3 Best Warm Fall Drinks To Make At Home
Autumn is the perfect season to cozy up with warm fall drinks, so I want to share with you my three absolute favorite fall drinks recipes that are not only incredibly delicious but also super easy to make.
Each one is a bit different, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy – whether you’re a coffee lover, craving something fruity and comforting, or in the mood for a strong and fancy cocktail. I’ve got you covered!
Easy fall drinks to make at home
In this post, I’ll share my favorite version of the classic pumpkin spice latte, a warming hot mulled cider, and a spooktacular Halloween cocktail that’s both strong and yummy.
These are my go-to, tried-and-true fall drinks recipes for the season so I’m sure you’re going to love them when you give them a try!
1. Best homemade pumpkin spice latte
The first drink we’re going to make is a classic and delicious pumpkin spice latte. And to start, we’ll need to make a special homemade pumpkin spice sauce.
Now, look, a lot of recipes have you mix milk with pumpkin puree, boil it, and then add it to your coffee. But let’s be real, that can be a hassle, especially when you’re busy in the mornings. Not everyone has time for that! But you still want to enjoy your lattes more than just once in a while, right?
That’s why I love this recipe – you make the pumpkin sauce once, and it will last for at least a week. So, you can have your pumpkin spice lattes whenever you want, without any extra fuss!
Homemade pumpkin spice latte sauce
Alright, to make a pumpkin spice latte sauce, combine 1 cup of pumpkin puree, 1 cup of water, and 2 ounces of sugar in a pot.
I like to use a mix of half regular white sugar and half panela sugar. Panela adds a bit more interesting flavor (in my opinion), with a hint of caramel, but it’s totally optional. You can use any sugar you have on hand or even a sugar substitute that you prefer.
Sources: 1. Digital kitchen food scale 2. Fun cooking apron
When it comes to sweetness: if you prefer your drinks on the sweeter side (like at Starbucks), you might want to add more than 2 ounces of sugar.
This recipe will give your latte just a hint of sweetness, so feel free to adjust the sugar to your taste. I would say you can add up to twice the amount I suggest if you like it sweeter.
To this mixture, I also add about one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (or one vanilla bean) for extra flavor.
Once you’ve combined all the ingredients in a saucepan, bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. And be sure to stir constantly.
It’s important to let the sauce simmer for at least 15 to 20 minutes to ensure it thickens properly and the pumpkin pieces that were in a puree and spices are thoroughly cooked, giving the sauce a smooth and elastic texture.
After cooking, let the sauce cool down, then put it in a container and store in the fridge. It should keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How to make a pumpkin spice latte
Now, let’s make a latte! Here’s how I do it.
1. Add pumpkin spice sauce
I start by adding about 2-3 teaspoons of the pumpkin sauce to a cup.
2. Brew espresso
Next, I brew a shot of espresso using my mini Nespresso machine.
Of course, you can use any espresso machine or coffee maker you have, but if you’re thinking of getting a new one, I highly recommend this little machine.
I used to have a big and fancy (and expensive!) coffee machine, but I’m so glad I switched!
It’s compact, takes up hardly any space, and is much easier to use without worrying about grinding beans or dealing with complicated features of a larger machine. I just love it and highly recommend it!
3. Add hot milk
I mix the espresso with the sauce and then add hot milk.
4. Optional toppings
If you like, you can top it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
I really hope you give it a try, everyone! It’s absolutely delicious and way better than Starbucks. Just trust me on this one!
2. Cherry hot mulled cider (Non-Alcoholic)
Alright, the next drink is my all-time favorite hot mulled cider. But instead of using apples, we’ll make it with cherries.
This hot beverage is perfect not only for the fall season but for any chilly day – it warms you up and has anti-inflammatory benefits, plus it tastes amazing!
So, to make this, you’ll need cherries, fresh mint, ginger, lemon, honey, and cinnamon.
My pot holds 1.5 liters, so I’ll give you the recipe for that amount. But if you’re planning to make a big batch for a larger gathering, just scale up the ingredients accordingly.
1. Crush the cherries
You can use either fresh or frozen cherries – I’m using frozen in this case.
First, it’s a good idea to crush them a little to release some juice. So I add a splash of hot water and gently muddle the cherries.
2. Add mint and start soaking
Next, I throw in a few sprigs of fresh mint leaves to the pot, along with a bit more hot water. This helps start the process of soaking and blending the cherries and mint together while we prepare the rest of the ingredients.
3. Add lemon and ginger
Next, I add a few lemon slices and a couple of small slices of ginger.
If you like your drinks spicy, feel free to add more ginger. But if you prefer a milder flavor, just use less ginger.
And I also give the ginger a quick crush before adding it to the pot to release some of its juice.
4. Sweeten and spice
Next, I add about 1 ounce of honey, but you can go for up to 2 or 3 ounces if you prefer a sweeter drink. I like it with just a hint of sweetness, so I stick with this amount, but you can always adjust to suit your taste.
And I also toss in a cinnamon stick, but you can use regular ground cinnamon if that’s what you have on hand. It works just as well!
5. Pour boiling water
Now, all that’s left is to pour boiling water over everything, give it a good stir, and let it steep for at least 5-10 minutes.
6. Enjoy the drink!
Just look at those beautiful colors!
Guys, you won’t believe how incredibly tasty and aromatic this drink is! This particular blend of ingredients is just so perfect together. And not only does it taste amazing and is super easy to make, but it’s also fantastic for your immune system.
You’ve got to give it a try, and I promise you’ll absolutely love it!
3. Easy Halloween Cocktail: Haunted Graveyard
Alright, the next drink is a fun, boozy cocktail that I love whipping up for Halloween. It’s called the “Haunted Graveyard.”
Look, typically, Halloween cocktails focus more on being spooky and looking cool, but honestly, they are rarely tasty. However, this one’s a real treat, especially if you’re a fan of bourbon or whiskey.
1. Prepare the ingredients
So, here’s what you’ll need: your favorite bourbon, maple syrup, orange bitters, a fresh orange, and a few sprigs of fresh rosemary.
And you’ll also need a shaker to mix up this cocktail.
2. Muddle orange and rosemary
I start by adding the leaves from one sprig of rosemary and a few orange slices to the shaker. This recipe is for one serving, but if you’re making it for two, just double the amount of everything.
While it’s not part of the original recipe, I like to muddle the orange with the rosemary first. It helps release more orange juice into the drink and brings out more of the rosemary’s aroma, which I really enjoy.
3. Add bourbon and maple syrup
Next, I pour in 2 ounces of bourbon and 1 ounce of maple syrup.
The original recipe calls for 1.5 to 2 ounces of maple syrup, but I’ve adjusted it to my taste because I find it too sweet otherwise. However, if you like your drinks sweeter, go ahead and use the full amount!
4. Add orange bitters and ice
Next, add about 3-4 dashes of orange bitters and some ice into the shaker.
5. Shake well
Shake it really well to make sure everything is thoroughly mixed.
6. Pour and serve
And finally, pour it into your spooky Halloween glass filled with ice.
7. Garnish
For the garnish, we’ll use a sprig of rosemary. I’ll lightly torch it to release a nice, piney, smoky aroma.
8. Enjoy!
I’m not usually a big fan of cocktails, especially the sweet ones. But this drink is an exception. It’s really tasty and will definitely warm you up, making it perfect for the fall season and Halloween. It’s worth trying and treating yourself, I promise!
I hope you enjoyed these warm fall drinks recipes you can make at home!
Let me know in the comments your thoughts, any tweaks you made, or which drink was your favorite. Enjoy the season and your delicious drinks🍂! Cheers!