The very moment fall hits, many of us are rushing out of our houses down to our local coffee shop to order our favourite festive drinks. However, it’s slightly harder to do this in our current pandemic climate, with many of you wishing you could make these seasonal favourites from the comfort of your home.
Well, we at Nationwide Coffee thought we would help you out by sharing 4 of the best beverages to try at home this fall!
Pumpkin Spiced Latte
The pumpkin spiced latte is a fan favourite of almost everyone around the fall time, with thousands flocking to their local coffee shops to get their seasonal fix.
If you're a lover of creamy, milky coffees, this one is likely to be a favourite of yours this fall! This recipe is quick and easy, making it perfect for creating at home. It's packed full of autumnal spices and flavours, sure to warm you up on a cold evening. It's as easy as frothing milk (this recipe works better with full fat) with a combination of your desired autumnal spices, Madagascan vanilla and sugar and stirring it into your freshly brewed coffee. The perfect drink or dessert.
You Will Need
- 2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, or more to taste
- 1 to 3 tablespoons sugar, depending on how sweet you like it
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup strong hot coffee
- Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
Add milk, pumpkin puree, and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Heat the mixture until it's hot, but ensure it does not boil or burn. Once hot, remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the Madagascan vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and of course, your coffee.
Divide the mixture between two mugs. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
Hot Mulled Apple Juice
Many of you may not have heard of this, nor even thought about it as a possibility. However, nothing beats a mug of this on a cold autumn day. A great alternative to mulled wine. Additionally, unlike our previous beverage, this drink is caffeine-free, so makes the perfect bedtime drink or for those of you with children at home.
You Will Need
- 1.5L (2½ pints) apple juice
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 6 whole allspice berries
- peel of 1 orange, cut into strips
- peel of 1 lemon, cut into strips
Directions
To start, pour the apple juice and maple syrup into a large saucepan. Add your cloves, cinnamon sticks, berries, orange peel, and lemon peel to a spice bag and drop the bag into the mixture (ensuring that the bag is secured).
Place the saucepan over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the mixture is very hot but not boiling. Once the mixture has reached temperature, remove the saucepan from the heat. Then, you can discard the spice bag (or perhaps retain it for use in another recipe). Ladle the apple juice into mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving for a garnish.
Spiced Autumn Punch
This warm punch is the perfect serving drink for a Halloween party or for Bonfire Night. It’s bound to be a favourite with it’s hints of orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, and apple juice. Again, being both caffeine and alcohol-free, this drink is perfect for families.
You Will Need
- 2 oranges
- 8 whole cloves
- 1.5L (2 1/2 pints) apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 500ml (17 fl oz) pineapple juice
Directions
Before you start to prepare your ingredients, ensure to preheat the over to 180C / Gas mark 4. Stud the oranges with your cloves and leave to bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
Whilst your oranges are baking, combine the apple juice and cinnamon stick in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to the boil and then reduce the heat to a medium simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the nutmeg, honey, lemon juice and pineapple juice.
Serve hot in a punch bowl with the 2 baked clove-studded oranges floating on top.
Fall Sangria
Here’s the drink you may or may not have been waiting for - one for the adults. This Fall Sangria recipe pairs sparkling apple cider with red wine, orange, and cinnamon for a cosy, warm drink. Due to the alcohol content, this drink is not suitable for children.
You Will Need
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1/2 orange
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 750 ml bottle dry red wine, such as Rioja
- 1 750 ml bottle sparkling cider or apple cider
- Optional garnishes: Cinnamon stick, rosemary sprig, remaining orange slices