9 Recipes from Around the World to Warm You Up this Winter

The first time I tried Sticky Pudding was during our trip to London in 2018. Since then, I've been hooked on this dessert. I think I ordered it every single night we were there. It's SO good. The warm cake and gooey sauce is an addictive combination. Top it off with a scoop of ice cream (or for a more traditional take, clotted cream) and you'll be in heaven.

Gluehwein is also known as Mulled Wine. A glass of this German cider will not only warm you up, but it will transport you to back to the Christkindl Markets where the famous wine flows abundantly. Luckily, this winter warm up is easy to make at home. First, you'll bring the sugar and cinnamon to a boil in either water or orange juice. Next squeeze in some of the juice from an orange and add the cloves and orange peels as directed. Let it simmer for a while until it thickens and then add a full bottle of red wine. It'll warm you up in a jiffy!

Italian meals are the ultimate comfort food - warm, starchy and utterly satisfying. When most people think of Italian fare, it is often perfect pizzas or pasta dishes like Spaghetti Bolognese that come to mind. For me, it is Cacio e Pepe. We discovered this dish in a local trattoria in Rome and we look for it on every Italian food menu. It's an extremely simple recipe consisting of only 3 ingredients (besides water), but it can also be finnicky. The first time I tried to make it at home, it ended up a clumpy mess. This recipe from Pina Bresciana breaks it down well to help you get it right the first time. With good timing and quality ingredients, you'll be enjoying an under-recognized Italian staple in no time.

I could go on and on about pork carnitas, but I'll save the rambling and let you get to cooking. This super simple meal staple in delicious and versatile. You can use the meat for tacos, quesadillas, nachos... pretty much anything. Making the meat is about as easy as it gets. Just toss the ingredients in a crock pot after breakfast and the carnitas will be ready in plenty of time for dinner. Dice up some onions and cilantro for easy street tacos. For added heat, top them off with some grilled jalapeno slices.

What better way to warm up on a cold winter day than with a home-cooked bowl of soup? I used to hate onions. I still don't love them, but I've learned to enjoy them in certain forms. For example, carmelized onions are delicious. French Onion Soup is delicious. It's also not all that difficult to make. Prepare it how you want but I suggest you cook the onions until they start to brown. When it is all finished, you'll have a piping hot bowl of oniony, french bready, cheesy goodness.

Here is another soup recipe because winter is all about those hearty soups that warm the soul. Fasolada is a Greek soup made primarily with white beans cooked in a tomato-based broth. Sautee vegetables and add them to the pot for depth of flavor. This recipe calls for carrots, celery, and onion but you can add whatever suits your fancy. Heck, go crazy and add some meat or pasta. The possibilities are endless. You can cook the soup in your favorite Dutch oven, in a crock pot, or even in an instant pot. So many things make this recipe a standout - flavor, ease, flexibility... Best of all, it's nutritious.

If there is one thing that will pull you through the cold and dreary days of winter, it's a perfect cup of hot chocolate. Sure, instant mix will do in a pinch but it doesn't compare to homemade. If you've never tried Mexican Hot Chocolate, you're truly missing out. Cinnamon and chili powder give this drink a kick while the vanilla and sugar sweeten it up. You can even up the ante with a dash of cayenne. Don't forget to top it off with some marshmallows or a dollop of whipped cream. Perfection. Mexican Hot Chocolate is a creamy blend of sugar and spice that'll make you lean back, close your eyes, and dream of sunny beaches.

Ramen is one of those dishes that is evokes a certain nostalgia. Many of us grew up snacking on cheap packets of Top Ramen. It is the snack that continues to prevent parents from going broke while their children go through ravenous growth spurts. It's also the meal that many of us survived on in our college years. In our memories, ramen is quick, easy and pretty darn good. Ramen is also a dish that you grow into. As a kid, I would never even consider "adult ramen." Gross. However, my grown-up taste buds feel differently. "Adult ramen" is excellent and it's even better in the winter. This recipe combines the best of both world's so you can put an amazing bowl of ramen on the dinner table in an hour or less.

Plantains look like bananas but they are most definitely not. Like the tomato, the plantain is a fruit that is widely regarded as a vegetable. It also cannot be eaten raw. In Puerto Rico, you will find fried plantains are often served as side dishes. They can be prepared to be either savory or sweet. What matters is how ripe they are when you cook them. This recipe using green plantains results in a savory side dish or appetizer. If you want to get that sweet, carmelized flavor, wait until the skin turns dark.