Four hot drinks for the holidays

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.

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

Put 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 DULCE DE LECHE
WITH CHOCOLATE

Makes one large cup

You could totally leave out the chocolate if you wanted too, and even top with whipped cream and some more dulce de leche.. oh man.

1 cup milk
2-3 tbsp dulce de leche
10 g dark chocolate

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!

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

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.