Cheers! Delicious Low Sugar Holiday Cocktails That Won't Derail Your Wellness Goals - Pyure

Cheers! Delicious Low Sugar Holiday Cocktails That Won't Derail Your Wellness Goals

The holiday season is synonymous with celebration, and what's a celebration without a festive drink? But if you're watching your sugar intake, traditional holiday cocktails can be a minefield of empty calories and hidden sugar. The good news? You can absolutely enjoy delicious, low sugar cocktails that are both sugar-friendly and totally jolly!

Why Go Low Sugar This Holiday Season?

Let's face it - traditional holiday cocktails are sugar bombs! A typical eggnog can pack a whopping 20 grams of sugar, while festive martinis often contain even more. 

A standard holiday cocktail is like eating a slice of cake in liquid form, containing anywhere from 15-30 grams of sugar!

What to be aware of? Most classic cocktails are loaded with sugar from multiple sources:

  • Liqueurs
  • Simple syrup
  • Flavored mixers
  • Fruit juices
  • Sweet liquors

Benefits of Low Sugar Cocktails

By choosing low sugar cocktails, you're not just making a better choice - you're creating drinks that taste amazing and help you feel great without missing out on the holiday cheer. Benefits include:

  • Fewer calories
  • Reduced sugar intake
  • Better blood sugar control
  • Hangover prevention
  • More room for holiday treats!

Key Ingredients for Sugar-Free Mixology

To create delicious low sugar cocktails, consider these game-changing tips.

Plant-based and Alternative Sweeteners great for cocktails

  • Stevia
  • Monk fruit extract
  • Erythritol
  • Allulose

No-Calorie Mixer Options

  • Sparkling water
  • Diet tonic
  • Unsweetened tea
  • Zero-calorie flavored seltzers
  • Stevia simple syrup (see below)

Spirits with Naturally Lower Sugar Content

  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • Tequila
  • Certain whiskeys

Cocktail Sweetener Conversion Tips: Swap Smartly!

Reducing sugar in your holiday cocktails may be  easier than you think! Instead of traditional simple syrup, try Pyure liquid stevia drops or simple syrup with stevia for a low-calorie sweetness. Swap out sugar-laden liqueurs for their lighter, sugar-free counterparts, and replace fruit juice with fresh muddled fruit for natural, vibrant flavor. These simple swaps can transform your cocktail from a sugar bomb to a lower sugar, delicious drink that won't compromise on taste. 


Top Low Sugar Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Maple Old Fashioned (No Sugar Added)

Ingredients:

Skinny Caramel Martini

Ingredients:


Spiked Eggnog (Lower Sugar Version)

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 2 drops Pyure vanilla liquid stevia
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

Caramel White Russian (with Pyure Caramel-flavored Syrup)

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz Pyure caramel-flavored syrup
  • 1 oz whole milk or unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 oz heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ice cubes
  • optional caramel drizzle for garnish
  • optional cinnamon stick for garnish

Spiced Rum Apple Cider Mule

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz spiced rum
  • Sugar-free apple cider
  • Ginger beer (low or no sugar added)
  • Cinnamon stick garnish

Irish "Monk" Coffee

Ingredients:


Kahlua Hot Chocolate (with Pyure Sugar-Free Chocolate Drink Mix)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons Pyure sugar free chocolate drink mix
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 1 oz Kahlua
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Cocoa powder for dusting
  • Cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

“Not So” Moscow Mule (with Gin)

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
  • 3 oz sugar-free ginger beer
  • 2-3 ice cubes
  • Lime wedge for garnish
  • Mint sprig for garnish
  • Pinch of ground ginger (optional)
  • Cucumber slice for garnish (optional)

Brandy Alexander

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz brandy
  • 1 oz whole milk (or unsweetened almond milk)
  • 1/2 oz sugar-free chocolate liqueur
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 drop of Pyure Liquid Stevia
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • Ice cubes
  • Cocoa powder for dusting
  • Cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

Snowball Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz vodka
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • 0.5 oz stevia simple syrup (see below)
  • 2 oz unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 oz cream of coconut (sugar-free version)
  • Ice cubes
  • Shredded coconut for rim
  • Lime wedge for garnish
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Vanilla extract (optional)

Pro Tip: To make stevia simple syrup, combine 1/2 cup warm water with 13 Pyure stevia packets, shake or blend until completely dissolved, and store refrigerated, using within a day of making.

Final Thoughts

Creating low sugar cocktails doesn't mean sacrificing flavor - it means being smarter about your ingredients and more intentional with your mixology! Here’s a Quick Recap on making lower sugar cocktails for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other festive fall and winter holidays:

  • Choose plant-based alternative sweeteners
  • Measure ingredients carefully
  • Experiment with flavor combinations
  • Focus on hiqh-quality spirits
  • Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!

 

Whether you're hosting a holiday party or enjoying a quiet evening at home, these low sugar cocktails prove you can absolutely have your drink and enjoy it too. Cheers to a healthy and happy holiday season! 

See all articles in Recipes - Sugar free and low sugar recipes from Pyure