7 Low-Calorie Holiday Cocktails To Enjoy Without Guilt

The majority of people are in a festive mood because it's Christmas just after three days. It’s just after a week, the year will be over, and people will get ready to welcome the New Year. So, it's time for family gatherings, parties, going out, and having lots of fun.

Holidays can be calorific events. During the holidays, there are lots of parties and feasts with pies, pastries, chocolates, breads, and other treats at every get-together. Along with cocktail parties and course dinners, the holidays bring tempting wines and mixes that will only make people consume more calories. What if there were a tonne of low-calorie drinks available that could help offset the calories and still make the celebration count? 

These cocktail recipes provide a tasty and guilt-free way to have a festive drink without sacrificing health objectives. There are many options available when searching for a low-calorie cocktail. Making holiday drinks at home also gives more control over the ingredients, which allows people to stay away from artificial flavours and added sugars.

Continue reading for some guilt-free, low-calorie cocktail options to enjoy this holiday season:

Video Credit: YouTube/Preppy Kitchen

1. Vodka Soda And Cranberry Splash

Doesn't cranberry just scream Christmas? Many people enjoy the flavour of cranberries in both meals and drinks. The great news is almost every guest can enjoy this without any guilt! Take soda water and vodka to make this drink. Next, drizzle in some unsweetened cranberry juice. It's very cooling, and add cranberries or a green herb like rosemary as a garnish. It's going to look and taste so festive!

Ingredients

35 ml Vodka

50 ml Club Soda

50 ml Cranberry Juice

10 ml Simple Syrup

5 ml Lime Juice

2 Slice Lime

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a rock glass filled with ice.
2. Stir gently and garnish with lime.

2. Sparkling Pomegranate Mojito

Mojito is not just for summer but for any season. Just give them a simple twist, and they are perfect for the winter, particularly around the holidays. Mix some pomegranate into the Christmas or New Year mojito variant. It will make the cocktail more seasonal. And incredibly tasty, too! Mix sparkling water and white rum. Add the pomegranate juice. Pomegranate seeds and mint leaves are used as a garnish for cocktails. For the festive look to be completed, add extra garnishing. 

Ingredient

10 mint leaves

1 tablespoon sugar

½ lime

30 ml white rum

90 ml pomegranate juice

60 ml sparkling water

Method

Cut the lime half into four halves. In a glass, combine the sugar, lime wedges, and mint leaves; muddle them together.

Pour the rum over the ice that has been added to the glass. Fill the glass to the brim with sparkling water, and then add the pomegranate juice. Mix with a gentle stir. Garnish with some pomegranate seeds and mint leaves.

Image Credit: Pixabay

3. Gin And Tonic With Cucumber

Though it may not seem like a winter cocktail, try it. It goes well with many of the dishes that are served during Christmas and is really pleasant and refreshing. Even with the celebratory dinners! Making this cocktail is incredibly easy. The drink just requires cucumber slices, tonic water, and gin. The cocktail is not only a healthy option but is also extremely refreshments. The freshness of the cucumber and the acidity of the gin absolutely complement the festive dishes.

Ingredients

50-60 ml gin

Ice-cold tonic water

1 lemon sliced into wedges

4 strips fresh cucumber

Ice

Method

1. After filling two glasses with gin, garnish with two cucumber slices and a lemon wedge.
2. After adding the ice, drizzle the tonic water on top.
3. Serve right away after adding a little extra freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Also Read: Christmas 2023: 8 Heritage Bakeries To Visit In Goa During The Holidays

4. Skinny Margarita

Who doesn't enjoy a good, cool margarita? Go for a skinny margarita to cut the calories a little bit. The primary components are orange juice and tequila. To make this tasty beverage, mix them with lime juice and a dash of agave syrup. This cocktail is easy to whip up on any day of the week, not only just festive days. It is refreshing, bright, and is very flavourful.

