If you’re going to be using your outdoor living spaces during colder weather, having a hot drink to sip on can help keep things cozy. We’ve pulled together some recipes we plan to try, and thought we would share them with you. Many of these can be made in bulk and kept warm in a slow cooker. Some are kid-appropriate, while others are adult-only.
Let’s get started.
This is the old standby. Sure, scooping hot chocolate mix out of a can or emptying a packet into a cup and microwaving some water or milk will work. But if you want delicious hot chocolate, you’ll want to make it from scratch. We especially like this recipe from A Couple Cooks. Be sure to check out the variations!
Hot apple cider can be simply warmed up in the microwave, or you can get more complex flavors and serve a crowd if you use a slow cooker recipe. Keep the slow cooker indoors or in the shelter of your outdoor kitchen if you want the cider to stay hot.
This mulled wine recipe from Saveur calls for making it on the stovetop. So, you could make this in your outdoor kitchen if you wanted. Be sure to have cups or barware that can handle the heat. We’ve seen similar slow cooker mulled wine recipes you might want to try out as well.
This hot buttered rum recipe from Rachel Ray is “dee-lish” as she’s known to say. It can be super sweet, so read the comments and decide if you want to cut back on some of the sugar. You can also check out the other recipes for this drink on the Food Network website.
And remember, drink responsibly this holiday season, and if a guest seems like they’ve had one too many, offer them a place to stay for the night.
If you’d like to add an outdoor fireplace or built-in fire pit to your patio area, or maybe a deck this winter, we can help. As long as the weather cooperates, there are many outdoor living projects we can complete for you. We turn your outdoor living dreams into reality.
We are now setting design consultation appointments for 2025. Check out our Portfolio for examples of our work, and to gain inspiration. We work with homeowners throughout the Capital Region, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.
