It’s that time of year when the only thing I want when I get in from the cold is a hot drink in hand. And for such an occasion, I have just the thing. Hot toddies anyone?
Origins of Hot Toddy
It’s believed that the hot toddy originated in India and comes from the Hindi word “taddy.” The first written recipe was in 1786 and included alcoholic liquor, hot water, sugar, and spices. Later, the drink became popular in the UK and the US. And by the mid-19th century, it was a popular remedy for the common cold.
The following is our inspired version infused with apple juice, rooibos tea, and warming spices.
How to Make This Recipe
This simple, 1-pot, 15-minute hot toddy is inspired by my recently rekindled love for rooibos tea.
Have you ever tried it? It’s deep red in color, subtly sweet, and decaffeinated for us old ladies (and gents). It’s like chai but not as spicy, and it’s especially delicious in the evening when you want something slightly sweet after dinner without going all in on a dessert.
The base of this toddy is unfiltered apple juice, water, and rooibos tea. Fresh and ground ginger add spice, cinnamon adds warmth, and a shot of bourbon – which is totally optional – makes it boozy and delicious.
I hope you guys love this toddy. It’s:
Warm
Comforting
Gingery
Naturally sweet
Subtly spiced
Infused with rooibos
Bourbon spiked
& Insanely delicious
This is the perfect cocktail to make for a group, especially for New Year’s Eve when it’s cold and blustery and you want something warm to celebrate with. I see myself making this all winter to cozy up to in the evening, booze or no booze (but obviously, booze).
If you give this a try, let me know what you think! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see! Cheers, friends, and Happy New Year!
Apple Cider Rooibos Hot Toddy
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unfiltered apple juice
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 medium lemon, juiced (more for tart)
- 1 cinnamon stick (or sub 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon per 1 cinnamon stick)
- 5-6 slices fresh ginger (1/4-inch thick)
- 1 healthy pinch ground ginger
- 1 pinch each salt + pepper
- 2 rooibos tea bags (or sub chai tea)
- 1 pinch ground cayenne (for spice/heat) (optional)
- 1 ounce bourbon (we love Bulleit Rye Whiskey) (optional)
- 1-2 Tbsp sweetener (coconut sugar or maple syrup // optional)
Instructions
- Add apple juice, water, lemon, cinnamon stick, fresh ginger, ground ginger, and salt + pepper to a small saucepan and heat over medium high heat. Bring to a simmer, then turn off heat and add rooibos tea bags. Steep for 10-12 minutes, still on the stove (heat turned off).
- Sample and adjust flavor as needed, adding cayenne and/or bourbon at this time. If you find it needs more sweetness, add coconut sugar or maple syrup (optional).
- Remove tea bags and divide between two (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) serving glasses, with additional slices of lemon. Serve hot.
- Best when fresh, though leftovers will keep covered well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Notes
Nutrition (1 of 2 servings)
Anna says
I made this for a family gathering and it was a hit. (Actually, most of the recipes I make for family is from this site. Haven’t had a bad recipe yet. ?) Anyway, I modified the recipe a bit, mostly putting in less ginger, less rooibos tea, and less water. I did not include alcohol or the cayenne either. This was so tasty and would definitely make this again, especially on rainy, cold nights.
Thank you for sharing your gift, Dana. MB is always my go-to site for creative and accessible recipes.
Pooja Haney says
I made this without the apple juice (because I didn’t have any) and absolutely loved it! I’ve never had rooibos tea, yum!!
Andrew says
This sounds delicious. Have you made it in a larger batch? I’d like to serve it at our New Years party
Christina says
Perfect drink for a cold fall evening. The drink starts out with a nice sweetness and ends with a little tinge of spice from the cinnamon and ginger. Will definitely be making a double batch the second time around!
Courtney says
These are amazing, definitely a keeper. Just right for these colder than usual Oregon days.
