Beach Hut Winter Warmers by Heather Hilder on January 4, 2024 Beach Hut Winter Warmers Alcohol-Free Drinks The festivities are over and the New Year is well and truly here. You may be one of many people turning their thoughts to Dry January. Always keen to take a walk along the seafront I love looking at beach huts. I often imagine myself inside the hut with a tasty winter warmer. In recent years it’s become quite the thing to take at least a month’s break from alcohol, especially if you’ve overindulged in previous weeks. In fact, according to the Daily Mail over 8.5 million of us are expected to swap usual favourites for tipples such as Trip Lemon Basil or Impossibrew Enhanced Non-Alcoholic Lager. For some, it’s a chance to detox and start the year testing willpower for other resolutions. Others see it as a great opportunity to break old habits and encourage new ones. Even if you’re joining the ranks of abstainers for just a month, having new ideas for non-alcoholic hot drinks will always be a bonus for beach hut owners in January! So lets dive straight into beach hut winter warmers and alcohol-free drinks Warm and cosy These words go together well and a beach hut on a cold and wet day needs to provide both. The great thing about hot drinks is that you don’t have to make them in your hut. You can prepare everything at home and use a trusty thermos flask to enjoy them later. There are many variations on the good old ‘cup of tea’ that are easy to make and can add a really distinctive flavour to your day. Maple Chai Tea Latte (one of my favourites!) is a great example. It’s a sweet and spicy hot drink made by infusing these special tea leaves in milk and adding vanilla and pure maple syrup. It’s perfect for a group of friends or for simply enjoying on your own. You can even use dairy-free almond milk and get the same great tastes. Guilty pleasures The words frothy, chocolaty and creamy conjure up something very special. And when you add ‘Nutella’ to the list it suddenly sounds quite decadent! By mixing low fat skimmed milk, a few spoonfuls of Nutella, unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar you can whip up a wonderful winter warmer in just minutes. Simply heat the milk in a saucepan on medium to high heat until it begins to steam. Then add the rest, whisking until all is dissolved and combined perfectly. Served with your toppings of choice you can make a marshmallow, crushed hazelnuts and chocolate chip concoction this is a hot guilty pleasure guaranteed to please all ages. Classic and classy Let’s face it, if you own a beach hut you’ve got great taste and are obviously a pretty classy kind of person! So as you’re looking out to sea why not add a little bit of continental Europe to your day with a cup of Chocolat Chaud? This classic French hot chocolate is actually really easy to make. All you need is some good chocolate (at least 70% dark cocoa) and milk. Of course, you can add a spoonful of brown sugar, vanilla extract and top with fresh whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles if you’re in the mood. Best served in a small cup, you can use a milk alternative such as coconut or almond if you prefer. Simply heat the milk over medium low heat, don’t let it boil and add small pieces of chocolate, stirring as you go. Simmer and stir continuously for 2-3 minutes or until the hot chocolate thickens “et voilà”, that’s it! The whole thing takes no more than ten minutes. And best of all, the luxurious, rich, silky result will mean you’ll never use an instant mix out of a packet ever again. Do you have a favourite hot drink, or alcohol free tipple? We’d love to know!
