Savor The Rich Flavors Of The Season With Decadent Holiday Coffee Drinks

Nothing compares to the fabulous, fun, and festive flavors which routinely accompany the holiday season.

Most of these rich, decadent, and indulgent tastes seem as if they were solely made to match your favorite mug-filling brew.

From cool peppermint to smooth and rich cocoa, a cascading parade of warm spices, sweets like gingerbread, eggnog, toffee, and even gooey caramel…ah…can’t you just taste these perfect coffee pairings now?

Some of my favorite coffee recipes highlight the rich flavors of the holiday season, and today we’re simply here to have some fun and share a few of these decadent drinks with you - you know, so you can share them with your family and friends as you enjoy the season complete with mug after mug of coffee!

Whether you’re looking to amp up your drink section at your next soiree, simply make a few festive offerings for friends, or enjoy a rich treat all curled up by the fire, we’ve got you covered!

And, you never know - we might even throw in a festive tea recipe as well!

So, without further ado…

6 Decadent Holiday Coffee (and Tea) Drinks For You To Enjoy Throughout The Season

1- Yule Nog Punch

This one’s great for a crowd, but trust me, you’re gonna want some to enjoy as a unique sweet treat from time to time throughout the holiday season as well - yes, it’s that good!

Combining eggnog (a holiday classic), coffee (an everyday classic), and coffee ice cream (a dessert classic) with a touch of added spice, this punch is absolutely perfect!

As-is, it’s non-alcoholic, but feel free to add your choice of liquor to take it up an extra notch when desired. (We recommend brandy, rum, or bourbon for a traditional eggnog and coffee mix.)

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 12 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee or Lifeboost Eggnog Latte Coffee
• 1 ½ cups eggnog (see homemade recipe below)
• 1 ½ cups coffee ice cream
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Ground nutmeg, for topping

Instructions

• Add ice cream, eggnog, and freshly brewed (strong) coffee to a medium saucepan and heat over low-medium heat until warmed through (roughly 3 minutes), stirring frequently.
• Divide mixture between 4 mugs (or less for larger servings), then top with whipped cream and nutmeg. Enjoy!

*Some say this (non-alcoholic version) makes a great treat to enjoy while looking at Christmas lights, just saying.

Homemade Eggnog

• 4 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 6 egg yolks
• ⅔ cup raw honey
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a blender, add egg yolks, almond milk, honey, nutmeg, and cinnamon, then blend for roughly one minute or until smooth. Pour mixture into a saucepan, add cloves, and heat over low-medium heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes, paying careful attention so eggs cook slowly (otherwise you’ll have scrambled egg in your mixture). The mixture should be hot but not simmering or boiling (watch continually). If the mixture starts to boil, whisk vigorously and remove from heat for a moment.

Once thickened, remove eggnog from heat and stir in vanilla. Strain using a fine mesh strainer to remove cloves. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Chill at least 8 hours before using.

2- Holiday Who-be What-ee

A little bit of matcha, a little bit of cold brew, a whole lotta yum!

Have you ever tried mixing matcha and coffee?

In doing so, you not only compound the health benefits of each (boosts brain, heart, gut health and more), but you also add a bit of festive flare, especially this time of year, with the green hues of matcha.

Of course, you can’t go green during the holidays without thinking of…the, the, the…the GRINCH!

Thankfully, this Grinch inspired cold brew is anything but grinchy.

So, think of this one as more of a post-heart growth Grinch offering - complete with cold foam!

*Note: 2% milk works well in cold foam, but feel free to use the milk of your choice

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
• 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce (see recipe below for homemade)
• 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup (see recipe below for homemade)
• 1-2 teaspoons matcha powder
• ¼ cup 2% milk
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ice

Instructions

• Add ice to a tall glass, then pour cold brew over ice.
• Stir in chocolate sauce and peppermint syrup.
• Add milk, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and matcha powder to a glass and froth until nearly doubled in volume, smooth, and creamy. (You can also add the ingredients to an electric frother and froth on the cold setting.)
• Top cold brew with matcha infused cold foam and enjoy!

*If you’re feeling extra festive, feel free to top the green cold foam with some holiday themed sprinkles!

Homemade Chocolate Sauce

• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Add ingredients to a bowl and whisk or stir until completely combined. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Homemade Peppermint Syrup

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract

Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to cook long enough to thicken only slightly, then remove from heat and add peppermint extract.

Allow the mixture to cool, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until needed. (keeps for roughly 2 weeks)

3- When It’s Holiday Spice, It’s Twice As Nice

My favorite flavors of the holiday season involve spices…like all the spices!

I just love infusing coffee, tea, even some juices with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger.

In fact, it’s really not the holidays in my mind (and mouth) if there’s not a healthy dose of spice involved, and boy does this recipe deliver.

But, I do have a few notes for you before we get to the how-tos.

First, in this recipe you’ll infuse a few spices right into the brewing process. But, we do offer a few spice-infused flavored selections you can use in this recipe as well.

So, if you’d rather have your spice pre-infused, I’d recommend our Gingerbread Latte Coffee which has nice, subtle spice notes, or our Vanilla Chai Latte Coffee which boasts a great spice profile.

Then, this recipe includes a spice-infused foam topper for your brew as well. But, if you’re worried about overdoing it with the spices, you can simply make the foam topper without the spice, or you can omit the foam entirely.

*This works with a drip coffee maker or a large pour over brewer such as a Chemex.

