Best winter drinks to indulge in

With winter and cold weather setting in, spending more time inside with warm home cooking and tasty drinks becomes almost everyone's favorite activity. Sometimes though, hot chocolate and eggnog feel a little repetitive. Luckily, there are plenty of new and different warm drinks to try out this year.

Peppermint Latte/Mocha

Making a minty coffee drink at home is much easier than you may think. Start by brewing a pot of coffee or making a single cup with a coffee pod machine. For a latte, either use a steamer to steam your choice of milk or pour 1/2 cup for every cup of coffee into a blender and allow it to froth. Add one to two drops of peppermint extract to each cup. For a mocha, skip the milk frothing step and instead mix a tablespoon of chocolate syrup into the coffee, then add the peppermint extract. Now sip and enjoy your delicious candy cane beverage.

Hot Cocoa(nut)

For this drink, you can use a hot chocolate mix, or you can make your own at home. When buying the coconut milk, find the canned kind that has the creamy layer on top (often found in the Asian foods section); it offers the richest texture and best flavor. Make your hot cocoa the way you usually would then pour it into a blender with the coconut milk and cream. Use about 1/5 of a can of coconut milk for every one cup of hot chocolate. Blend until everything is thoroughly combined, then pour into cups and enjoy a thick and creamy spin on a classic winter drink.

 *For a fun touch, top with crushed candy cane nits or sprinkles

Spiced Chai Latte

Chai tea lattes have recently become a popular drink at many coffee shops. You can make them at home just as easily and for much cheaper. There are two methods- you can either buy bags of chai to steep in hot water, or you can use the chai powder and mix it with water or milk. Start with hot water and allow the tea to either steep or dissolve. While it is sitting and cooling, let some cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, or allspice soak as well. After about five minutes, pour the tea through a sieve and into a blender. Add whatever type of milk you like, and let the blender mix until everything looks frothy. This drink not only tastes delicious, but it will also make your home smell wonderful too!

Blood Orange Mimosa

If you're looking for a fun party drink, this festive spin on a classic mimosa has you covered. Simply mix 1/3 champagne and 2/3 blood orange juice, and store in the refrigerator to keep cool. When you're ready to serve the drinks, add a little garnish of orange peel. If you want a kid-friendly option, use sparkling water in place of champagne and let the kids enjoy their "alcoholic" beverage. Winter is orange season, so this fruity drink will be light and refreshing, yet still perfect for the cold weather.

As the season starts to change, check the weather forecast for snowstorms and cold days so you can stay indoors and try out these cozy and festive holiday drinks. Even if the weather outside is frightful, you can still have a delightful time inside, either enjoying a quiet moment to yourself or sharing delicious wintertime drinks with friends.

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