The only thing better than winter gin cocktails are hot gin drinks, like this gorgeous Cranberry & Chai Spiced Hot Toddy. Made with tart cranberry juice, spiced black tea, a drizzle of sweet honey, and herbaceous dry gin, this delightful cocktail is just in time for your favorite winter festivities.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Hot toddies have long been a favorite winter cocktail of mine. They’re equal parts cozy (from their warm sweetness) and invigorating (from their boozy nature), which is perfect for cold weather.
Funnily enough, they’re also an excellent homeopathic remedy for scratchy throats and mild colds. It kind of makes sense to drink a hot toddy for your cough. Hot tea, soothing honey, and fresh juice are all great if you’re not feeling well; adding a tipple of gin and vermouth gives the hot toddy a natural dose of analgesic and decongestant properties.
Even if you’re feeling tip-top, my seasonal take on the traditional cocktail is a real treat. This Cranberry Chai Spiced Tea Hot Toddy makes some fun swaps that make for an unexpectedly delicious winter treat.
A traditional hot toddy is usually made with just whisky, lemon juice, honey and hot water. Some recipes call for additional spices, but those are often added as a way to mask the flavor of the liquor. I personally LOVE the added spices - they make the hot cocktail feel more special.
In my holiday twist, I replace whisky with juniper-forward gin for more of a Christmassy flavor profile. Tart cranberry juice replaces sour lemon, and using deeply spiced masala chai tea-bags gives this cocktail a bit of caffeine and all the warm and cozy spices you could want.
🍴Ingredients
This simple gin hot toddy cocktail recipe requires a pretty short list of ingredients. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Honey - Honey is traditional here, but feel free to swap in maple syrup or agave nectar if you prefer.
- Chai Tea Bag - I don’t recommend using the chai tea concentrates they sell in bottles, as those are often loaded with lots of sugar. Instead, opt for regular tea bags that are labelled “chai.”
- Cinnamon Stick & Star Anise - Whole spices aren’t just more potent (they hold on to more of their essential oils than ground), they’re also super pretty in this seasonal hot toddy recipe. If you can find them, add them to this tasty winter warmer.
- Cranberry Juice - If possible, opt for 100% cranberry juice for the best flavor. I love using cranberry juice in my Christmas Gin & Tonic along with this Empress Gin & Tonic as well!
- Vermouth - Dry or sweet vermouth will both work here, depending on which flavor profile you prefer.
- Gin - I tend to reach for London Dry style gins, which happen to be more pine-forward. Feel free to swap in your own favorite bottle and use to make a grapefruit cocktail or White Negroni!
- Garnish - In my world, a proper cocktail isn’t finished without a pretty garnish. The cinnamon stick and star anise are a nice start, but for a bright pop of color I like to add fresh or sugared cranberries (LINK HERE TO RECIPE WITH SUGARED CRAN) and some dried orange slices.
📖 Step-by-Step Instructions
This warming winter cocktail is super simple to make:
- Add honey, hot water, chai tea bag, cinnamon stick and star anise in a mug and allow tea to steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and stir to combine.
- Next, add cranberry juice, vermouth, and gin to your mug, stirring to combine. Garnish with a few cranberries and a dried orange slice before enjoying. Cheers!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
This simple recipe for a cranberry chai tea hot toddy is pretty simple to pull off, but here are a few tips and tricks I’ve assembled for you:
- Hosting a large gathering? Brew a large pot of chai tea with the cinnamon and star anise and keep warm in a carafe on the bar. Let your guests serve themselves, setting up a framed recipe to let them know the proper proportions.
- Want to be sober friendly? Make sure your bar is stocked with a gin-adjacent alcohol-free spirit.
- Like working ahead? Dried oranges can be made up to a month in advance and kept in an airtight container. PRO TIP: If you want them to last even longer, grab that silica packet from your new handbag, box of shoes, or beef jerky and toss it in with the oranges.
- For a festive twist this holiday season, replace sugar syrup with cranberry syrup in your classic hot toddy recipe, simmering fresh cranberries, cup sugar, and a cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat until syrupy.
- Elevate the cozy drink's aroma on a cold winter night by adding ginger slices and an orange peel to your serving glass, giving a nod to Christmas cocktails with a modern touch.
- For a luscious blend of flavors, add a splash of apple cider to your cranberry chai hot toddy, ensuring a warm apple cider undertone that's perfect for the winter season.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Making these pretty little hot toddy toppers is much easier than you think. Simply slice the oranges thinly and place them in a dehydrator according to machine directions, or on a parchment-lined sheet pan in the oven at 250F for about 3 hours, turning the slices every hour until dried!
These natural Christmas decorations find their way into just about every room of my house this time of year. Use them to add a bit of flair to Kraft paper-wrapped presents, turn them into a garland, add them to homemade potpourri, or use them as part of your centerpiece.
Absolutely! Just reach for a decaffeinated version of chai tea, or swap in an herbal spice tea instead.
Of course! Simply swap out the honey for a plant-based sweetener like maple syrup.
More Festive Recipes
If you try this recipe for Cranberry and Chai-Spiced Tea Hot Toddies, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧
Cranberry and Chai Spiced Tea Hot Toddy with Gin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon honey
- 1.5 cups hot water
- 1 chai tea bag
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz vermouth
- 2 oz gin
- Fresh cranberries and dried orange to garnish
Instructions
- Add honey, hot water, chai tea bag, cinnamon stick and star anise in a mug and allow tea to steep for 3-5 minutes.2 teaspoon honey, 1.5 cups hot water, 1 chai tea bag, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 star anise
- Remove tea bag and stir to combine.
- Add cranberry juce, vermouth, and gin to your mug, stirring to combine.1 oz cranberry juice, ½ oz vermouth, 2 oz gin
- Garnish with cranberries and a dried orange slice before enjoying!Fresh cranberries and dried orange to garnish
Video
Notes
- Hosting a large gathering? Brew a large pot of chai tea with the cinnamon and star anise and keep warm in a carafe on the bar. Let your guests serve themselves, setting up a framed recipe to let them know the proper proportions.
- Want to be sober-friendly? Make sure your bar is stocked with a gin-adjacent alcohol-free spirit.
- Like working ahead? Dried oranges can be made up to a month in advance and kept in an airtight container. PRO TIP: If you want them to last even longer, grab that silica packet from your new handbag, box of shoes, or beef jerky and toss it in with the oranges.
- How do I make dried orange slices? Making these pretty little hot toddy toppers is much easier than you think. Simply slice the oranges thinly and place in a dehydrator according to machine directions, or on a parchment-lined sheet pan in the oven at 250F for about 3 hours, turning the slices every hour until dried!
- What should I do with leftover orange slices? These natural Christmas decorations find their way into just about every room of my house this time of year. Use them to add a bit of flair to Kraft paper-wrapped presents, turn them into a garland, add them to homemade potpourri, or use them as part of your centerpiece.
- Can I make a decaf tea hot toddy? Absolutely! Just reach for a decaffeinated version of chai tea, or swap in an herbal spice tea instead.
- Can I make it vegan? Of course! Simply swap out the honey for a plant-based sweetener like maple syrup.
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