Believe it or not, the holiday season is upon us. Christmas trees shine brightly through windows and houses are decked in their holiday décor. But along with all the wonder of Christmas comes stress. As parents, there can be pressure to make the holidays perfect for our families. If you've been wanting to try out a new holiday treat but don't have the time, look no further. We've rounded up eight delicious holiday beverage recipes that you can make in your crockpot.
8 Creamy Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is a Christmas classic. Is there anything better than curling up on the couch with a warm cup of chocolatey goodness while you watch Christmas movies in your PJs? If this sounds like your idea of heaven, check out this recipe for creamy crockpot hot chocolate. You'll need heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, milk, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips. Let your crockpot do all the work, and come back to enjoy your holiday drink in just two hours.
7 Peppermint Hot Chocolate
A minty twist on a holiday favorite, peppermint takes it rightful place by chocolate's side in this decadent peppermint hot chocolate recipe. Add milk, heavy cream, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to your crockpot, and set to low for one hour. Garnish with whipped cream or crushed peppermint candies (finally, a good use for those extra candy canes), and enjoy!
6 Spiced Eggnog
Eggnog is a controversial holiday beverage - you either love it or hate it; there doesn't seem to be an in-between. If you classify yourself as an eggnog lover, then you'll want to try out this tasty spiced eggnog recipe. You will need egg yolks, sugar, vanilla extract, whole milk, heavy cream, a cinnamon stick, and nutmeg seeds. For an additional kick to your eggnog, you can add a generous splash of rum. Heat the mixture for two hours on low in your crockpot, whisking occasionally to prevent curdling.
5 Hot Spiced Apple Cider
One might argue that hot apple cider is more of a fall beverage. I would encourage you to consider the spicy notes of cinnamon and clove blended beautifully in this warm, comforting drink and ask you to reconsider. Plus, it's delicious, and why would we limit ourselves to just one season? If you need more convincing, try out this hot spiced apple cider recipe for yourself. Just four ingredients - apple cider, cinnamon sticks, navel oranges, and cloves - and four hours stand between you and this delightful holiday beverage.
4 Chai Tea
A beautiful blend of herbs and spices, lightly sweetened, and mixed into a decadent blend of milk and water. A previously underappreciated holiday beverage, chai tea has become quite popular in many coffee and tea shops around the world. Try it for yourself at home with this crockpot chai tea recipe. Secure gingerroot, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom, and peppercorns in a cheesecloth and cook in water on low for eight hours in your crockpot. Then, discard the spice bag and add in black tea bags, steeping three to five minutes before removing. Finally, stir in sweetened condensed milk and let heat until warmed through. This recipe is a bit time consuming. Start early in the day so that you can relax with your beverage in the evening.
3 Peppermint Mocha
Is anyone else spending a fortune at their favorite coffee shop to get their holiday beverage fix? Yeah, Starbucks, I'm looking at you. Save money and recreate the much-loved peppermint mocha at home. You'll need whole milk, espresso or strongly brewed coffee, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and peppermint syrup. This recipe requires a few minutes of additional prep, as you'll need to make your own peppermint syrup with sugar, water, and peppermint extract. Once that's finished, just toss the rest of the ingredients together into your crockpot, cook on low for two hours, and indulge in your oh-so-delicious yet budget-friendly peppermint mocha.
2 Holiday Wassail Punch
Get fruity and festive with this spicy holiday punch. Create this flavorful wassail punch by adding apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, pineapple nectar, sugar, and lemon juice in your crockpot. Wrap your cinnamon sticks, allspice, and orange slices in cheesecloth and place them in the mixture. Cook everything together on low for four to five hours, then remove the bag of spices and orange slices. Voila! You're ready to serve your holiday punch.
1 Viennese Coffee
If you've been on the lookout for a sweet, creamy, utterly indulgent cup of coffee, look no further. This Viennese coffee will make all of your caffeinated dreams come true. Strongly brewed coffee, chocolate syrup, sugar, heavy cream, and Irish cream liqueur (optional) come together to create one heavenly cup of coffee. If that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, garnish with additional whipped cream and chocolate.
Sources: wishesndishes.com/hotchocolate, foxandbriar.com, guide.michelin.com, kitchentreaty.com, wishesndishes.com/peppermintmocha, tasteofhome.com/chaitea, tasteofhome.com/wassailpunch, momswithcrockpots.com