10 Drinks You Can Make In Your Slow Cooker
With the power to master just about any hearty, home-cooked meal with ease, the slow cooker is a no-brainer for convenience, but wouldn't it be great if you could do more with it? Like make a drink or two, perhaps? Mix things up by adding hard cider, rum, or wine to elevate the home-cooked experience up a level of boozy-homey. Next time you're in the mood to use your slow cooker, skip the noodles and try one of these drink recipes instead.
Boozy s'mores hot chocolate
S'mores in a cup? What's better than that? Alcohol-infused s'mores in a cup, that's what. And you can get just that (thanks to this recipe from SheKnows), by adding all of the standard tasty ingredients in your slow cooker. Some cocoa powder, chocolate chips, marshmallows, crumbled graham crackers and — oh yeah — Baileys helps make for a good and hearty treat that has a solid kick those traditional s'mores just can't compete with.
Bourbon citrus sipper
Give your citrus a potent punch, mixing it up with some smooth bourbon (like Better Homes and Gardens shows us) for pure Southern Comfort in a glass. Combine the bourbon with apple cider, sugar, and lemon, making for a sweet taste without being too over the top. Add in sticks of cinnamon and simmer for a few hours, which will leave your kitchen smell just as delicious as this fall-style drinkable harvest will taste.
Chai tea
Get ready to experience eight hours of aroma heaven. The next time you're craving a chai tea, make it like Taste of Home did. Use a cheesecloth to add a few ingredients like ginger root, cloves, peppercorns, and cinnamon sticks into the slow cooker. Allow it to simmer all day, bringing out rich scents that'll have you drooling in anticipation. After it's cooked, add in your tea bags and milk for a chai experience like no other.
Pineapple margarita
A margarita is pretty easy to make on its own. With a little mix and a whole lot of tequila, you have yourself a drink. However, you're not in college anymore, so it might be time to upgrade, like with a pineapple margarita that KingsleyNYC.com knows how to make. Make your own mulled mixture with pineapple, vanilla and chili, cooking it for two hours before straining and chilling. Add your tequila and homemade mix to your glass, bringing on a fruity potion you'll actually be proud of making.
Spiced wine
Wine is fantastic on it's own — and normally served on the cool side — but as Well Plated points out, the delicious grape does play nicely with others, especially when it's warm. Grab that bottle of Cabernet and add it to the crock pot, mixing in apple cider, cloves, and brandy for a warm and boozy fix to your oh-so-chilly nights. Big bonus point: this cozy concoction only takes an hour or less to make.
Hot apple martini
All you apple martini lovers out there, listen up. Forget about sipping your classic cocktail cold, and instead have it warm. Take Get Crooked's advice and combine vanilla vodka with apple juice and cinnamon into a crock pot, for something on the hotter side. Add a dab of caramel sauce in your martini glass and pour in your spiked apple goodness, for a sweet treat that'll warm both your heart and your belly.
Pumpkin spiced latte
Move over Starbucks — this pumpkin spiced latte from The Magical Slow Cooker has you beat. Put some freshly brewed java into your slow cooker, along with canned pumpkin puree, heavy cream, nutmeg, and cinnamon for a homemade take on the retailer's classic. Cook this baby for about an hour and enjoy the scents of fall filling up your living space. Later, make this drink complete by topping it with whipped cream, for the perfect finish.
Cranberry cider
At your next at-home gathering, show off your bartending skills the easy way, with a little help from Kleinworth & Company. This cranberry cider recipe is a cinch, but it tastes like you took tons of time to properly prepare it. Bring out the crock pot and pour in the cider, cranberry juice, cloves, sugar, and rum, allowing it to simmer for a few hours. Ladle your work into a few mugs, giving your guests something they'll enjoy on a cool autumn night.
Apple iced tea
Who says iced tea can't be super healthy? Fave Healthy Recipes found a way, and it all starts with the slow cooker. Bypass the sugary power pre-made mix you buy at the grocery store, and instead create your own that's much better for you. Add in apples, cinnamon, and black tea (flavor of your choice), and cook it all for about three hours. Simply place your hot tea in a pitcher with ice, and allow it to chill. For an added bonus, you can place some apple slices from the pot into the pitcher, giving it an appearance as attractive as its flavor.
Spiced caramel cider
For all the dessert lovers out there (and who isn't?), this one is for you. Nothing warms you up on a cool night quite like something buttery and creamy to sip on. Thankfully, MyRecipes has the perfect potion of decadence for you to try. A mixture of spices, citrus, cider, and caramel makes this autumn delight go down with ease. And it's just as simple to make, thanks to combining all your ingredients in the slow cooker, for ultimate perfection that doesn't take any time to create.