When people get into cooking, a lot of focus tends to be placed on preparing food, but drinks can be just as much fun to create and enjoy. The following will explore a few hot beverages that are tasty and filled with awesome ingredients and antioxidants you might not be getting in your diet otherwise. Sugar has been left out of all these recipes. You can add sweetener if you feel you need it, but these drinks are meant to be enjoyed without the trouble of sugar.

Steaming Apple Cider

Fresh apple cider has all the fall vibes. Toss a bunch of apples into a big stockpot and cover with water. Sprinkle in cinnamon, allspice berries, or any of your favourite autumn flavours and bring to a boil. Leave it boiling uncovered for an hour, and then reduce the heat and let it simmer for two more hours. You’ll want to strain the mixture and toss it back on the stove for a few minutes with orange and lemon peel pieces to add some citrus zest. If you want to take your presentation to the next level, make cups out of apples and add a stick of cinnamon. Hot, soothing, and packed with pectin and the high antioxidants of cinnamon, and you have a stellar fall drink that seems like it should be a treat, but it isn’t. You’ve skipped over the sugar and sweeteners, so you don’t have to worry about anything other than what was naturally in the apples—experiment by trying different species of apple.

Spiced Coffee

In some countries, adding spices to your coffee is a given, no matter what season it is. Once you start experimenting in this regard, you’ll likely find it a regular part of your coffee drinking experience. We’ll leave the cream and sugar measurements to you, but all you’ll need is the tastiest dark roast coffee beans you can find and some cardamom, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg. Add in as much as you like and skip the ingredients you’re not feeling. A huge benefit of having ginger is that it aids in digestion.

Festive Cranberry Wassail

This holiday drink feels like festivity in a cup. Take apple cider, cranberry juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, a large orange slice, 24 full cloves, and cinnamon sticks and boil them in a big pot. Reduce and simmer, adding nutmeg, ginger, and allspice for an additional ten to fifteen minutes. This drink is especially refreshing when garnished with mint and orange slices. Again, there’s no added sugar in this recipe, so you don’t have to worry about that, and it makes use of potent cloves, which are jam packed with antioxidants and other health benefits. If you want an even bolder taste in this drink, you can refrigerate it for a few days and then reheat it on the stove.

The above list of tasty, warming drinks is just the beginning. Once you discover how easy it is to make your favourite hot drinks that aren’t loaded with tons of extra sugar, you won’t be able to help treating yourself to something warm and spicy whenever you’ve got the slightest hint of a chill.