Beyond Hot Cocoa: New Hot Drink Recipes for Kids

Ingredients
2-3 cups sugar
2-3 cups water
3 cups orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice (5-6 lemons)
3 quarts water (12 cups)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons almond extract

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat the sugar and water to a simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 3-4 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the remaining ingredients. Heat again until warm; keep warm on the stove or transfer to a slow cooker and heat on low until serving.
2. This can be made up to a week in advance and refrigerated before heating and serving.

Ingredients
4 cups water (divided in half)
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 tablespoon allspice
3-4 sticks of cinnamon
1 large can pineapple juice
2 cans jellied cranberry sauce
4 cups apple cider

Directions

1. In a large pot, simmer brown sugar and 2 cups water
2. Place spices in a bag or place in pot
3. Simmer for 10 minutes then bring to boil
4. Add pineapple juice
5. Blend cranberry sauce into 2 cups of water and add to mixture
6. Simmer for 15 minutes
7. If you don’t add the spices to a bag, you will need to strain the liquid
8. Add apple cider just before serving
9. Serve with fresh whipping cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Ingredients
4 cups water (divided in half)
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 tablespoon allspice
3-4 sticks of cinnamon
1 large can pineapple juice
2 cans jellied cranberry sauce
4 cups apple cider

Directions

1. In a large pot, simmer brown sugar and 2 cups water
2. Place spices in a bag or place in pot
3. Simmer for 10 minutes then bring to boil
4. Add pineapple juice
5. Blend cranberry sauce into 2 cups of water and add to mixture
6. Simmer for 15 minutes
7. If you don’t add the spices to a bag, you will need to strain the liquid
8. Add apple cider just before serving
9. Serve with fresh whipping cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Ingredients
16 cups (1 gallon) apple cider
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon allspice
Pinch grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 orange
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, add the apple cider. Stir in the brown sugar, allspice and nutmeg until the sugar is dissolved and bring to a low boil.
2.  Stick the pointy ends of the cloves into the orange so that just the buds of the cloves are visible. The entire orange should be covered with the cloves
3.  Add the orange to the cider and reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and continue cooking for 20 minutes.
4.  Serve in warm mugs with a cinnamon stick garnish.

Ingredients
8 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking cocoa
4 cups 2% milk
1-1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, baking cocoa, milk, and marshmallows. Cook and stir over medium heat until marshmallows are melted, about 8 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Ladle into mugs.

Ingredients
2 cups milk
1 1/2 tbsp. honey
2 whole green cardamom pods, crushed, or 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

Directions

1. Heat the milk in a medium size saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir in the honey and crushed cardamom pods and heat until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan; do not boil.
3. Remove from the heat and pour the milk into two mugs through a fine mesh strainer to remove the cardamom pods.