Why not skip the calorie-heavy mistakes of yesteryear, and put something a little skinnier into our cups this winter?
With these eight skinny holiday cocktail ideas, you can celebrate in style, but without having to buy stretchier pants come the new year.
Jot down these skinny holiday drinks recipes that will bring a bit of jolly to your holiday season.
Credit: Courtesy of Pixabay
Credit: Courtesy of Pixabay
Sangria is a great choice for any holiday because it's light, refreshing and versatile. Simply substitute seasonal fruits to match any time of year.
Ingredients (6 drinks)
2 Honeycrisp apples, chopped
1 bartlett pear, chopped
1 orange, sliced
¼ cup pomegranate seeds (or cranberries)
2 cinnamon sticks
1 (750 ml) bottle favorite white wine
2½ cups fresh apple cider
½ cup vodka
1 cup club soda
Directions: Put the chopped apples, pears, orange slices, pomegranate seeds and cinnamon sticks into a large pitcher. Pour the wine, apple cider, and vodka in over the fruit. Mix well, and allow to sit for several hours, or overnight. Just before serving, add club soda.
If there is a flavor more autumn than pumpkin, or a cocktail more classic than the martini, we're all ears.
Ingredients (2 martinis)
2 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons vodka (use vanilla vodka for extra punch!)
4 tablespoons half and half/light cream ( use white creme de cacao for a really decadent experience)
2 tablespoon canned pure pumpkin puree
2 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
A dash of ground nutmeg (for garnish)
Powdered graham cracker (for the rim)
Directions: Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass in water, then dip onto a plate of powdered graham cracker to coat. Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients except nutmeg. Shake well until chilled. Strain into martini glasses. Sprinkle ground nutmeg on top for garnish.
White Chocolate Pumpkin Nog
Source: Hungry Girl
Pumpkin to celebrate the passage of fall. White chocolate and eggnog to welcome the holidays. Skinny as a gift to yourself.
Ingredients
5 cups light vanilla soy milk
1 small package instant sugar-free white chocolate pudding mix
3/4 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch salt
Rum (to taste)
Directions: Combine ingredients and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving to chill and thicken. Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Credit: Courtesy of Pixabay
Credit: Courtesy of Pixabay
Hot Chocolate Martini
Because baby it's cold outside.
Source: Adapted from Genius Kitchen
Ingredients (1 martini)
3 ounces prepared hot chocolate, cooled (I used packaged Swiss Miss Sensible Sweets Diet Hot Cocoa, but any packaged or homemade will work.)
3/4 ounces dark crème de cacao
3/4 ounce vanilla vodka
1 ounce Kahlua
6 mini marshmallows
Directions: Chill martini glasses in freezer. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Add in cooled hot chocolate and liquors; shake for 30 seconds. Pour into martini glass. Roast marshmallows over a fire if possible, and drop into the drink for garnish.
The Ginger Snap
Source: Shape Magazine
The fruit your body needs, the sage and ginger it deserves. Light and sophisticated.
Ingredients (1 serving)
2 ounces Peach CÎROC
1 piece ginger
4 sage leaves
0.75 ounces fresh lemon juice
2 ounces soda water
Directions: Put the ginger and sage in a shaker. Muddle, then add lemon juice and CÎROC. Pack with ice and shake. Strain into a Collins glass and top with soda water. Garnish with a sprig of sage.
Raspberry Rum Mule
Source: VinePair
Take your ordinary Moscow mule, and give it a little taste of the holidays, swapping vodka for spiced rum and adding raspberries to taste.
Ingredients (1 serving)
2 ounces of rum
½ lime, juiced
1 teaspoon agave nectar
5 raspberries
½ bottle of ginger beer
½ cup of ice
Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker with rum, lime juice, agave nectar, raspberries and ice. Shake mixture until ingredients are married together. Add mixture to a serving glass then top with ginger beer. Garnish with raspberries and rosemary.
The Grinch-Tini
Source: The Cookie Rookie
Oh Thin Mints, we cannot wait until you return with the Girl Scouts come April. Until then, we can grow our hearts three sizes with this martini approximation.
Ingredients (2 drinks)
2 cups skim milk
1 cup creme de menthe
1/2 cup Godiva chocolate liqueur
Directions: Stir all together. Serve chilled.
Carrot Mimosa
Source: Kitchen Treaty
Because New Year's resolutions and treadmills can't come soon enough.
Ingredients
1/2 cup 100% pure carrot juice, chilled
1/2 cup Prosecco or other dry champagne or sparkling wine, chilled
Directions: Add carrot juice and Prosecco to a champagne glass. Garnish with carrot stems or parsley sprigs to serve.
