Everyone knows the infamous pumpkin spice whatever drink from any coffee shop you go to. Instead of the same old thing, here are fifteen recipes for fall inspired drinks that I’m sure you’ll love.
Cold Drinks
Holiday Wassail Punch
This fruity punch has five different juices in it, giving it a tangy sweet taste. It’s best made in a slow cooker, mixing 4 cups of apple juice and orange juice, 2 cups cranberry juice, 1 can (11.3 ounces) pineapple nectar, 2 teaspoons lemon juice and ½ cup sugar together. Then in a cheese cloth add 3-4 cinnamon sticks, 8 whole allspice, as well as optional orange or apple slices as well as cranberries before letting it sit for 4-5 hours. It’s sure to shock your taste buds.
Cranberry Fizz
Another great juice for the warmer days this October, Cranberry Fizz is made by mixing 1 bottle (32 ounces) of cranberry juice, 1 cup of orange juice, 1 cup of ruby red grapefruit juice, ½ cup of sugar and right before serving mixing in 2 chilled cups of ginger ale. It’s sure to be a kid favorite with the explosion of flavors and the added fun of fizz.
Candy Corn Punch
This is a simple one serving punch, though it can be made into a larger serving if needed. Fill a cup about ⅓ full of pineapple chunks, and then fill the rest of the way with orange cream soda or orange juice before topping with whipped cream and candy corn. In the end the concoction will look like candy corn and taste like the tropics.
Hot Cinnamon Cranberry Punch
To make this hot punch, put 2 quarts of cranberry juice cocktail, 9 ounces of frozen orange juice concentrate, 9 ounces of frozen lemonade concentrate, 3 quarts of water, 20 whole cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, and 15 ounces of cinnamon candies into a large stock pot. Over medium heat until all of it is heated thoroughly, stir often to make sure the candies don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Unconventional Drinks
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
To create this seasonal smoothie in a blender add 1 can (15 ounces) of chilled pumpkin, 1-⅓ cups evaporated milk, 1 cup orange juice, ⅓ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 ripe banana. Blend these ingredients until they run smooth and serve, preferably with whipped cream.
Hot Pumpkin Nog
Even though nog is normally a thing drunk during winter months im sure you’ll like this fall take on the drink. In a saucepan over medium heat add 1 ½ cups of milk of any kind, 1 large egg, 3 tablespoons of sugar, ⅛ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract whisking well. When the mixture starts to thicken and the foam on top keeps its shape, take it off the heat and add ¼ cup pumpkin puree, then all you do is pour into serving cups and add some nutmeg on top.
Hot Almond and Cream
For this deliciously frothy drink mix 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup brown sugar into a saucepan stirring on low heat for 12-15 minutes until the butter is melted. In a larger bowl add 2 cups of vanilla ice cream and 2 teaspoons of almond extract to your heated mixture and beat until smooth. To make one serving add ¼ cup of the mixture in a cup and add ¾ cup of boiling water, stirring well, sprinkle nutmeg on top for a nice taste.
Warm Drinks
Honey Coffee
This drink is a sweet pick-me-up you’ll need to try. I’m not a big fan of coffee, but I might have to try this one. To start, brew 2 strong cups of coffee (of course), then in a saucepan add ½ cup milk, ¼ cup honey, ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg, make sure you don’t boil it, only warm it up. Then stir in 1⁄4 teaspoon of vanilla extract before adding the coffee and serving.
Fluffy Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate doesn’t seem like much of a difference than your normal hot chocolate, but the taste you’ll get out of it is so much more fun. The recipe is very simple, make your hot chocolate the way you normally would, with the added exception of melting your marshmallows a little bit more, adding around a teaspoon of vanilla extract and about 8 teaspoons of sugar and you’re good to go.
Spiced Apricot Cider
For this spiced cider combine 2 cans (12 ounces each) of apricot nectar, 2 cups water, ¼ cup lemon juice, ¼ cup sugar, 2 whole cloves, and 2 cinnamon sticks in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 2 hours before taking out the cloves and cinnamon and serving.
Cherry Hot Chocolate
Since hot chocolate doesn’t really need to have a complete change in design, and is good on its own, the only thing you can do to make it better is to add to it. For example, cherries. If you add a few cherries or cherry juice to your hot chocolate I’m told it tastes like chocolate covered cherries, which sound like heaven to me. And if you’re feeling extra spicy and over the age of 21 add some liquor of your choice.
These next few are alcoholic drinks, so make sure you drink responsibly and are of age, we do not condone underage drinking here at the Lucas Howard Group. All above drinks can have alcohol added to them, though all recipes besides the Cherry Hot Chocolate do not mention alcohol.
Alcoholic Drinks
Cranberry Orange Mimosa
To make this fruity mimosa, blend 2 cups of cranberries, fresh or frozen as well as 1 cup of orange juice. Blend together until it is smooth before adding 2 more cups of orange juice and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Blend once more and pour into a cup when it runs smooth, after that add champagne to the cup and top with some fresh mint leaves.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is something i always think about when i think of fall, for this wine you need to add 1 bottle of a fruity red wine of your choice, 1 cup of brandy, 1 cup of sugar, 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced lemon, and ⅛ teaspoon of nutmeg into a large sauce pan. Then in a cheesecloth add 2 cinnamon sticks, ½ teaspoon whole allspice, ½ teaspoon aniseed, ½ teaspoon whole peppercorns, and 3 whole cloves. Put these spices into the pan and bring the whole thing to a boil, once it reaches a boil bring it back down to a simmer and leave it for 20 minutes. Once it’s done pour it into a covered container and let it sit in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready to serve it, strain the mixture into a saucepan and reheat it, discarding the fruits and spices.
Pumpkin Pie Shots
Now, this may be called a shot, but it might be better served with a spoon. In a sauce pan sprinkle 1 packet of unflavored gelatin over 1 cup of cold water, mixing it on low heat until dissolved. Next stir in ⅓ cup of canned pumpkin, ¼ cup sugar, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, stir this until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove this mixture from the heat and add 1.3 cup of butterscotch schnapps, ¼ cup vodka, and 1-½ teaspoons of heavy whipping cream. Refrigerate until the pumpkin concoction is set and serve with whipped cream.
Hot Buttered Cider Mix
For this rich mix, beat together 1 cup of softened butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of honey, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves in a bowl. Then put the mix into an airtight container and store into the fridge for up to 2 weeks. In every serving put 1-½ teaspoons of the spices into a mug with ¾ hot apple cider or juice and 1 ounce of optional brandy.
Again, make sure you drink responsibly when making alcoholic drinks. Enjoy a little spice in your drinks and if you do try any of these drinks we would love to hear about them!