Below-freezing temperatures call for a hot cup of something delicious.

An inch of ice on the ground is an even bigger motivator to have your coffee pots and tea kettles rarin’ to go at 7 a.m.

Although cream and sugar have become a coffee drinker’s go-to for sweetener, there’s no reason you shouldn’t treat your taste buds to something new. I’ve compiled a list of warm drinks for you to make and enjoy in the comfort of your own home during those blustery winter days.

No Coffee? No Problem

First, lets talk hot chocolate.

It’s tasty and ingredient-friendly for those who can’t have or don’t like coffee.

Even though its not Christmas, adding peppermint to your hot chocolate is not a crime, it’s a wise choice. Whether you add a peppermint stick or 8 ounces of syrup to your drink, it’s rarely disappointing. Most Starbucks locations have peppermint year-round, so take full advantage of that.

For The 21+ Crowd

This recipe is for those of legal drinking age.

I almost combusted when I found this on AmericanCocktails.com: RumChata Hot Chocolate. For those of you who are unfamiliar with RumChata, it’s a cream liqueur with a taste shockingly similar to Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The recipe calls for 2 ounces of RumChata, a mug of warm hot chocolate and whipped cream. The 2 ounces goes a long way, so please drink responsibly.

Mmm…ba-con.

I got this next recipe from the Seattle’s Best Red Cup Showdown’s grand prize winner, Eileen Gannon, of Des Moines, Iowa. The recipe calls for a cup of Level 5 Seattle’s Best Coffee, 2 tablespoons light cream, 2 teaspoons bacon flavored syrup, 1 1/2 teaspoons caramel flavored syrup and 1/8 teaspoons of pumpkin pie syrup. Stir the ingredients and top it off with whipped cream, caramel and a piece of caramelized bacon. This recipe, along with the other contest contestant’s recipes, can be found on the Seattle’s Red Cup Showdown Facebook page.

The Perfect Study Buddy

Until recently, I’ve never been one to drink tea. I always associated it with being sick, so it never appealed to me. Then I found Tazo Passion Herbal Infusion Tea. The ingredients include hibiscus flowers, exotic herbs and natural tropical flavors which give off an enjoyable smell and even better taste. This tea is caffeine-free, so you won’t have to worry about drinking it at night.

This obviously isn’t a recipe, but a warm cup of tea makes for a good study partner.

The possibilities for hot drink concoctions are endless. Get creative and give your recipe drawer a boost.