Eight Healthy Drinks That’ll Keep You Toasty This Winter

Latte photo by Eva C. Meszaros via Flickr/Creative Commons

Love it or hate it, it looks like the cold weather is here to stay. And after struggling through commutes in Boston wind tunnels and below-freezing temperatures, we all deserve to come home to a warm mug of something good.

Defrost by making one of these healthy hot drinks, and enjoy the deliciousness guilt-free.

1. Vegan Chai Latte
via Minimalist Baker 

What makes a good chai latte? Creamy foam, just enough spice, and a touch of sweetness. This recipe uses raw cashews, non-dairy milk, and black tea with chai spices to make a healthy, vegan alternative to the classic drink.

2. Healing Hot Toddy (non-alcoholic)
via Inspired Edibles 

Feeling a little under the weather? Knock out your cold with this non-alcoholic hot toddy. With ginger root, juniper berries, lemon, and honey, you’ll be ready to get moving again in no time.

3. Healthy Hot Chocolate
via The Chic Life 

This recipe still uses some sugar, but if you’re craving chocolate, it’s a far better option than those chemical-heavy, store-bought packets. This recipe uses just four ingredients: real cocoa powder, vanilla extract, sugar, and a milk of your choice.

4. Sugar-Free Gingerbread Latte
via Detoxinista

Save the $5 you’d spend at the local coffee shop. You can make a gingerbread latte at home with some allspice, almond milk, and stevia. Skip the sweetener if you’re really looking to detox.

5. Homemade Apple Cider
via Baker Bettie

Homemade apple cider has never been so easy. Throw spices, oranges, and sweet apples (Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp) into a Crockpot in the morning, and come home to a steaming batch of cider.

6. Honey Bee Latte
via Five and Spice 

What’s more comforting than milk and honey? Go for raw, local honey and add in some nutmeg for a tasty take on your usual latte. To cut calories, use almond or cashew milk instead of dairy.

7. Ginger Licorice Tea
via Elana’s Pantry 

If you’re looking to switch up your usual cup of tea, try this ginger licorice option. Fresh ginger helps soothe a sore throat, and licorice root offers a more complex flavor than your typical tea bag.

8. Healthy Mexican Hot Chocolate
via The Healthy Maven

Cayenne pepper adds spice to get the blood circulating again after a freezing day. Cocoa powder, cinnamon, and cloves flavor your choice of non-dairy milk for a healthy alternative to a sugar-high-inducing cup of cocoa.