles and scrambled eggs optional.
2. Non-Dairy S'mores Hot Cocoa
Maybe it’s too cold for that crackling campfire right now—but that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy a taste of your favorite fireside sweet treat while cozying up with a delicious hot drink! Marshmallows are already a must-have for a good mug of cocoa, so Non-Dairy S'mores Hot Cocoa is a no-brainer. The perfect holiday drink recipe features Swiss Miss® Non-Dairy Hot Cocoa, a graham cracker rim, marshmallow crème, Reddi-wip, and, of course, your very own s’more to garnish. The only question is: Are you on team burnt or lightly toasted?
3. Double Chocolate Cinnamon Spiked Hot Cocoa
Hot cocoa is a go-to seasonal flavor for anyone who has just finished an afternoon of skiing, sledding, or ice skating, and the addition of cinnamon whiskey in this Double Chocolate Cinnamon Spiked Hot Cocoa gives it a little extra kick. This hot cocktail uses your favorite hot cocoa mix to start—try swapping the Swiss Miss Double Chocolate for Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate or Swiss Miss Rich Chocolate. Then top it with Reddi-wip and enjoy one of the best warm winter cocktail recipes you'll ever drink.
If you prefer peppermint to cinnamon, use Peppermint Schnapps instead of cinnamon whiskey, and you'll have yourself one of our favorite boozy drinks––Dark Chocolate Peppermint Spiked Hot Cocoa. With Reddi-wip and a few candies, you can easily make a Frozen Snowman Topper for your favorite hot cocoa. It's simple: Smooth a dollop of Reddi-wip on top of the mug and create a face with the candies! It's a good bit of whimsical fun to give your drink that finishing touch.
4. Loaded Hot Cocoa
You’ve seen loaded milkshakes—but have you seen Loaded Hot Cocoa? The decadent holiday drink recipe is almost as much fun to assemble as it will be to consume: You’ll decorate your favorite mug of cocoa with a melted chocolate and rainbow sprinkle rim, fill it up with a steaming batch of Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, and top it all off with a one-of-a-kind dessert “kabob” made with a donut hole, a chocolate truffle, and a jumbo marshmallow. Feel free to experiment with other holiday sweet treats you have in the kitchen already (we could totally see an iced sugar cookie in the mix, too) and see who can stack their mug the highest with toppings.
5. Hot Spiced Cider
Picking apples with the kids, baking apple pies with Grandma, sipping apple cider around the holiday table—the taste and smell of apples and cinnamon bring holiday cheer to any home. For a delicious spin on a holiday drink favorite, simply heat your apple cider over the stove with some cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and ground allspice.
For a cozy warm winter cocktail recipe, take Hot Spiced Cider and add a bit of cinnamon whiskey or bourbon, or even some mulled wine. When you're ready to serve it, a tablespoon of Reddi-wip Barista Series Nitro Coffee Creamer in each glass will give your cider a rich, creamy texture that truly sets it apart. This warm cocktail recipe works across seasons—you can whip up your first batch as the leaves start to turn in the fall and keep making it until spring!
6. Hot Chocolate “Milk” and Cookies
Cookies and cream—it’s a combination as classic as peanut butter and jelly. While you might reach for the ice cream flavor when the weather’s warm, this decadent hot cocoa means you can enjoy this delicious flavor mashup all winter long. You’ll find cookie in every sip (or bite!) of this plant-based creation, from ground chocolate sandwich cookies mixed right into your non-dairy Swiss Miss to the cookie rim, the crumble topping, and a cookie skewer for good measure. Top it all off with a generous whoosh of Reddi-wip and mini chocolate chips and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
7. PEPPERMINT HOT COCOA BOMBS
OK, we’ve already covered a few genius toppings and add-ins to give your cocoa a little gourmet flair. Now, how about an adorable way to make your cozy treat? Enter: hot cocoa bombs! These Peppermint Hot Cocoa Bombs have everything you need for a mug of minty, chocolatey goodness in a perfectly wrapped (and edible) package. This tasty holiday drink recipe makes a great gift option too! You’ll use a sphere ice cube tray to make a chocolate mold, then fill it up with crushed candy canes, sprinkles, and Swiss Miss mix. Seal it up with a little more melted chocolate and you’re good to go! Stick it in your mug, pour warm milk or hot water over the top, and watch the shell magically “explode” to reveal all the goodies within.