Holiday Drinks: Lightened up

Mocktails | Cocktails

Christmas season is a time for many of us to catch up with family and friends. This also means holiday drinks and food are at an abundance. If you’re being mindful of your food and drink this holiday season, there are still plenty of cocktails — sangria, mojitos, cosmos and more — that are just as festive.

You can have your booze and drink it, too! So, what can we do to watch the waistline and still enjoy holiday drinks? To answer that, here are a couple recipes that we like, all under 200 calories per serving:

Mocktails

Pear And Sage Sparkler

This holiday cocktail is 174 calories per serving.

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 cups tap water
  • 2 whole pears, peeled, cored and diced
  • 20–25 fresh sage leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Bring the sugar and water to a boil over medium heat, then turn down to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved completely.
  2. Add the pears and sage, then simmer until the entire mixture has reduced by half, about 1 hour.
  3. Let cool and pour over sparkling or soda water.

SOURCE: gethealthyu.com

Apple-Ginger Moscow Mule Mocktail

This mocktail has 113 calories per serving.

  • 4 ounces apple cider
  • ½ ounce lime juice
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • 4 ounces ginger beer
  • Apple slice, cinnamon stick & lime wedge for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Combine cider, lime juice, cinnamon and nutmeg in a chilled copper mug or glass. Add ice cubes and top with ginger beer. Stir to combine. Garnish with an apple slice, a cinnamon stick and a lime wedge, if desired.

Source: eatingwell.com

Ginger Pear Cider with Vanilla Bean

  • 2 ripe pears, cored and chopped (I think Bartlett is preferable here, but Bosc will also work)
  • 1-2 inches fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • 1-inch piece fresh vanilla bean
  • ½ teaspoon pure maple syrup, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

  • In an upright blender, combine the chopped pears, ginger, vanilla bean, and water. Blend on high until you have a smooth, slightly thick puree.
  • Set a fine mesh strainer over a small saucepan and grab a spoon/small spatula. Pour the pear puree through the fine mesh strainer into the saucepan. Stir and push around the solids until all of the available juice/liquid is in the saucepan.
  • Gently heat the pear cider in the saucepan over medium-low heat. Once it’s warmed to your liking, stir in the maple syrup and lemon juice. Serve immediately.

SOURCE: thefirstmess.com

Hot Apple Cider

When you combine cider with tea, it adds a whole new dimension of flavor. It has 180 calories per 16 oz serving. Serves 6.

  • 1 orange-spiced tea bag
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 whole allspice
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 1/2 cups apple cider

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Begin by brewing tea in hot water, according to package directions, with the allspice, cloves and cinnamon stick in the cup as it brews.
  2. Next, heat apple cider for 60-90 seconds in the microwave until warm in a large microwave-safe mug. Meanwhile, discard tea bag, allspice, cloves and cinnamon stick.
  3. Finally, pour tea into warm cider and stir to combine.

Source:  Self.com

Cocktails

Pomegranate Champagne Punch

Important to note, this light drink is 128 calories and only 7 grams of carbs!

Makes: 6 servings, 3/4 cup each

  • 2 cups champagne
  • 1 cup pomegranate juice
  • 1 cup seltzer
  • 1/2 cup citrus vodka
  • Lemon twists, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. First, combine champagne, pomegranate juice, seltzer and vodka in a large bowl or pitcher.
  2. To serve, pour over ice with a twist of lemon.

SOURCE: Eating Well

Rosemary Gin Fizz

This cocktail has about 130 calories per 1 drink.

  • 3 one-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • 1 small lemon, juiced
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 1 ½ ounces gin
  • 3 ounces club soda

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a small drinking glass, muddle the fresh rosemary, lemon juice and honey.
  2. Fill the glass with ice, then pour in the gin and top with club soda.
  3. Give it a little swirl with a spoon. That’s it!

Source: cookieandkate.com

Christmas Sangria

This cocktail has 115 calories per serving.

  • 1 bottle Pinot Grigio
  • 1/4 cup of apple cider
  • 6 whole cranberries
  • 6 cranberries cut in half
  • 1/2 a golden delicious apple cut into chunks
  • 8 sprigs of Rosemary

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Cut 6 cranberries in half, and chop 1/2 half of a golden delicious apple into chunks.
  2. Pour Pinot Grigio into a pitcher or your desired serving container, and add in all the cranberries, rosemary, and apple.
  3. Let the Sangria chill for at least four hours before serving, and garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh Rosemary.

Source: gethealthyu.com

Skinny Eggnog

No holiday is complete without eggnog! This lightened up version has 105 calories per serving.

  • 3 cups 1% milk
    1 vanilla 
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
  • spiced rum or bourbon

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat 2-1/2 cups milk in a medium saucepan.
  2. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds; add the seeds and pod to the saucepan and simmer over medium heat.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and cornstarch until it turns light yellow.
  4. Temper the eggs by gradually pouring the hot milk mixture, about 1 cup at a time, into the egg mixture, whisking constantly (this is important, otherwise you’ll make scrambled eggs).
  5. Pour the mixture back into the pan.
  6. Place over medium heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the eggnog begins to thicken, about 6-7 minutes.
  7. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the remaining 1/2 cup milk to stop the cooking.
  8. Remove the vanilla pod, let it cool and transfer to a pitcher, chill until ready to serve.
  9. Spike the eggnog with liquor and garnish with nutmeg.

Source: skinnytaste.com