The holidays can get hectic. For some, taking the time to sit back, relax and sip a fruity adult beverage can be the perfect way to unwind after a busy day. But before you start working on your favorite eggnog recipe, note that traditional cocktails are packed with sugar and calories that will create bigger health problems down the road. If you’re looking for a few lighter versions of holiday classics, then check out these three delicious alternatives during your evening happy hour.
Cranberry Mimosas
Cranberries are light in natural sugar and have a delicate taste that makes them the perfect fit for a holiday drink. For this one, you’ll need:
- Half a lime
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 cup of naturally sweetened cranberry juice
- 1 bottle of champagne
- 1 dozen cranberries
- 4 rosemary sprigs
- 4 champagne flutes
After pressing each champagne flute into the lime and coating the rim of the flute with sugar, pour one-quarter cup of cranberry juice into each flute. Use a toothpick to poke a hole in each cranberry and run one rosemary sprig through each hole. Top the flutes with champagne, then garnish your drinks with the cranberries. To lower the sugar content even further, simply leave the rims of the flutes bare.
Caramel Apple Mimosas
With just a hint of caramel, this drink leans on a light and tasty apple for most of its punch. You’ll need:
- 2 tablespoons of caramel
- Apple slices of any size
- 1 bottle of champagne
- 8 ounces of caramel vodka
- 2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar
- 1 cup of apple cider
- 4 champagne flutes
Separate the caramel and cinnamon sugar into two separate bowls. Gently press the rim of the champagne flute into the caramel, and then just touch the rim to the cinnamon sugar. You can skip this step if you want to keep the sugar content in your mimosa down. Pour two ounces of caramel vodka and one-quarter cup of apple cider into each flute and then top off the flute with champagne.
Cranberry Sauce Margarita
Cranberries have a tart taste to them, which works really well in this light Christmas cocktail. You’ll need:
- 1 tablespoon of natural honey
- 1 whole lime
- 2 ounces of tequila
- Brown sugar (for the rims)
- 1 cup of crushed ice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of chunky, natural cranberry sauce
- Fresh cranberries
- 1 cocktail shaker
- 4 margarita glasses
Put the brown sugar in a shallow bowl and gently twist the rim of each margarita glass into the sugar. Cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice from both halves into the cocktail shaker. Add one-quarter cup ice, one-half ounces of tequila, three-quarters of a tablespoon of chunky cranberry sauce and one-quarter tablespoons of honey into the shaker. Shake well for several seconds. Pour the mixture into a margarita glass and add fresh cranberries as a garnish.
The holidays are all about family, gifts, good times and good food. But there’s no need to run yourself into the ground without a break. Mix up one of these lighter holiday cocktails, and take some much-needed “me” time this season.