Ingredients (serves 2)

For coffee:

• ½ cup ground Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
• ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 cups filtered water

For foam topper:

• ¼ cup oat milk
• ¼ cup half and half
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

• Add ground coffee and spices to a filter, then brew with a drip brewer or using a pour over brewer. Set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar to each mug (serves 2), then top with freshly prepared coffee and stir to combine.
• Add oat milk, half and half, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and vanilla to a glass and froth using a handheld frother until smooth and creamy.
• Pour spiced oat cream over each cup of coffee (dividing evenly) and enjoy!

4- Rich And Creamy Holiday Ho-Cho

Mixing hot chocolate and coffee has become a holiday season fan favorite in my home, and when we first started doing this, it involved simply adding a packet of hot chocolate mix to a freshly brewed cup of joe.

However, this practice has received quite an upgrade over the years, and let me tell you, the difference in flavor, texture, and creaminess is unbelievable!

Sure, the former method was quick and simple, but taking a little extra time and gathering the best ingredients makes all the difference when preparing a truly tasty cup - evidenced in the following recipe…

**Note: For an upgrade in decadence, try using our Double Dark Mocha Coffee in this recipe.

Ingredients

• ½ cup freshly brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
• ⅓ cup whole milk (I like using oat milk in hot chocolate for a rich and creamy texture.)
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• ½ tablespoon powdered sugar
• 2 ounces bittersweet dark chocolate
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Shaved chocolate, for topping

Instructions

• Add milk, cream, and powdered sugar to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until bubbles begin to form on the outer edge. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Continue stirring as the mixture is heating to avoid boiling.
• Remove from heat, add chocolate, and let sit for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, whisk the mixture to fully incorporate the now-melted chocolate. If the chocolate won’t dissolve completely, return to low heat, stirring until the chocolate is fully melted.
• Brew coffee, then add to a large mug and top with hot chocolate mixture, stirring to combine.
• Top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate, enjoy!

5- Gingerbread Man’s Delight

Run, run, as fast as you can…

No, you won’t be attempting to catch the gingerbread man here, but you will want to run, not walk, to the kitchen to whip up this fabulous holiday treat!

This one calls for espresso, but if you don’t have an espresso machine, feel free to simply brew some of your favorite Lifeboost Coffee in its place (any classic roast will do) or swap out the classic coffee component for some of our delicious Gingerbread Latte Coffee which highlights all of those rich, holiday gingerbread flavors rounded off with a touch of creaminess.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Lifeboost Espresso Coffee or Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup (see recipe below)
• Whipped cream, for topping

Instructions

• Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring continually to avoid burning/scorching the milk. Do not boil.
• Add freshly brewed coffee (or espresso) to a large mug, then stir in gingerbread syrup.
• Whisk heated milk until it begins to froth, then pour over coffee/gingerbread mixture in mug, and stir gently to combine.
• Top with whipped cream, if desired, and enjoy!

Homemade Gingerbread Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup fresh ginger, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
• ⅔ cup packed dark brown sugar
• ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses (this is not blackstrap molasses)
• 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine all ingredients (minus vanilla), stirring to combine.

Bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to help dissolve the sugar. Once the mixture boils and the sugar are dissolved, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Allow the mixture too steep for at least another 15 minutes, then strain to remove the solids.

Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (for up to two weeks) until ready to use.

6- Holiday Tipsy Tea Party

Holiday tea cocktail…yes, please!

Did you know Lifeboost now carries a variety of clean, healthy, organic teas?

I happen to be quite the tea enthusiast, and when Dr. Charles introduced me to our Empire State Sunrise Black Tea, I was immediately hooked!!

On its own, this tea is unbelievable! So, of course I had to try mixing a few ingredients here for a tasty tea-inspired holiday cocktail.

Like coffee, black teas, especially, are the perfect backdrop for adding holiday spices like cinnamon and clove.

And, since our black tea has a touch of organic bergamot oil, you also get a hint of natural citrus, which adds a nice touch to those spices.

Combine this with cranberry juice, citrus notes, a little rum (of course), and you’ve got a holiday punch that’s sure to please!

*Note: For strongly brewed tea, I use 3 heaping teaspoons per cup. So, here, I used a little over ¼ cup of loose-leaf tea in 4 cups of hot water (about 200-205 degrees Fahrenheit).

Ingredients

• 4 cups strongly brewed, and chilled, Lifeboost Empire State Sunrise Black Tea
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ½ cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, dissolved)
• 1 ½ cups rum
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks
• 4-6 whole cloves
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• Fresh cranberries, optional for garnish
• Ice

Instructions

• Brew tea, then allow it to cool or chill.
• In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine tea, cranberry juice, orange juice, lemon juice, rum, and simple syrup, stirring well to ensure all ingredients are combined. (You can add more simple syrup if needed, to taste.)
• Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange slices to the pitcher/punch bowl.
• Add ice and cranberries (if desired) to the punch bowl or pitcher and enjoy responsibly!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Optimist Light Roast.

References:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/57168/eggnog-coffee-punch/

https://www.asweetpeachef.com/eggnog-latte/#recipe

https://totallythebomb.com/starbucks-grinch-cold-brew#recipe

https://lovemischka.com/peppermint-syrup-recipe/

https://slowdowncompany.com/healthier-2-ingredient-chocolate-sauce-vegan/

https://www.sugarandsoul.co/christmas-coffee/

https://www.sugarandsoul.co/hot-chocolate-coffee/

https://burrataandbubbles.com/gingerbread-latte/#recipe

https://burrataandbubbles.com/gingerbread-simple-syrup/#recipe

https://beachhouseteacompany.com/blogs/loose-leaf-tea-1/christmas-cocktail-recipe-made-with-tea?