The Holiday Season is almost here, and you are determined to stick to your low carb diet. Buy you are destined not to be that person at the holiday party just drinking vodka and club soda all night. No, not you. Let’s face it, it’s been a year. Plus you are killing it on your diet, so you deserve festive low carb holiday cocktails filled with yuletide flavor.
The good news is there isn’t any reason why you can’t stick to your low carb or ketogenic diet and enjoy a good holiday happy hour or party. We’re going to explore everything from easy keto-friendly and low carb Holiday cocktails that you can order at the bar or whip up at a house party, to festive cocktails that you can create to be a huge hit at your next holiday party.
In this article we’ll explore:
- Easy Low Carb Holiday Cocktails
- Keto and Low-Carb Mixers
- Festive Low Carb Holiday Cocktail Recipes
- How to Easily Infuse Your Own Liquor
- How to Make Your Own Simple Syrup
Easy Low Carb Holiday Cocktails
These simple cocktail recipes can be made at any party to put you in the holiday spirit. Each one is paired together with simple ingredients that will get any grinch in the mood.
No Carb Cranberry Vodka Seltzer
1.5 oz Vodka
1 oz Diet Cranberry Juice
Sparkling water
99 calories, 0.2 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0 g protein
White Christmas
1.5 oz Absolut Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Champagne
Sparkling Water
Garnish with fresh cranberries
121 calories, 1 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0.1 g protein
Christmas Fruit Cake
1.5 oz Absolut Mandarin Vodka
1 oz Diet Cranberry Juice
1 oz Diet Ginger Beer
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
Low-carb Pineapple Seltzer
112 calories, 4 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0.1 g protein
Stocking Full of Coal
1.5 oz Absolut Vanilla Vodka
Diet Coke
98 calories, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0 g protein
Keto and Low-Carb Mixers
When you are at a holiday party or at a bar during this festive season, it’s super handy to know some go-to low-carb and keto-friendly mixers. So let’s keep the good times rolling while sticking to your diet.
- Low-carb seltzers – These make great mixers that add a touch of flavor to your cocktail. All you need to do is add a shot of vodka and you have an easy cocktail. For a list of 101 Best Low-Carb Seltzer Drinks click here.
- Diet Sodas – Choose your favorite flavor. Diet Sprite or Diet Coke can be easily paired with your favorite spirit. Look for a flavored vodka with zero carbs, like Absolut Vodka, mix and enjoy.
- Heavy Cream (in moderation – but go on, give it a splash)
- Hot Tea and Coffee – Get all warm and cozy by adding your favorite liquor into your very own hot toddy. Grab your favorite flavored tea bag or brew a cup of joe. You can even sweeten it up with some low-carb sweetener.
- Coconut Milk – In moderation. 4 oz has 3.6 g of carbs.
- Champaign – Also in Moderation, 4 oz has 2.9 g of carbs, so maybe just a splash
High Carb Mixers to Avoid
Let’s keep you on track for your weight loss or other low-carb diet goals by knowing which mixers are packed full of carbs. There’s of course other items, but this is a good place to start:
- Fruit Juices: 4 oz of Orange Juice has 11.4 g carbs, and Cranberry Juice has 12.3 g carbs.
- Egg Nog: 4 oz has 15 g of carbs
- Champaign and Wine: maybe just add an ounce to your cocktail to elevate the flavor.
- Apple Cider: Though it is the season, 4. oz has 15 g of carbs.
Also be sure to avoid sweeteners such as: Brown Sugar, Sugar, Maple Syrup, and similar. When in doubt add sugar-free sweetener or our suger-free syrup recipe.
Low-Carb Cocktail Recipes
You’re looking for that perfect festive keto holiday cocktail, but with out all the carbohydrates and sugars. Let’s turn you into your own low-carb bar tender. We’ll take a look at how we can adapt everything from your classic cocktails to spiced-up low carb Christmas cocktails.
What Makes A Great Cocktail
First, let’s dive into the essential components of making a perfectly balanced cocktail. The ideal ratio is:
2 parts alcohol or spirts + 1 part sweet + 1 part acid/bitter
Now if you want to take it up a notch you can spice things up for the holidays:
2 parts alcohol or spirts + 1 part sweet + 1 part acid or bitter + 1 part herbs or spice
Now, not every cocktail needs to follow this ratio. It’s all about personal preference. You might have a sweet tooth or feeling a bit exotic. Some times you want to follow the rules, other times you are just living life by the seat of your pants this time of year. Either way, there’s plenty of options to find some holiday joy with a delicious low carb Christmas cocktail.
Low Carb Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Ring in the holidays with these amazing low carb and keto cocktails. Scroll down to find out how easy it is to make your own Infused Alcohol and Sugar-Free Simple Syrups to add to these holiday drinks or any classic cocktail.
Gingerbread cookie
2 oz Absolut Vanilla Vodka
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
2 TBSP Heavy Cream
1 tsp Sugar free simple syrup with ginger, cloves and nutmeg
Place ice into a shaker, pour in all ingredients, shake and strain.
Served over ice. Sprinkle with cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg, because you’re fancy.
180 calories, 2 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 5 g fat, 0 g protein
Chai Christmas
1 Chai Tea Bag
2 oz Cinnamon Infused Whisky
6 oz Hot Water
1 tsp Sugar-free simple syrup (or go next level and use a sugar-free simple syrup with vanilla, ginger, gloves and nutmeg)
Bring water to boil. Seep Chai tea bag for 3-5 minutes (or until desired strength). Remove tea bag and pour in Cinnamon Infused Whisky. Stir in sugar-free syrup (adjust amount to your liking). Optional – twist orange peel over your tea and use as garnish.
