After being outdoors in cold temperatures, have a cup of something warm and sweet is a fantastic treat. It can also serve up some needed carbs and help to keep your temperature up. If you want to try something new and go beyond hot tang or store bought packets of hot chocolate, give these recipes for hot drinks a try.

These are suitable for the whole family. You may even want to divide up the mix and place in containers as gifts for family and friends who would like a hot drink in cold times of the year.

All recipes have the amount of mix listed to mix in with one cup of hot water. Increase accordingly for your insulated drink carrier.

Instant Russian Tea Mix This was a homemade favorite I saw in Alaska and Oregon, with the Oregon version having red hot candies.

2 c. tang orange drink mix
¾ c, plain instant tea
1 c. dry lemonade drink mix
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp red hot candies – or- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Store in a container to keep the mix dry. T serve, Put in a heaping tablespoon mix into a cup of hot water, and enjoy.

If you plan to put this in your thermos for the day when you are outdoors, I suggest adding ground cinnamon over the red hots.

Hot Chocolate mix richer tasting than the store packets.

5 c. of powdered milk
¾ c. cocoa powder
1 c. sugar
½ c powdered sugar
½ c. non-dairy creamer

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. To serve, dissolve 1/3 c. mix in hot water, stir well, drink and enjoy!

Asian Indian Style Spiced Tea Mix Similar to chai tea, only a dry version you can take with you.

1 ½ c plain instant tea
2 c powdered milk
3/4 c dry vanilla coffee creamer
2 c sugar
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
½ tsp ground cloves

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. To serve, dissolve two heaping tablespoons into a cup of hot water. Stir well, drink and enjoy!

If you would like to add vanilla extract to any of the above recipes, you can pour a tsp of extract into a cup of sugar, let it dry, than grind it in a food processor. Add this vanilla sugar to your recipe.

The three recipes found above are for the three drinks that are most commonly drank during and after a day playing in the snowy outdoors. If you have any other recipes or hot drinks, please share them in the Winter Sports forum.