I mean, when the sun goes down at 4:30 in the evening, what else can you do but cradle a warming winter cocktail and wholeheartedly embrace the season?

Alcohol helps. Just sayin’. (Just kidding. Mostly. It is very warming!)

This warm vanilla cinnamon Bailey’s drink is another throw-together recipe that, with a few tweaks, has become a fast winter favorite. We wanted a warm cocktail; I didn’t want to go to the store. So we made do with what we had in our cupboards. And we adored the outcome.

Vanilla Cinnamon Bailey’s Drink Ingredients

• Milk – dairy or plant-based work! My fave is 2% if using dairy or oat milk.
• Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. But you can totally just do cinnamon if you prefer!
• Vanilla – Best if you can include the bean but totally fine with extract instead.
• Irish cream (Bailey’s) and bourbon – for the lushy part of the equation – wonderfully warming and just darn tasty.
• Cinnamon and sugar – for the rims. Optional but wonderful!

We love the cinnamon and vanilla in this drink, but thought we’d add some star anise and a sprinkle of nutmeg. That lends a bit of a chai latte air to this Vanilla Cinnamon Bailey’s Warmer.

The rim though. That cinnamon-sugared rim. It’s a keeper. It reminds me of cinnamon toast. Except no bread. Or toaster. Just cinnamon sugary goodness.

We may not be seeing the sun right now, but things like this can definitely still brighten our days (and nights).

More Warming Winter Cocktails

• Gluhwein – hot mulled red wine. YUM.
• Hot Spiced Cider – so good with a splash of rum!
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Mulled Wine – so cozy and perfect for the holidays.

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Warm Vanilla Cinnamon Bailey’s Drink

Cinnamon, vanilla, Irish cream, and bourbon make for a cozy hot cocktail that'll warm up the coldest of winter nights. Perfect with the newer Vanilla Cinnamon Baileys!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 427kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk I use 2%, but whole would also be good. I also love full-fat oat milk in these drinks.
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 5-inch cinnamon stick
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 2 star anise
• 1 vanilla bean optional
• 2/3 cup Bailey's Irish Cream or another Irish cream liqueur, or Bailey's Vanilla Cinnamon
• 1/3 cup bourbon like Maker’s Mark
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the rims:

• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

• To a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the milk, maple syrup, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and star anise. If using a vanilla bean, split it open and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds and remainder of vanilla bean to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is hot and steaming. Reduce to low and heat for 5 minutes, being careful not to ever let it come to a full boil. Remove from heat. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large heat-proof bowl and carefully pour the liquid over the sieve. Discard the solids. Add the liquid back to the saucepan. Stir in the Irish cream, bourbon, and vanilla extract.
• To garnish the mug rims, pour the 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup into a small saucer. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon, then pour it onto another small saucer. Dip the rims of the glasses into the maple syrup, then dip into the cinnamon and sugar mix, pressing to coat evenly. Flip over and fill glasses with the hot cocktail. Serve.

Notes

Vegan option:

Use a plant-based milk like oat milk, and use vegan Bailey’s. 

Nutrition

Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 440mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 345mg | Iron: 0.3mg

The post Warm Vanilla Cinnamon Bailey’s Drink appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

This pumpkin pie martini is also a great example of one of the bummers of being a food blogger: learning that I’m really not as creative as I think I am. Usually, I’ve hardly had time to bask in the brilliance of an idea before I do the dreaded Google search and learn that many, many, many people before me have thought of it. Even Sandra frickin’ Lee, in this case! Argh!

Sometimes I’m all, fine! I won’t try to make a butternut squash slushie since Miss Brilliant Food Network Star over there thought of it two years ago!

And sometimes I’m already plenty attached to the idea, and it has to happen. Or I won’t be complete.

And so I created my own take on a pumpkin pie martini.

I started with the same syrup I make for my pumpkin spice iced coffee, then added whipped cream vodka (I, for one, like my pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream). A good dose of half-and-half and a splash of both bourbon and vanilla add flavor to this festive fall drink; a generous dollop of whipped cream and an even more generous sprinkling of freshly ground nutmeg make it perfect.

And hey, even if it’s not a trailblazing creation, it’s still a delicious one.

(And yes, I did just Google “butternut squash slushie.” It’s never been done! Yes!)

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Pumpkin Pie Martini

A creamy pumpkin spice cocktail perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime a little pumpkin is in order. And when is pumpkin not in order?

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2 drinks

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 2 ounces whipped cream vodka
• 2 ounces half-and-half
• 5 tablespoons pumpkin spice syrup recipe below
• 1 tablespoon bourbon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Whipped cream and cinnamon sticks for garnish

Pumpkin Spice Syrup:

• 1 cup water
• ¾ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 4 3- inch cinnamon sticks
• 1 whole nutmeg I like to use two or three nutmeg nubs - whole nutmegs I've grated down to a small size or 1 teaspoon ground
• ¾ teaspoon whole cloves
• ¾ teaspoon whole allspice

Instructions

Make pumpkin spice syrup:

• Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low-medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not allow to boil. Remove from heat then let it cool to room temperature.
• Drain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solids. Let cool.
• Keeps, refrigerated, for one month. Shake before using.

Make pumpkin pie martini:

• Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds, then strain liquid into a martini glass. Top with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick. Serve.

The post Pumpkin Pie Martini appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Today, though, for one day, I’m okay with favoring pie. It is, after all, National Pie Day. That’s right; a holiday all about pie! According to holidayinsights.com, it’s a day for baking pies, sharing pies and trying new pie recipes. And hey! I’ve got a new recipe for you right here!

I first made this Sweet Potato Pie for Christmas just this year. It’s one of those rare recipes that hit the perfect note the very first time I attempted it, and I doubt I’ll ever stray from this version. I’m just going to put all modesty aside and declare it pretty much perfection.

The post Vanilla Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.