Back in the old days, people drank hot toddys to shake off a cough, brace themselves for cold weather or pounding rain, or relax before bed. Today, we drink them for exactly the same well-earned reasons. (We also drink them whenever we feel like it, simply because they are delicious.)

A typical hot toddy is a mix of whiskey, honey and hot water. Some folks throw in a lemon slice or a cinnamon stick. For our twist on this classic drink, we wanted to turn up the heat, so we added freshly grated ginger and a pinch of cayenne pepper. We left the whiskey out of the mix, but you get all the warmth of the strong stuff from the ginger and cayenne.

We’re huge fans of the end result. It’s fresh, punchy and spicy — and without any spirits, it’s perfect for warming up the whole family after a day of sledding or trekking through the snow. Make a large batch on the weekend and save it to reheat throughout the week, or whip some up for a cozy family movie night.

This recipe is brought to you by Nourish, our guide to eating a variety of whole foods that expand your palate, give you more energy and help you live a balanced life. If you love it, check out the entire Nourish collection.