Lift Your Holiday Spirits

More cocktail recipes from the out of print The McCormick Spices of the World Cookbook (1964).

French Hot Chocolate

From the now out of print The McCormick Spices of the World Cookbook (1964).

Place 4x 1 oz squares of chocolate with 1/4 cup of water into a saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted and smooth.

Slowly stir in 1 quart of milk (or non-dairy alternative). Then add 1/2 cup of cream (or a non-dairy alternative), 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice.

Cook over med heat, stirring occasionally until milk is hot.

Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract.

For a boozy variation, add 1 to 1 1/2 oz of rum, whiskey, or spirit of your choice.

Blend 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg into 1/2 cup of heavy cream (whipped).

Top each cup with whipped cream or marshmellows.

Coquito

A traditional Puerto Rican holiday beverage via Imbibe

Combine the following ingredients into a blender and blend together until frothy:

30 oz Gold Puerto RIcan Rum

15 oz Spiced Coconut Milk *

15 oz Cream of Coconut ( like Coco Lopez)

15 oz Condensed milk

Store in a glass container in refrigerator and serve chilled. Garnish with grated cinnamon or cinnamon stick.

*Spiced Coconut Milk: Over medium heat, combine the following in a saucepan: 15 oz coconut milk, 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 whole cloves, 2 star anise, and 3 allspice berries. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain through a mesh strainer, and chill before using.

Mulled White Wine

A nice twist on the traditional red mulled wine. Adapted from Sugar Salted.

Combine one bottle of dry white wine with 1 cup of water, 3 tablespoons of orange juice, 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of honey in a medium pot. Whisk until the sugar dissolves.

Add: 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced lemon, 4x star anise, 4 cinnamon sticks, and other spices of your choice (we like adding 4-5x crushed cardamom pods!)

Bring to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes on a low-medium hit, stirring occasionally.

Serve warm and be cozy!