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When the air turns crisp and evenings call for blankets, a warm drink can make all the difference. These seven cozy drinks are easy to make at home, delicious and offer some liquid nutritional benefits to keep you feeling good all season.

1. Spicy Drink — Hot Apple Cider With Cinnamon

Nothing says fall quite like hot apple cider, especially if you can pick your own fruit from a local orchard or market. Warming it with cinnamon sticks gives it a sweet-spiced aroma that feels like autumn in a cup.

An apple a day does more than keep the doctor away — it also boosts you with antioxidants and vitamin C, and cinnamon helps to balance blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation.

To make it, you’ll need:

• 8-12 ounces Organic apple cider
• 1-2 whole cloves
• A pinch of ground allspice
• Half a cinnamon stick
• Brown sugar to taste

Simply place the cloves, allspice and cinnamon in a coffee maker filter and substitute the water for apple cider. Let it heat and drip through the spices, sweetening with brown sugar before sipping the warm drink.

2. Healthy Refreshment — Hot Toddy

This delicious hot beverage, popularly called Southern cough syrup, is a perfect drink and tonic after a busy day outdoors. It’s super easy to make and loaded with the benefits of lemon juice, honey, tea, cinnamon and bourbon or whiskey. One lemon contains almost 50% of your daily vitamin C requirements.

To make it:

• Steep a tea bag for five minutes in boiling water.
• Remove tea, add honey and lemon juice to taste, a cap of bourbon and a cinnamon stick.

3. Traditional Variation — Mulled Cranberry Punch

Enjoy this easier variation of German Glühwein, which is light on alcohol and can even be made nonalcoholic. Heat cranberry juice with a cinnamon stick, cloves, orange slices and a dash of nutmeg or allspice. Serve warm with a splash of red wine.

Cranberry juice is fantastic for urinary tract health. It’s antiseptic and antifungal with antioxidant properties to boost your seasonal health. The spices are a natural immune kick, and the sweet taste is naturally soothing.

4. Classic Warm Drink — Creamy Eggnog

Winter isn’t a festive time without eggnog shared with family and friends. With the egg whites and milk, it’s a surprisingly nutritious drink for wintertime and is loaded with 12 grams of protein and 330 mg of calcium per cup. It also has 20 grams of sugar, so take care with overindulging.

An easy recipe for six servings requires the following ingredients:

• 16-24 oz milk
• 2 cups light cream
• Half a teaspoon of cinnamon
• Two whole cloves
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1¼  teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1¼  cups of rum
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

To make it, simply heat the milk, cloves, cinnamon and a drop of vanilla. Whisk the yolks, then add the sugar and whisk further. Gently combine the yolk and milk mixtures. Cook until medium thick, then strain cloves and add cream, vanilla, rum and nutmeg. Chill overnight and serve.

5. Best for Kids — Hot Chocolate With Dark Cocoa

Skip pre-mixed packets and make your own delicious drink with unsweetened dark cocoa, milk and a touch of maple syrup. Top with frothed milk and sprinkle cinnamon or cocoa powder over. Dark cocoa is rich in polyphenols, which lower inflammation and support heart health, while improving circulation. Thanks to natural compounds that increase serotonin, it’s also a good mood booster.

6. Nutritious Warm Drink — Protein Coffee

Who knew that protein could mix with your morning brew and give you an extra kick to start your day? Simply brew your coffee, then mix one serving of your favorite protein powder — vanilla or chocolate works best — into your coffee before adding milk or a dairy alternative and a sweetener of your choice. Aside from the “fuller for longer” protein benefit, coffee is surprisingly good for you, boosting your heart health and staving off Parkinson’s.

7. Campfire Classic — Toasty Marshmallow Mule

Satisfy your inner child with this zesty beverage next to the fireside. It’s super easy to make, and the final ingredient amounts depend on your taste.

Simply place your wine or whiskey glasses ready with ice. Add about 1½ ounces of bourbon or whiskey, ½-ounce lemon juice, ¼-ounce maple syrup and mix. Toast two marshmallows over the fire and add them as a topping over the rim of your glasses. If you prefer, you can substitute bourbon with vodka.

Warm-Up With Each Sip

Cozy up this winter with these delicious, healthy and soothing warm drinks. They’ll do more than keep you toasty, as they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins and feel-good flavors. Stock your pantry with simple spices, honey and seasonal produce so you can sip your way through autumn comfortably.