It should also evoke visions of being rewarded with delicious snacks and hearty beverages to sustain the singers until they reached their next destination. Fast forward to current times and realize that the modern incarnation of Christmas caroling can be just as fun and rewarding. However, as you are planning the details of your upcoming Christmas Caroling Party, do not forget to include the best hot beverages to take with you your travels.
Four traditional and favorite holiday-time hot beverages include homemade hot chocolate, hot apple cider, hot buttered rum, and herbal tea. Following are tried and true recipes for larger groups and tips to help these beverages travel well.
Peppermint Infused Hot Chocolate
- Measure and sift 1.5 c powdered sugar, .5 c unsweetened cocoa, .5 c powdered coffee creamer, .5 tsp salt, 2.5 c powdered skim milk
- Use a food processor to pulverize 1 cup of candy canes
- Mix all well and store in an air-tight container.
- For each cup of hot chocolate, stir 1/3 c of the mixture into 1 c boiling water.
- Top with whipped cream or marshmallows
Caramelized Hot Apple Cider
- Heat pasteurized apple cider over the stove or in a crockpot on Low until hot
- Pour into a mug and stir in 1 Tbsp caramel sauce or caramel ice cream sundae topping
- Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream
Old English-Style Hot Buttered Rum for a Crowd (serves 15)
- Stir the following into a crockpot
- 2 c packed brown sugar (use less sugar for a less sweet beverage)
- .5 c butter
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 qts. water
- Stir well and cook on Low for 5 hours.
- Add 2 c dark rum and stir well.
- Serve in a warmed mug with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of freshly ground nutmeg.
Herbal Tea with Honey & Lemon
- Steep a mild herbal tea, such as Arbonne’s Detox Tea or a chamomile tea
- Stir in 1 Tbsp honey and 1 tsp of lemon juice per mug for a throat-soothing concoction that will keep you singing for hours.
Hot Tea with a Kick
- Steep traditional black tea, such as Lipton’s Hot Tea
- Stir in 1 Tbsp warm brandy per mug, for a hot tea alternative that warms your entire body!
The Best Ways to Bring Your Hot Beverages Caroling
In addition to maintaining the warmth of the beverage, it’s important to think of convenience and safety when you’re bringing hot beverages out caroling with you. Several viable options include:
- A large thermos or insulated jug carried by a strong caroler can be poured into individual paper cups or insulated plastic mugs carried by the individual carolers
- Travel coffee cups: give each caroler his or her own insulated, covered coffee cup. These are designed for travel and the caroler can regulate the temperature.
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