Fireside Sips: Three Winter Drinks with a Functional Twist

From spiced apple cider with creatine to a comforting collagen chai latte, your favorite winter drinks can become an easy part of your daily supplement ritual.

Whether you’re settling in with a book or inviting friends over for an alcohol-free evening, these three recipes bring warming spices, familiar flavors, and thoughtful nutritional support to your mug.

In this article

• Why make a functional drink in winter?

• Spiced Apple Cider with True Creatine+

• Mulled Pomegranate with True Collagen

• Chai Latte with True Collagen

Why make a functional drink in winter?

As the days grow shorter and evenings move indoors, a warm drink offers a simple invitation to slow down. Adding a supplement you already use can also help make consistency feel effortless.

Two ingredients we love for this are creatine and collagen. Both blend easily into warm drinks, making them a natural addition to familiar winter recipes.

• True Creatine+: An unflavored blend of creatine monohydrate, taurine, magnesium, and vitamin D, formulated to support physical and cognitive performance.⁺

• True Collagen: Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides that blend into hot or cold drinks and support skin hydration and elasticity.⁺

Add supplements to individual mugs just before serving so each person can choose the blend that fits their routine.

Three Functional Winter Drinks to Try

Spiced Apple Cider with True Creatine+

Sweet apple, fragrant cloves, and cinnamon make this alcohol-free cider a comforting choice for a cold evening. Neutral-tasting True Creatine+ blends into each mug without overpowering the familiar flavors.

Makes 5 drinks

Ingredients

• 3 cups unfiltered apple juice or nonalcoholic apple cider

• 2 cups water

• 5 whole cloves

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1¼ teaspoons honey, optional

• 2 teaspoons (6 g) True Creatine+ per mug

Method

Step 1: Warm

Combine the apple juice or cider, water, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer.

Step 2: Infuse

Reduce the heat, cover, and warm gently for 15–20 minutes. Stir in the honey, if using.

Step 3: Serve

Remove the cloves and cinnamon stick. Divide the cider among five mugs, about 1 cup per serving. Stir 2 teaspoons (6 g) of True Creatine+ into each mug just before drinking.

Why we love this recipe

It turns a familiar seasonal favorite into an easy way to keep up your daily creatine ritual. Make the spiced cider base ahead, then reheat individual portions and add True Creatine+ when you’re ready to enjoy.

Mulled Pomegranate with True Collagen

This alcohol-free take on mulled wine combines tart pomegranate juice with orange, cinnamon, and cloves. True Collagen adds a simple daily supplement to the ritual while letting the fruit and spices shine.

Makes 5 drinks

Ingredients

• 4 cups 100% pomegranate juice

• 1 cup water

• 3 fresh orange slices, peel on

• 5 whole cloves

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1–2 teaspoons brown sugar, optional, to taste

• 2 teaspoons (6 g) True Collagen per mug

Method

Step 1: Combine

Add the pomegranate juice, water, orange slices, cloves, and cinnamon stick to a saucepan.

Step 2: Infuse

Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat, cover, and warm gently for 15–20 minutes. Taste and add brown sugar if desired.

Step 3: Serve

Remove the orange slices and whole spices. Divide among five mugs, about 1 cup per serving. Add 2 teaspoons (6 g) of True Collagen to each mug and allow it to dissolve before gently stirring.

Nutritionist’s tip: Press the cloves into the orange peel before adding the slices to the saucepan. This makes them easier to remove before serving.

Why we love this recipe

Pomegranate brings a bright, tart flavor that balances the warming spices beautifully. It’s a festive alcohol-free option for a night in, with collagen that fits seamlessly into your existing routine.

Chai Latte with True Collagen

A homemade spiced maple syrup gives this chai latte its warming flavor. Choose black tea for a traditional version, decaffeinated black tea for less caffeine, or plain rooibos for a naturally caffeine-free alternative.

Makes 1 drink, with extra spiced maple syrup

Ingredients

For the chai latte:

• ¼ cup water

• 1 black tea bag, decaffeinated black tea bag, or plain rooibos tea bag

• ½ cup milk of your choice

• 2 teaspoons (6 g) True Collagen

• 2–3 tablespoons spiced maple syrup, below, to taste

For the spiced maple syrup:

• ⅔ cup water

• ¼ cup pure maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ⅓ teaspoon ground ginger

• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

• A pinch of ground black pepper

Method

First, make the spiced maple syrup.

Step 1: Simmer the spices

Combine the water, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Sweeten

Remove from the heat and stir in the maple syrup.

Step 3: Strain and store

Strain through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth, if desired. Allow to cool, then transfer to a clean, covered container and refrigerate. Use within one week and shake before using.

Next, make your chai latte.

Step 1: Brew

Bring ¼ cup water to a boil. Remove from the heat, add your tea bag, and steep according to the package directions.

Step 2: Warm the milk

Remove the tea bag and add the milk. Return to low heat and warm gently without boiling.

Step 3: Add your collagen

Remove from the heat. Add 2 teaspoons (6 g) of True Collagen and allow it to dissolve before gently stirring.

Step 4: Flavor

Stir in 2 tablespoons of spiced maple syrup. Taste and add a little more if desired.

Step 5: Serve

Pour into a mug and enjoy.

Why we love this recipe

Making the spiced syrup ahead means your next chai latte is only a few steps away. You can adjust the sweetness, choose your favorite milk, and make it with or without caffeine to suit the time of day.

A Little Warmth for Your Winter Ritual

A favorite mug, fragrant spices, and a few minutes to pause can make an ordinary winter evening feel more intentional.

For more warm drink inspiration, explore Cacao + Collagen or bring Matcha + Collagen into your morning latte ritual.

The supplement additions in these recipes are intended for adults. Follow each product’s label directions and recommended daily serving.

⁺These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease