Try This Low-Calorie and Healthy Winter Cocktail Recipe

The winter season is a great time to try new and delicious drinks and foods. As much as it’s tempting to dive into hot chocolates and fried foods, it’s important to find a balance. When it comes to alcoholic drinks, they can be full of hidden calories and sugar. Try this low-calorie take on the classic Moscow mule for your next winter cocktail.

100-Calorie Moscow Mule Winter Cocktail Recipe

Your standard Moscow mule is a go-to drink for many. You combine ginger beer, vodka, simple syrup, ginger, and lime juice for a tasty concoction. At first glance, you probably think it’s a pretty healthy drink, but it’s packing more than 180 calories and 20 grams of sugar per glass. But with a few tweaks, you can make your own healthy, low-calorie version. To keep the cocktail sweet, you can use stevia, a natural sweetener. Cut down on calories and sugar with a slight adjustment. Don’t worry; it tastes just as good, if not better than, the original.

Moscow mules in 2 copper mugs with sliced lime, the best winter cocktail.
Moscow Mules Is Best Served In A Copper Mug (Image Source: Shutterstock)

If you’re not familiar with Moscow mules, the cocktail is best served in a copper mug. Copper is a fantastic thermal conductor, so it responds to the temperature inside of the mug. In this case, it keeps your Moscow mule cool and creates a chilling sensation as you sip. Before you start creating your masterpiece, beware of copper mugs not lined with nickel or stainless steel. Copper can be toxic when you mix it with acidic drinks, so be careful.

What You’ll Need for this Winter Cocktail:

  • 110 g ginger root 
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp stevia 
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup sparkling water 
  • ¼ cup vodka 
  • 2 sprigs of mint 
  • Half a lime, cut into wedges 

Procedure:

  1. In a blender, puree the ginger root and water. 
  2. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth and into a saucepan.  
  3. On high heat, add the stevia and lemon juice and bring to a boil. 
  4. Boil the mixture for ten minutes and reduce half of the liquid. 
  5. Take the saucepan off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
  6. Next, grab your cocktail shaker. Combine the ginger liquid, sparkling water, vodka, and shake. 
  7. Pour the drink into two copper mugs or glasses with ice. 
  8. Garnish your Moscow mule with mint and a wedge of lime. 

Sugar Substitute: What Is Stevia?

Alcoholic drinks and winter cocktails can be full of empty calories. A frozen daiquiri has almost forty grams of sugar. Although it’s delicious, that’s a massive amount of sugar to have in just one drink. By finding ways to cut the amount of sugar in cocktails, you can figure out how to enjoy your favorite drink without the guilt.

Women drinking champagne.
Low-calorie Cocktails Include Champagne, a Martini And a Gimlet (Image Source: Shutterstock)

You can still stick to your health and fitness routine while enjoying the occasional alcoholic beverage. Low-calorie cocktails include champagne, a martini, and a gimlet. They keep sugar to a minimum but still taste fantastic.

The Moscow mule cocktail uses stevia as a sugar substitute instead of the typical simple syrup. Stevia is known as a safe and effective substitute for sugar. The natural sweetener is derived from the leaves of the stevia plant. It has zero calories and is two hundred times sweeter than table sugar.

Stevia is a popular choice for people who want to lose weight or cut their sugar intake. There are several causes of obesity, including physical inactivity and a diet high in sugars and processed foods. Consuming a diet high in added sugars contributes to health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Stevia can help to reduce calorie and sugar intake but still offer a sweet taste.

Stevia: Is It The Best Sugar Substitute – ActiveBeat

If you’re not a fan of stevia, you could use a dash of honey or maple syrup to add a bit of sweetness to your winter cocktail.

Moscow Mule Benefits: Powerful Antioxidants and Digestive Health

When you’re looking for healthier fruity alcohol drinks, look for specific ingredients that will boost your beverage. In the low-calorie Moscow mule recipe, the ginger root is particularly beneficial. Ginger root is known to have many benefits for digestive health and nausea. Ginger also contains powerful antioxidants and may help to reduce oxidative stress.

Female friends enjoying night out at cocktail bar.
When You’re Looking For Healthier Fruity Alcohol Drinks, Look For Specific Ingredients That Will Boost Your Beverage (Image Source: Shutterstock)

Whether it’s for a birthday or a nice meal, sometimes you want to have a glass of something bubbly and alcoholic. There are certainly ways you can incorporate alcohol into a healthy routine. You don’t need to cut out everything to benefit from your exercise routine. Think about using low-calorie mixers low in sugar and calories, like unsweetened coffee or iced tea. Add potent and fresh ingredients like mint, ginger, and cinnamon for a nutritional boost.

Healthy Cocktails to Try This Year

No matter what time of year it is, there’s something about a beautiful-looking cocktail that’s hard to turn down. Often, when you think of cocktails, you think sugar, syrup, fruit juice, and calories. Some frozen cocktails can contain over five hundred calories in just one serving. Although some cocktails are closer to junk food in terms of sugar content, you can create healthy cocktails that fit in with your lifestyle.

4 Healthy Cocktails At Home – Alexandrea Garza

Once you start drinking, it can be tough to turn down the next one. It’s far too easy for one drink to turn into three. But a drink with friends doesn’t have to ruin your diet or your exercise regime. By alternating your drinks with water, planning ahead, and eating before you drink, you can choose healthier options. A classic mojito, gin and tonic, and tequila kombucha all come in at under 200 calories.

Take the time to find an alcoholic drink you enjoy that doesn’t destroy your diet. Stick to the idea of everything in moderation. A few drinks here and there isn’t going to derail your diet. By avoiding more calorie-dense and sugar-ridden cocktails, you can opt for a healthier version. If you’re looking for a winter cocktail to spice up your evening, this Moscow mule recipe is perfect.