Day 2: Cheers!
My favorite festive drinks for this cozy season
Welcome to Day 2 of the Outsourced Optimism Lightly Festive Digital Advent Calendar. Click here to learn more about this seasonal series or to unwrap all of the previous days’ gifts.
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These three drinks pair perfectly with winter movie nights, holiday parties, and tree decorating. I have enjoyed them at home by myself and I’ve brought them to gatherings where they were enjoyed by many. I hope you enjoy them in whatever space and setting sounds best to you this season:
1. Not your ordinary eggnog
Every year I try eggnog. I want so badly to like it with it’s creamy yellow color and melted ice cream texture. But I just don’t love the taste…with one exception (or, rather, one addition): butterscotch schnapps! It tastes like a liquid Werther’s Original. Now, you might say that you’re not an elderly church lady who carries sticky, slightly melted hard candies in her purse, so this flavor upgrade is not really a compelling sell for you. And that’s totally fine. (Even though I, personally, find butterscotch to be quite ageless.)
In case you don’t want to make your own, I sourced store-bought recommendations from true ‘Nog Heads (I guess we would call them Nog’ins?): this brand and this brand were the two favorites.
Alcohol-free alternative: Add butterscotch syrup to your eggnog
2. Mulled wine
Skip the stovetop potpourri and make mulled wine instead! It tastes delicious, it smells delicious, and it’s very photogenic (if you take the time to garnish) You can make it in a crockpot for parties (crowd favorite) or keep a batch in your fridge to warm up in the evenings. We always make our first pot while decorating our tree and it really sets the scene.
This was one of the first recipes I pinned on Pinterest. It is simple and has served me (and my family and friends and many strangers) very well.
Alcohol-free alternative: Substitute apple cider for a similarly warm and spiced cup
3. Apple Butter Old Fashioned
Our fridge is stocked with apple butter and apple cider almost exclusively for this drink. It’s served cold, but the combination of sparkly and spice feels like a holiday party in a glass.
Alcohol-free alternative: Eliminate the bourbon and enjoy an elevated, sparkling apple cider mocktail.
Cheers!
P.S.
What’s your favorite cozy beverage?
I am currently on the hunt for the best homeade hot chocolate mix recipe. If you’ve got one, please send it my way!
I finally found an eggnog recipe that I love, but it’s heavy with bourbon, of course! And I’m with you on that Apple butter, old-fashioned it tastes, like holidays in a glass, I’m obsessed!