Beth Weston says
This is very similar to a drink my mom always made at the holidays – but hers used cranberry juice instead of the rooibos tea. Good, but very sweet. I made the first batch exactly as written. It was really good, very spicy with the ginger and black pepper, but still a bit too sweet for our taste buds. Made a second batch yesterday with the following revisions: 3 cups of water, ½ cup apple juice, 3 ‘hot apple cider’ tea bags, 3 rooibos tea bags, added 2 whole cloves and 1 tsp. raw honey to each giant mug. Oh, and of course we included the booze! Just what we were looking for! Same spicy, warm goodness, but not as sweet. This is our new favorite warm drink for winter! We just got our first snow of the year last night, so you know I’ll be making a batch (or 2) tonight! Thanks for another awesome recipe!!
Kate says
Sorry, it was all gone before I could get a picture. Made two more batches yesterday, the same thing: Vanished! :)
Now I am waiting for it get really cold outside so I can tramp around in the snow and find out exactly how warming this can be.
Marvelous. Thanks.
Anne says
This was great!
Thanks for sharing, Anne!
Julia Papanek says
Rooibos is one of my absolute favorite teas! I loved seeing it here in a seasonal cocktail – such a creative twist on a classic. Can’t wait to try it.
Annaliese says
Sounds so spicy and warm and like a boozy hug in a mug (or glass…). If only I could find some decent apple cider….! Happy New Year to you!
Suzeth says
Tried it last night minus the alcohol it was so tasty and wonderful :) Can’t wait to make it for all my family!
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Suzeth!
gabriella says
I didn’t discover the hot toddy until a few years ago, and now I’m kicking myself because of how darn delicious it is! I’ll have to give yours a try – I’m thinking it’s the perfect drink for our next snowy evening.
g.
Simeon says
Hey Dana, I totally love this recipe. Cinnamon makes it so flavorful and simply amazing. Thanks for sharing :)
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
I have a total crush on rooibos. It’s a great nighttime tea – it just warms me up from the inside out! I’ll take 5 of these drinks, k thanks.
KJ | Om Nom Herbivore says
Ive never thought to make a Hot toddy in a pot and with apple juice! Delicious!! If you’ve never tried Winter Jack it goes perfect with this!! :D
Great tip!
Jan Ramsey Brick says
This looks amazing. I had my first hot toddy on vacation in Alaska this year. I had a cold and it was chilly and I saw it on the menu. It was delicious and felt great going down. It also warmed me right up.
I’ve been feeling a chest cold coming on and this looks like it would be perfect. I don’t have any bourbon… I’m wondering if rum would do???
I think I’ll give it a try! :)
I think it would! But scoop out some and do a little test batch before adding it to the whole pot. Good luck!
Susanne says
Hi Dana
It sounds so delicous :-)
I was wondering if this webside (and your new cookbook) is your full time job ?
It is! And we’re very fortunate to both work on the site full time.
Susanne says
You really are doing a great job with it too :-). You have a gift of making it simple yet very attractive so you just want to try to make it yourself ;-). Thanks for the great job you do for all us!
Meaghan (Megan) says
But obviously, booze.
Luuuuv yewwwww.
Anita says
Sounds so yummy and spicy, and not as sweet as apple cider. A little booze in the evening is good for anxiety :)
Mel @ The Refreshanista says
Oh yummy! What a great idea to infuse it with rooibos :) this drink looks delicious and I love how easy it is!
Aranzasu says
This is so perfect for me and my family. I’m going to share this with everyone. Thank you!
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen} says
I love rooibos! What a great idea to use it as a base for a hot toddy. Can’t wait to give this a go!
Tom @ Raise Your Garden says
Can’t say I’ve even heard of a hot toddy before but the idea is quite intriguing! Need some good news today as I’ve been using, um my wifes Wen products and now I read they caused baldness! I mean, I don’t need that! None of that please. New Year’s sounds like a good time to make these. At our house, I make beverages/drinks, in charge of that, wife does food. Works for us! Happy New Years!!!
Tom @ Raise Your Garden says
Oh, I forgot to ask where I can get rooibos tea bags? Just the local Wegmans grocery store or what? I guess I can sub with the chai tea, have some o that. No Whole Foods where I live. Have a Trader Joe’s though.
Dom says
Rooibos has become fairly common, so Wegman’s, Trader Joe’s, or a food coop will have it.
Hi Tom! I got mine at Whole Foods where they had quite a few. But tea shops and most grocery stores will have rooibos!