6 Classic Fall Drink Recipes to Try this Season

From warm and cozy tea and hot chocolate to spicy cocktails with a punch, here are the best classic beverages you need to try this autumn.

1. Unicorn Hot Chocolate

This simple, easy-to-make drink is a fun yet comforting concoction perfect for the kids and kids at heart. All you need are white chocolate, milk, vanilla extract, and sugar. Colorful garnishes are optional but desired.

Ingredients:

3 cups milk

8 oz. chopped white chocolate

2 tbsps. Granulated sugar

2 tsps. Vanilla extract

Purple of pink food coloring

Whipped cream, purple frosting, sprinkles, and marshmallows for garnish

Procedure:

1.    In a saucepan, combine milk, sugar, and vanilla extract over low heat until it simmers.
2.    Add the white chocolate into the mixture. Whisk constantly until it dissolves.
3.    Add a few drops of food coloring of your choice. Be careful to add one or two drops at a time until the mixture turns into your desired color.
4.    Dip the rim of a mug in purple frosting, then dip in sprinkles.
5.    Pour the chocolate mixture into the mug.
6.    Top with whipped cream and marshmallows.

2. Turmeric Latte

Sometimes called golden milk because of its color, turmeric latte offers a unique combination of sweet, spicy, and earthy flavors. This soothing hot drink also offers the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of its star ingredient.

Ingredients

1 cup milk

1 tsp. ground turmeric

¼ tsp. ground ginger

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground cardamom

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

Pinch of ground black pepper, optional

1 tbsp. melted ghee, optional

1 tbsp honey or maple syrup, to taste

Procedure

1. Add all ingredients into a small saucepan and heat over medium fire.
2. Whisk until mixture comes to a boil.
3. Turn the heat to love and continue to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until mixture begins to reduce slightly.
4. Pour into a mug and garnish with cinnamon.

3. Mulled Wine

The quintessential cold-season drink for adults, mulled wine is fresh, fruity, and heavenly at the same time.

Ingredients

1 bottle/750 ml red wine (e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel)

1 orange, unpeeled and sliced

¼ cup brandy or your favorite liquer, optional

8 to 10 cloves

2 to 4 tbsp. sugar, honey, maple syrup, or sweetener of choice

2 to 3 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

Directions

1.    Add all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat to a simmer over medium heat and bring it down to low fire. Avoid boiling the mixture to prevent boiling off the alcohol.
2.    Cover and simmer anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours.
3. Strain the spices and pour warm. Garnish with extra cinnamon sticks as desired.

4. Asian Pear Sparkler

This booze-free cocktail is perfect for Halloween parties and holiday gatherings. Take out your nugget ice maker and pour this refreshing drink over perfectly chewable ice.

Ingredients

1 cup freshly squeezed Asian pear juice

¾ cup honey

¼ cup sugar

1 sprig fresh rosemary

1 1-inch slice fresh ginger, peeled and sliced

Small grating of fresh nutmeg

Ice

Carbonated water

Procedure

1.    Create Asian pear syrup by combining the pear juice, lemon juice, honey, sugar, rosemary, ginger and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat.
2.    Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve sugar.
3.    Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
4.    Strain the pulp using a fine mesh filter and discard the solids. Allow syrup to cool completely.
5.    Fill 8-oz. glasses with ice cubes halfway, pour 3 tbsp. of pear syrup, add carbonated water. Stir and garnish with a slice of pear.

5. Cinnamon Water

Spice up plain, old water with this simple, three-ingredient drink. Can be served at room temperature or filled with ice churned out by your commercial ice makers.

Ingredients

6 cinnamon sticks

6 cups of water

Carbonated water, optional

Procedure

1. In a saucepace, combine water and cinnamon and bring to a boil.
2. Turn heat to low fire and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water has turned into desired color.
3. Cool completely. Stir in carbonated water for some extra fizz.

6. Pumpkin Spice Martini

Autumn doesn’t go by without you stumbling into pumpkin spice at some point. And if you’re tired of serving the same old vanilla pumpkin spice lattes, spike up your drinks with a splash of vodka and creamy liqueurs instead.

Ingredients:

1 jigger vanilla vodka

1 jigger Irish cream liquer

1 jigger pumpkin spice liqueur

1 pinch ground cinnamon

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 cup ice cubes

Procedure:

1. Combine all ingredients (except for cinnamon and nutmeg) ina cocktail shaker over ice. Cover and shake well.
2. Strain into martini glass and garnish with ground cinnamon and nutmeg.