Old-Fashioned Golden Sipping Broth for Cold Days

Last month, I shared how to make Rotisserie Chicken Bone Broth, and once you have a rich broth on hand, there are so many easy ways to enjoy it. One of my favorite ways—especially during cold weather—is to sip it warm from a mug, just like tea or coffee. You’ll be able to bring back an old-fashioned kitchen habit to your traditional foods kitchen, and it couldn’t be simpler.

Update: If you like my Peter Rabbit coffee mug, that was a gift from my sweet husband Ted, and it came from Williams Sonoma. However, mine was purchased a few years ago, and I suspect that with each year they carry the mug, there may be changes in its appearance and quality (unfortunately). Still, you may enjoy the current version of the Peter Rabbit mug and the other Beatrix Potter items at Williams Sonoma.

Why Home Cooks Called It Golden

Long before turmeric beverages became popular, home cooks often referred to well-made chicken broth as “golden.” The name came from its natural color—drawn from the bones, skin, and fat of the chicken—and from the richness that develops when the broth is properly prepared.

A good broth has a clear, golden hue and a full, savory flavor. Adding a bit of fat, such as butter or rendered chicken fat, deepens both the color and the satisfaction, which is another reason the term “golden” stuck in traditional kitchens.

What Is a Sipping Broth?

Sipping broth is simply warm broth or bone broth enjoyed as a drink, rather than as an ingredient in a recipe. This beverage was common in traditional homes, especially during colder months or when a cook wanted something nourishing without preparing a full meal. It’s simple, practical, and comforting.

What is the Difference Between Broth and Bone Broth?

Broth and bone broth are very similar, and the lines of definition are often blurred. Throw in the word stock, and now we can really get into the weeds!

To clear up any confusion, I created the What is the Difference Between Broth, Stock, and Bone Broth and How to Make Them video. You can watch this video for details about the differences between broth, stock, and bone broth.

Here’s a quick summary:

• Broth is usually made with more meat and less bones and simmered for a few hours.
• Stock is usually made with more bones and less meat, and simmered for a few hours.
• Bone Broth is made with a combination of meat, bones, and, in the case of beef bone broth, the addition of high cartilage bones like oxtails, or, in the case of chicken bone broth, the addition of chicken feet.

Chicken Bone Broth Recipes

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How to Make Rotisserie Chicken Bone Broth (Michelin Chef Inspired)

Transform a humble rotisserie chicken into deeply flavorful, gelatin-rich bone broth using a chef-inspired pressure-cooker method.

Healing Broth for Feeding the Sick

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From My Northern Italian Mother’s Kitchen: Old Hen Broth & Pastina Soup

Savor the warmth of Old Hen Broth and Pastina Soup, a comforting Italian recipe passed down with love from my mother’s kitchen.

Why Sip Bone Broth During Cold Weather?

A warm mug of broth is:

• Comforting on cold days
• Easy to digest
• Satisfying without being heavy
• A simple alternative to snacking

I often enjoy a mug of sipping broth in the afternoon or early evening when I want something warm and savory.

Simple Add-Ins for Old-Fashioned Golden Sipping Broth

You can enjoy your broth plain, or add one or two of the following. There’s no need to add everything—keep it simple.

Optional seasonings include:

• A pinch of turmeric, for color
• Fresh or powdered ginger
• A clove of garlic, gently warmed in the broth
• Sea salt, to taste
• A splash of apple cider vinegar

Adding Fat for Flavor and Satisfaction

Traditional cooks almost always added some form of fat to broth. This addition made it more filling and added depth of flavor.

Good options to add:

• Small pat of cultured butter
• Small scoop of ghee or clarified butter
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Spoonful of schmaltz (rendered chicken fat)

Why I Like to Froth Sipping Broth

Instead of just stirring in the fat, I like to whip it right into the hot broth.

How to Do It:

1. Pour the hot broth into a mug or heatproof jar.
2. Add your butter, olive oil, or schmaltz.
3. Use a handheld milk frother to blend it directly in the mug.

You can also use a blender to briefly blend the ingredients until the broth looks creamy and lightly foamy. The blender is an excellent option if you are making more than 1 serving. This simple blending step makes the broth feel extra comforting and helps everything come together smoothly.

When I Like to Enjoy My Sipping Broth

I enjoy an old-fashioned golden sipping broth:

• On cold winter days
• While working in the kitchen
• In the evening, when I want something warm and calming

It’s a small habit, but one that brings a lot of comfort.

Final Thoughts

Once you have homemade bone broth in your fridge or freezer, enjoying it this way becomes second nature. A mug of old-fashioned golden sipping broth is one of the simplest ways to use what you’ve already made and bring traditional kitchen wisdom into everyday life.
This may sound old-fashioned, but that should be a surprise coming from me…

Sometimes the simplest things really are the best!

Get Bone In Meats from Shirttail Creek Farm

• Shirttail Creek Farms is offering my sweet friends $10 off any order over $100 with this link and discount code MARYSNEST

In addition to Bone-In Chuck Roasts and Pastured Stewing Hens, you can find lots of nutritious meats and products to help you make the most healthy and gelatinous beef bone broth:

• Grassfed Beef Broth Bones (Knuckles)
• Pastured Chicken Feet
• Grassfed Beef Shanks (Osso Bucco)

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

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Kitchen Academy Videos

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I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

Shop for My Favorite Items

Favorite Sipping Broth Supplies

• Stainless Steel Saucepan
• Handheld Frother
• Blender and Food Processor

Favorite Kitchen Supplies

• Favorite Aprons
• Spice Grinder
• Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
• Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
• Vacuum Lids
• Whisk
• Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
• Cast Iron Dutch Oven
• 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
• Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
• Flour Sack Towels
• pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)

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Recommended Reading

• The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
• The Modern Pioneer Pantry
• Nourishing Traditions