There is nothing more comforting than a hot cup of cocoa during the holidays. In fact, I don’t think I drink hot cocoa any other time of the year than December. Maybe January if it’s cold and snowy (and it always is, and February, and March..). December is never as cold and snowy as I wish it was. Right now I’m sitting in front of my computer (obviously) and the rain is pouring down and it looks like it’s not gonna stop for a while. Make that days. And I’m drinking cardamom coffee.
Now there’s another tip for you, just put some freshly ground cardamom with your coffee grinds and you have cardamom coffee. Ta-da!
Here are a few of my favorite hot drinks which I seem to come back to every year. Enjoy!


Hot chocolate with cinnamon and orange liqueur
Makes one huge or two smaller cups. If you don’t want to use cointreau but
still want the taste of orange, use orange chocolate or add a piece of
orange peel together with the cinnamon stick.
Ingredients
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp water
50 g dark chocolate (70%)
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup milk
1-2 tbsp cointreau (orange liqueur)
3 tbsp heavy cream, whipped
Cocoa powder, to dust
grated dark chocolate
Instructions
Place water, chocolate and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat until chocolate
has melted. Add milk and bring to a boil. Add cointreau if desired.
Serve hot chocolate with whipped cream, cocoa powder, grated chocolate and a cinnamon stick.

Easy gingerbread latte
Gingerbread spice mix
I highly recommend grinding cardamom and cloves at home instead of buying. It does make a huge difference – just make sure to grind them finely!
4 tsp ground cinnamon
4 tsp ground ginger
3 tsp freshly ground cardamom
3 tsp freshly ground cloves
Mix all ingredients and store in an air tight jar.
Easy gingerbread latte
Makes one large cup
2 – 4 tbsp espresso or strong coffee
1 cup milk
1 tsp gingerbread spice mix
2 tsp cane syrup or molasses
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp heavy cream, whipped
Gingerbread spice mix, to dust
Bring espresso, milk, spices, syrup and vanilla to a boil in a saucepan. Strain if needed. Pour mixture into a large cup and top with whipped cream and a dust of gingerbread spice mix.

Hot chocolate with dulce de leche
Makes one large cup
Ingredients
1 cup milk
2-3 tbsp dulce de leche
10 g dark chocolate
Instructions
Heat milk, dulce de leche and a piece of chocolate in a saucepan until chocolate has melted. Let come to a boil, then pour into a cup. Top with frothed milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Easy chai latte
Chai spice mix
This is my very easy version of chai latte. There are of course other ways such as boiling a chai syrup with cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger and so on, but if you’re in for a quick fix – this recipe is for you!
Ingredients
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tbsp ground ginger
1/2 tbsp freshly ground cardamom
1/2 tbsp freshly ground cloves
1/2 tsp vanilla powder
Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight jar.
For the chai latte
Makes one cup
Ingredients
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp water
2 tsp black tea (or 1 teabag, I used apple tea for example)
1 1/2 tsp chai spice mix
1/2-1 tbsp light muscovado sugar or raw turbinado sugar (1/2 tbsp is enough for me)
Bring all ingredients to a boil in a saucepan and stir until sugar is dissolved. Let sit for one minute. Strain mixture once or twice and top with frothed milk and cinnamon.
Yum! That Hot Dulce the Leche sounds delicious! Beautiful pictures, as always
Blimey!! All of these look gorgeous!! Yes…gorgeous is a word I use to describe hot chocolate!!
http://vodkaandarose.blogspot.co.uk
I want one of each! These photos are stunning too Linda!
Orange liquor and chocolate.. What a delicious combination for hot chocolate…
Perfect for the holidays!
Quanta variedade… gosto de todos!
The chai sounds fantastic…as do all the others!
oh my these all sound amazing!! I'm definitely going to make the orange and cinnamon one when I'm home!
pippibee.blogspot.co.uk xx
these are so insanely gorgeous!!!! and i agree with you, why is december never cold and snowy enough?!?!!?!
All photos are gorgeous, Linda! I choose Chai Latte! I must to try your recipe 🙂
I want them all. Now! 🙂 Beautiful photos. As always.
Greetings from Poland 🙂
Hot chocolate with cinnamon and orange liqueur is an absolutely brilliant idea. I am tempted to run now, at 11 am, to the liquor store just so I can try some. Beautiful styling too!
Absolutely stunning food photography.
Well, I sure do know what I'll be sipping on over the next few weeks. These look delicious!
This pictures are stunning! I wish I could be such a great photographer as you are 🙂
Best regards,
Aleksandra
Oh man, incredible! But the biggest surprise was Hot dulce de leche!!I have never heard of such a thing)) Yumms!
By the way, rainy weather in December sucks. Totally get you!
These all look like drinks that have been extracted directly from my dreams!
Aisling | aisybee.com
These all look like drinks that have been extracted directly from my dreams!
Aisling | aisybee.com
Chai Latte, my favorite. Thank you for sharing this wonderful, quick version. And the photos are amazing! I loved every bit of your post 🙂
Mmmmm these look amazing!! x
Hot drinks are comfort like nothing else when it's bitterly cold. I'll have to try some of these (or all of them)
They are incredible, i just love all 🙂
http://nacozinhacomafilipa.blogspot.pt/
Need to try them all!
Oh my goodness, what an epic and beautiful post. Each drink looks more delicious than the last and your images just slay me. <3
These all look exquisite, but I want to try the hot dulce de leche first!
These all look amazing, but that easy chai latte is so calling my name!
PS As usual the pictures are fantastic!
They all look amazing, as always! Need to try them like, right now!
Drinks to die for…!!
Drinks to die for…!!
LOVE !
First time in Your blog, and I want more, more, more.
I'm not crazy – I'm in love.
Lola
Cold winter days are here, so I can't wait to try these. They look really delicious.
http://www.designglueglitter.blogspot.com
♡ …….
All the drinks are so yummy, excelent flavors Linda!
Beautiful photos so pinned, of course.
Thanks Maribel! x
Oh, gorgeous photos! Can you help me, how much ml is in the 1 cup and 1/3 cup?
Thank you! 1 cup is 240 ml and 1/3 cup is 75 ml. Look under the FAQ for more measurements!
All the drinks look so yummy ! 🙂
http://www.alanaandkyra.com/
All of them look so yummy!
Enara's Things
Sooo yummy!
https://justsem.wordpress.com/
Thank you, Linda! 🙂
Like the spice mixes. Thank you! The pictures are beyond lovely, I like the atmosphere they provide. Happy Christmas! xx
http://literallylena.blogspot.de/
These look incredible, I was actually thinking earlier that I'd love a new kind of hot drink because I wasn't in the mood for tea or regular hot chocolate!
Holly Sparkle | Fashion, Lifestyle, DIY
These look so good! I did a Hot Chocolate recipe recently, but I never thought of adding Cointreau… I'm definitely going to have to try that!!!!
Kisses,
Sarah
http://everydaystarlet.com/
These drinks look so good! I really need that hot dulce de leche right now! Thanks for the recipe!
Anne | Days of Flavour
Fantastic blog post and photos are beautiful and inspiring as always.
A year late to the party but these still look delicious! Definitely want to try these when i go home for the holidays.