Sugar-free holiday cocktails

While the holiday season encourages excess, it's possible to make healthy choices. These sugar-free holiday cocktail recipes will give you all the joy of festive beverages without the excessive sugar that accompanies them. Treat yourself to these sugar-free holiday cocktails while you're on vacation.

Iced Gin

A variation on the traditional gin and tonic, this frosted gin recipe features sugar-free ingredients to create a luscious cocktail with delicious winter aromas. Drink in moderation.

Serves: 6 glasses

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 6 cloves
• 1 star anise
• Ice cubes
• 6 ounces gin (preferably a local gin)
• 1 bottle ofunflavored carbonated spring water
• 2 cans tonic soda
• Fresh cranberries

Start

1. In a cocktail shaker, vigorously stir in lemon juice, juniper berries and gin.
2. Pour into 6 cocktail glasses.
3. Fill glasses with equal parts carbonated spring water and tonic soda.
4. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

Mint and chocolate eggnog

A classic that's hard to do without during the holiday season. There are several vegan versions on the market, but none without sugar. So here's ours, perfectly succulent and just in time for the vacation season.

Ingredients

• 3 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoonsSwerve granulated sweetener
• Pinch of dried nutmeg, ground
• 3 cups of unsweetened vanilla-flavoured vegetable almond drink
• 3 drops ofpeppermint essential oil
• 1/4 cup rum

For the whipped cream 

• ¾ cup 35% organic whipping cream or coconut whipping cream for a vegan version
• 1 teaspoon d'Swerve granulated sweetener

For topping

• A pinch of ground nutmeg
• A few sprinkles of dark chocolate chips

Approach

1. In a medium-sized bowl, stir in the egg yolks, the sugar and the chocolate.Swerve® granulated sweetener granulated sweetener and ground nutmeg.
2. In a saucepan, heat the unsweetened vanilla-flavored vegetable almond drink until simmering.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Gradually add the heated vegetable drink to the egg mixture, stirring constantly. It's essential to add the hot liquid gradually, so as not to cook the yolk.
5. Optional For cooked eggnog, transfer the liquid to the saucepan and heat until the eggnog reaches a temperature of 160°C. ^o Remove from heat.
6. Add peppermint essential oil and rum. Stir vigorously and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
7. Prepare the whipped cream by combining all ingredients in a large, chilled bowl. Whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer to stiffen the cream. Chill in the fridge.
8. To serve: Place a few ice cubes in cocktail glasses. Pour in mint eggnog. Top with whipped cream, chocolate and a pinch of nutmeg.

Iced tea with Christmas spices

This iced tea recipe is a perfect substitute for the famous sweet fruit punch often served at festive times. Keep this Christmas spice iced tea on display to encourage guests to stay hydrated and reduce their alcohol intake. This spiced iced tea will delight adults and children alike, who will appreciate a very special beverage in honor of Christmas.

Serves: 2 liters Christmas spiced iced tea

Triple the recipe to fill a punch bowl

Ingredients

• 2 liters of hot water
• 3 tablespoons rooibos herbal tea
• 1 tablespoonSwerve granulated sweetener
• 3-4 anise stars
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Grapefruit and orange slices

Approach

1. Infuse the rooibos herbal tea in two liters of hot water. Leave to stand for ten minutes.
2. Sieve the herbal tea. Add theSwerve® granulated sweetener. Stir vigorously to dissolve crystals.
3. Add anise stars and cinnamon sticks.
4. Chill for a few hours in the fridge.
5. Just before serving, garnish with orange and grapefruit slices.

Happy Holidays!

About the author

Naturopaths of La Boite à Grains

Team of licensed and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau, Outaouais.

Original article written by Véronique Cousineau, Naturopath