GOT MILK? RED. WINE. HOT. COCOA. SNICKERDOODLE. MILK!

DISCLOSURE: This post is part of a paid partnership with California Milk Processor Board. All opinions and experiences are authentically my own.

When I first heard those four words together — red, wine, hot, cocoa — I thought eeeeeeewwwww yuck.

I WAS WRONG. Man, was I wrong. Red Wine Hot Cocoa is now my most favorite drink this winter season. I want it every night. I want it after lunch. I want to order at restaurants after dinner. I want to give it to Santa to see how he likes it with his cookies. (Because, may I say, it’s extra mighty fine with cookies.)  

Holiday tradition is big in my family: Hunting for Christmas trees, decorating cookies to de-stress, living it up with the kids on New Years Eve with wild parties that fizzle before the big stroke of midnight. I’m also finding that creating new traditions each year keeps me happy too. One part tradition plus one part something-totally-new equals fresh bliss and giggling kids during holiday break. Amiright?

In the video below, check out two most fabulous and sneaky-nutritious drinks that my family is loving this season… thanks to milk. One is my new favorite (red wine hot cocoa) and the other is a decadent sipper just for kids — called Snickerdoodle Milk. Both are suspiciously easy to do and will have you questioning ‘why don’t we drink these every day.’ (Hint: You just might start.)

And no, I’m not tipsy in this video. Watch, enjoy, make these beauties for yourself!

Red Wine Hot Cocoa.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups milk (whole, low-fat, nonfat or lactose free)

1/3 cup dark mini chocolate chips

1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon (Merlot works too if you have it ready)

(Makes enough for 2 adults… or one, for a very overstressed wine-loving mom.)

Combine milk and chocolate chips in a saucepan over medium heat. Keep stirring constantly until everything melts! (It might look a bit clumpy at one point, but it’ll melt together nicely if you keep stirring.) Once milk is smooth and chocolaty, dump your wine right into the saucepan. Don’t panic! It will look clumpy again at first… Keep stirring until it melts together and smells like a gourmet truffle infused with vino. Pour into mug (load up on marshmallows if you want!) and serve immediately. Delicious. (Beyond delicious, actually. Who knew that red wine’s antioxidants and milk’s protein made such a nice match?) I should also confess: This velvety treat helps me sleep a bit better too.

 

Snickerdoodle Milk

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups milk (whole, low-fat, nonfat or lactose free)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

(Makes enough for 2-3 kids.)

Combine milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Whisk together until blended. Heat in microwave for about 1 minute. Whisk again. Pour into mugs and serve immediately.

This clever ‘cookie-flavored’ drink even won over my picky eater — you know, the one who screams “I don’t want anything right now!” (I may or may not be serving this to her every single day to boost her protein intake, by the way.) Milk’s also a great, wholesome afternoon snack – we tend to forget it’s one of our most natural foods (with one ingredient) from right here in California. Usually, my kids drink it up with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, crunchy nuts and granola bars… but this Snickerdoodle twist is now a new favorite snack all on its own.

 

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