Holiday Cocktails

You don't have to drink your calories this Christmas season. Here are some fabulous drinks to help you keep your figure rather than putting on the pounds:

Reindeer Tracks

Ingredients
2 oz. Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. hazelnut liqueur
1/2 oz. crème de cacao
Splash of cream
2 chocolate cookie wafers, crushed

Preparation
Rim a martini glass with chocolate cookie crumbs and set aside. Shake Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka, hazelnut liqueur, crème de cacao and cream over ice and pour into the glass. Dust top with more chocolate cookie crumbs.


The swap: Instead of using cookies, try crushed hazelnuts or low-fat graham crackers. You can also substitute 2% milk or half-and-half for the “splash of cream.”

The save: 108 calories and 7.5 grams of fat

Eggnog Martini

Ingredients
2-1/2 oz. eggnog
1 oz. Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka
3/4 oz. amaretto

Preparation
Combine ingredients in shaker and shake with ice. Strain into chilled martini glass. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg or cinnamon.


The swap: Instead of eggnog, use 1/4 cup of 2% milk combined with 2 Tbl. of bourbon with a dash of freshly grated nutmeg (or simply buy a low-fat eggnog!).

The save: 22 to 44 calories

’Tis the Season Sangria
Serves: 8

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
Freshly squeezed juice of 1 orange
Freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
Cinnamon stick
750 ml red wine
1 oz. Cointreau
6 oz. sparkling water
4 oranges, thinly sliced, for garnish
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish
1/2 lime, thinly sliced, for garnish
1/2 Pippin or Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced, for garnish
20 grapes, green and red, for garnish

Preparation
Place sugar, water, orange and lemon juices, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour red wine, Cointreau, and sparkling water into a punch bowl. Remove cinnamon stick from the syrup, then pour into punch bowl. Float fruit on top. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

The swap: Use agave nectar, which dissolves easily and is low on the glycemic index, and honey or a low-cal sugar alternative like Splenda to sweeten. (Or, you could just cut back on the amount of sugar!).

The save: 193 calories

Chocolate Peppermint Cookie

Ingredients
3/4 oz. Partida Blanco Tequila
1 oz. peppermint schnapps
3/4 oz. Godiva Liqueur
1-1/2 oz. cream
Chocolate syrup and candy canes for garnish

Preparation
Rim martini glass with chocolate syrup and crushed candy canes. Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into glass.

The swap: Use 2% milk instead of cream, and unsweetened cocoa powder (or sugar-free chocolate syrup) instead of chocolate sauce.

The save: 152 calories and 15 grams of fat!