Did anyone say liquid calories? Unfortunately, that’s what many of our favorite cocktails are. But what if we told you “skinnier” cocktail recipes exist? Check out some of these yummy options below!
Skinny Grapefruit Margarita
Taco Tuesday, anyone? This light beverage goes great with a Mexican-inspired dinner. Plus, grapefruit is one of the healthiest fruits, considering it has a ton of vitamins A and C. Try this recipe, courtesy of Simple Joy.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Skinny Triple Sec
- 1 oz gold tequila
- Juice of ½ grapefruit (⅓ cup)
- Juice of ½ lime
- ½ cup sparkling water
Instructions: Combine all ingredients; serve over ice.
Skinny Sparkling Blueberry Mojito
Calling all mint lovers! If you’re looking for a summer beverage that won’t kill your diet, here it is. The blueberry mixes in perfectly, making this a tempting treat. Check out this recipe from With Salt & Wit.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup baking stevia or sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 heaping cups frozen blueberries
- 6 oz white rum
- Handful of mint leaves
- 2 cups sparkling water, such as La Croix
Instructions: In a small-medium saucepan, add baking stevia, water, and frozen blueberries. Bring to a boil, then reduce and let cook for 10 minutes. As it cooks, mash the blueberries with a fork or spoon to break them down. After they cool down a bit, add contents to a blender and purée until smooth. Let cool for a few hours or until ready to serve (or place in freezer for 10-15 minutes to get cold, but don’t let it freeze!). To serve, add a few mint leaves and 1½ oz rum to a highball glass with ice. Add 2 oz of the blueberry syrup. Top with sparkling water and serve immediately. Garnish with mint and extra blueberries, if desired.
Skinny Key Lime Pie Cocktail
If you like Key lime pie, this is the cocktail for you! The low calories are just a bonus. We love this recipe courtesy of A Nerd Cooks.
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz whipped-cream vodka
- 1½ oz Key lime juice
- Lemon-lime soda
- Whipped cream and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions: Add whipped-cream vodka and Key lime juice to a tall glass with ice. Top with lemon-lime soda and stir gently. Garnish with whipped cream and a lime wheel, if desired.
Low-Carb Raspberry Moscow Mule
It’s time for those classic copper mugs! Vodka, ginger beer, raspberries, limes, and a few mint leaves are all it takes to make this super-refreshing drink. Check out this recipe we found on Nutrition Untapped.
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup raspberries
- 3 oz vodka
- 6 oz diet ginger beer
- 4 oz club soda or sparkling water
- 1 lime, juiced
- Mint leaves (optional)
Instructions: In a tall cocktail shaker, mash raspberries. Add vodka, ginger beer, club soda, and lime juice; shake until combined. Fill two 16 oz copper mugs halfway with ice; divide Moscow mule mixture between the two glasses. Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint, if desired.
Kombucha Margarita
Kombucha is a fermented tea loaded with probiotics, which are known to improve and support gut health. So this tasty beverage is already off to a good start! Add tequila, agave nectar, triple sec, and lime juice, and you’ve made a masterpiece. We love this recipe we found on Advanced Mixology.
Ingredients:
- Sea salt for the rim
- 3 oz tequila
- 2 oz triple sec or Cointreau
- 3 oz fresh lime juice (about 2-3 limes)
- 6 oz plain kombucha (or flavor of choice)
Instructions: Wet the rims of glasses with lime juice or water and dip in salt. Shake all ingredients except kombucha with some ice in a cocktail shaker until exterior frosts. Add kombucha and give it a quick stir. Strain into glasses over ice and garnish with lime slices.
Lemon Spritz
Are you looking for a thirst-quenching drink that’s made of minimal ingredients? The traditional lemon spritz has you covered – and it packs one heck of a nutritional punch! (Lemon juice has a ton of vitamin C.) We recommend this recipe from Advanced Mixology.
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz vodka
- ½ oz lemon juice
- Soda
- Lemon slice
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker, add vodka and lemon juice with ice. Shake well until combined. Pour over ice and top off with soda. Garnish with lemon.
Apricot Whiskey Sour
Whiskey has high levels of polyphenols, which can help lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol, and reduce bad fat in the blood. Just mix apricot preserves and lemon juice, and you have a scrumptious drink. Check out this recipe from Advanced Mixology.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz whiskey
- 1 oz apricot preserves
- ½ lemon juice
- Apricot slices
Instructions: Combine whiskey, apricot preserves, and lemon juice with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well until combined. Pour the mixed cocktail over ice into your desired drinking glass. Garnish with apricot slices.
Tried any of the recipes above? Share your experience with us in the comments below!