Mix up your holiday festivities with mocktails
Does Aunt Edna’s traditional fudge and too many spirited cocktails have you feeling weighed down this holiday season? Lighten your celebrations up with some fun and festive mocktails instead. A mocktail is a nonalcoholic mixed drink intended to imitate the flavors of regular cocktails. Northern Light Health dietician Onycha Bell, RDN, LDN, shares, “Mocktails are a joyful and delicious way to stay hydrated and ring in the holidays. Some recipes even have beneficial nutrients and are lower in calories than traditional cocktails. Best yet, they are safe to share with the whole family or your friends.” We’ve provided three recipes below you can share with your loved ones this season or anytime:
Fizzy Rosemary Cider Mocktail
Many types of mocktails are high in sugar, but this easy mocktail cuts down on the calories and carbs by using club soda and a sugar-free simple syrup.
By Karen Ansel, MS, RDN
Active Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Ingredients
Sugar-Free Rosemary Simple Syrup
½ cup water
½ cup granulated sugar substitute
1 sprig rosemary
Mocktail
4 ounces apple cider
4 ounces club soda or seltzer
1 tablespoon sugar-free simple syrup
1 sprig fresh rosemary (Optional)
Directions
Step 1
To prepare simple syrup: Combine water, sugar substitute, and rosemary in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the sugar substitute is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the rosemary sprig.
Step 2
To prepare mocktail: Combine cider, club soda (or seltzer) and simple syrup in a highball glass. (Reserve remaining simple syrup for another use.) Garnish with rosemary sprig, if desired
Make Ahead Tip: Refrigerate simple syrup for up to 1 week.
Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2020
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: Serving Size generous 1 cup 64 calories; total carbohydrate 16g; total sugars 15g; vitamin c 2mg; sodium 25mg; calcium 7mg; magnesium 1mg; potassium 3mg
Nutrition Profile:
Nut-Free Dairy-Free Low-Fat Soy-Free Vegan Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free
Raspberry Spritzer
A refreshing and low-calorie alternative to sugar-laden sodas.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen
Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, June/July 2005
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Ingredients
2 cups seltzer
⅔ cup frozen raspberries
2 sprigs fresh mint
3 ounces raspberry-flavored syrup, or Chambord
Ice cubes
Directions
Step 1
Combine seltzer, raspberries, mint and raspberry-flavored syrup in a small pitcher. Pour over ice.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: Serving Size 1 cocktail 169 calories; total carbohydrate 42g; dietary fiber 1g; total sugars 22g; added sugars 18g; protein 1g; vitamin a 77iu; vitamin c 6mg; folate 1mcg; sodium 8mg; calcium 7mg; iron 1mg; magnesium 1mg; potassium 5mg
Nutrition Profile:
Dairy-Free Low-Fat Vegan Gluten-Free
Elderberry Elixir Mocktail
This effervescent winter mocktail features immune-supporting elderberry syrup alongside anti-inflammatory turmeric and a dose of vitamin C from orange juice. Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor. Depending on the sweetness of your elderberry syrup, you may want to use more or a little less.
By Amy Traynor
Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, January 2021
Active Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Ingredients
2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
1 ounce elderberry syrup (see Tip)
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric, or more to taste
Ice
Sparkling water
Orange slice for garnish
Directions
Step 1
Combine orange juice, elderberry syrup, lemon juice and turmeric in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to make the shaker 3/4 full. Cover and shake until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. (Alternatively, for a layered look, shake the citrus juices and turmeric and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Drizzle the elderberry syrup over the ice.)
Step 2
Top with sparkling water and garnish with an orange slice, if desired
Tip: You can buy elderberry syrup in grocery stores and online. One brand, Sambucol, is widely available in supermarket supplement sections. You can also make homemade elderberry syrup. Read more about the health benefits of elderberry.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: Serving Size 1 mocktail 124 calories; total carbohydrate 29g; total sugars 24g; protein 1g; vitamin a 125iu; sodium 1mg
Nutrition Profile:
Nut-Free Dairy-Free Soy-Free Egg-Free Gluten-Free