Ingredients

Kosher salt or coarsely ground sea salt

¼ cup silver tequila

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1 teaspoon light agave nectar

1 lime wedge or round, for garnish

Method

1. Pour a small plate with a layer of salt (ideally the same size as the top of your margarita glass).
2. Cut a thin slice of lime, then run the wet edge of the slice around half of the glass's rim.  
3. Dip the top of the glass at a 45-degree angle into the salt and roll it back and forth. Pour ice cubes into the glass and reserve.
4. Pour ice into a small cocktail shaker. Add the agave nectar, freshly squeezed orange and lime juice, and tequila. 
5. Shake is properly. Pour the liquid through a strainer into the glass, then top with a lime slice.

5. Champagne Spritzer

Sparkling wine is a necessary component of any celebration, primarily prosecco or champagne. One of the most lively and refreshing holiday cocktails one can ever make is this one. The majority of the guests will adore it, and it will not require many ingredients. 

Combine soda water and any sparkling wine, such as champagne. Pour in a little fruit juice (orange or pomegranate would be good choices). Blend thoroughly and add garnish as desired. Pick something a little more celebratory, such as pomegranate seeds, rosemary, or berries.

Ingredients

60 ml pomegranate juice chilled

240 ml champagne or prosecco chilled

60 ml St. German elderflower liqueur

120 ml sparkling water chilled

2-3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

Garnish with sugared rosemary

Method

1. Pour the pomegranate juice, champagne, elderflower liqueur, sparkling water, and pomegranate seeds into a single glass. Serve right away.

Image Credit: Pixabay

6. Light Eggnog

Many people automatically think of eggnog whenever a holiday cocktail is mentioned. When prepared in the traditional way, it has a lot of calories. So, because of the high-calorie content in the cocktail, it is better to try this lighter version. Blend skim or almond milk with spiced rum. Add nutmeg as the egg substitute. Even those who prefer vegan drinks can enjoy this cocktail. It is light, healthy, and absolutely delicious that can be made any time of the year.

Ingredient

3 cups 1% milk

1 vanilla bean

2 large eggs

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp cornstarch

Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish

Spiced rum or bourbon, optional, extra points

Method

1. Preheat 2-1/2 cups of milk in the saucepan
2. Scrape out the seeds by splitting the vanilla bean lengthwise, then add the seeds and pod to a saucepan and simmer over medium heat.
3. Beat the eggs, sugar, and cornflour together in a big bowl until the mixture becomes pale yellow.
4. To temper the eggs, slowly add the heated milk mixture to the egg mixture, about 1 cup at a time, while whisking continuously. 
5. Refill the pan with the mixture.
6. Place over medium heat and, stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the eggnog starts to thicken.
7. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of milk right away.
8. Take out the vanilla pod, allow it to cool, then move it to a pitcher and refrigerate until it's time to serve.
9. Spike the eggnog with liquor and garnish with nutmeg.

7. Raspberry-Lime Sparkling Wine Cocktail

Throughout the year, sparkling wine is an essential addition to any beverage collection. But it's even more crucial during the holidays. It can be used to make a lot of festive cocktails. And one of the best choices is this one! Blend sparkling wine with fresh lime juice and raspberries. Add raspberries or any other berries as a garnish to give the cocktail a festive appearance. Give a twist to the plain sparkling wine with fresh raspberry. And, enjoy this boozy bubbly cocktail!

Ingredients

40 g raspberries

80 ml water

80 g sugar

1 lime, squeezed

2 bottles of sparkling wine: brut, demi-sec, or sec

Brown sugar to coat the rim

Method

1. For five minutes, boil the raspberries with water and sugar.
2. Sieve them, then refrigerate for a minimum of four hours.
3. To prevent it from becoming bitter, add the lime right before you drink it.
4. Wet the rim of the glass so that the brown sugar sticks to it.
5. Fill 1/4 th of the glass, then top it off with sparkling wine. Garnish it with a few raspberries.

Keeping a note of the amount of calorie intake is important, but it is not necessary to give up on the delicious cocktails during the festive season. There are a tonne of calorie-conscious options available. However, boring doesn't have to mean healthy. Make a tasty and healthy holiday cocktail drink with the correct combination of ingredients.