*make sure you choose a sugar-free Chai Tea.
129 calories, 2 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 5 g fat, 0 g protein
Festival of Lights
1 oz Absolut Mandarin Vodka
1 oz Absolut Vanilla Vodka
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
1 tsp Sugar-Free Simple Syrup or Sugar-Free Sweetener
Splash of Sparkling Water
In a shaker, combine Absolut Mandarin Vodka, Absolut Vanilla Vodka, fresh lemon juice, and sugar-free simple syrup. Add ice cubes to the shaker and shake well to chill the mixture.
Pour into champaign flute or your fancy glass of choice. Add a splash of sparkling water to give it some fizz. Top with sugar-free whipped cream and drink it like the queen you are.
195 calories, 3 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0 g protein
Santa’s To-Go Cup
2 oz Peppermint Infused Vodka
1 oz Dark Rum
2 oz Cold Brewed Coffee
1 TBSP Heavy Cream
Optional: 1 TBSP Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup
In a shaker, combine the peppermint-infused vodka, dark rum, cold brew coffee, and chocolate syrup (optional). Shake well to combine and chill the mixture. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice. Add a splash of cream to the top. Enjoy this holiday white Russian with a twist.
388 calories, 5 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 5 g fat, 0 g protein (Hersey’s Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup adds an additional 5 calories and 2 g carbs)
Peppermint Cocoa Bliss
1 TBSP Cocoa Powder
1 Packet Sugar Free Sweetener or 1 TBSP of zero sugar simple syrup
4 oz Hot Water
1.5 oz Peppermint Infused Vodka
Splash of Cream (1 TBSP)
In a mug, mix the cocoa powder and sugar-free sweetener or zero sugar simple syrup. Pour the hot water over the cocoa mixture and stir well until fully combined. Add the peppermint-infused vodka and stir again. Top with a splash of cream.
170 calories, 6 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 1 g protein
Keto Cranberry Moscow Mule
Muddle fresh cranberries or 1 oz Diet Ocean Spray cranberry juice (0.25 g carbs per oz)
1.5 oz vodka (Can also use cranberry-infused vodka)
4 oz Diet Sugar-Free Ginger Beer
1 TBSP Fresh Lime juice
Serve over ice
You can be a master cocktail maker and muddle your own cranberries or go to the store and get some diet Ocean Spray cranberry juice. It’s your night, you do you. Fill up your copper mule mug with ice, add cranberry juice or muddled cranberries, vodka, lime juice and stir. Top off your mug diet ginger beer. Stir gently to combine all ingredients. Be all fancy and garnish with fresh cranberries or a lime wheel if you like.
112 calories, 4 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0 g protein
Spiced Cranberry Vanilla Martini
1.5 oz Cranberry Infused Vodka
1 oz Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
2 tsp Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar-Free Syrup
Ice Cubes
Optional: Fresh Cranberries for Garnish
In a shaker combine ice, Vodka, Cranberry Juice and Sugar-free syrup. Shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass and toss in a few fresh cranberries to add some extra Christmas spirit.
104 calories, 3 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0 g protein
Yule Log
2 oz Cinnamon Infused Whisky
1 oz Vanilla vodka
2 tsp Sugar Free Simple syrup
1 TBSP Heavy Cream, Half and Half or Whole Milk
Optional: Ground Cinnamon for Garnish
In a mixing glass, combine the cinnamon-infused whisky, vanilla vodka, and sugar-free simple syrup. Add ice to the glass and stir well to chill the mixture. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice. Slowly pour the heavy cream over the back of a spoon to float it on top of the drink. Sprinkle a dusting of ground cinnamon on top for garnish.
245 calories, 1 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 5 g fat, 0 g protein
Low-Carb and Full of Flavor
You want flavor in your low carb holiday drink, but you’re finding that almost all of the full-flavor alcohols and a lot of the mixers have a ton of carbs. There’s only one solution, it’s time to make your own. Now you are probably thinking that it will be a lot of work, and hard to do. It’s easier than you think. I’ll show you some simple ways to add a lot of flavor to your alcoholic beverages so you can easily make a low carb holiday cocktail.
The two ways we are going to look at adding flavor to your drinks are: Infusing your own liquor and making a no-carb simple syrup. You can also find this process in another article where I talk about making your own Fireball Whisky and low-carb cinnamon cocktails.
Making Your Own Low-Carb Flavored Liquor
This is so simple to do and there are endless possibilities. There’s two parts for this. 1. Grab your favorite low-carb, hard liquor (Vodka, Whisky, Gin, Rum, Tequila) 2. Choose your flavor element (go sweet, spicy, herbal, whatever your mood is telling you, run with it). For the flavor element, there is some room to play here with sugar depending on your chosen low-carb diet. You are infusing an entire bottle of alcohol, so keep that in mind when you are adding something in. If you are on keto or Atkins 20 then you will want to steer towards the no sugar options.
Infusing Your Own Liquor
Homemade Infused Alcohol Recipe
1 Bottle of Alcohol
Add Flavoring
Let sit for about 5 days
That’s it, it is really that simple.
Now, you are going to find that different flavors work better than others. Oh darn, you are just going to have to try different low-carb drinks until you get it right… oh the horror. You can do small batch experimentations by adding your favorite alcohol and the flavoring into mason jars. This way you can taste and compare. Discovering the ideal balance of flavor tailored to your taste is such a rewarding journey. Some flavors hit their peak in just three days, while others evolve into something truly extraordinary after a week or two. It’s all about finding the sweet spot that suits your palate perfectly. Cheers to the art of infusion!
Now let’s take a look at some flavor infusions that will work amazingly in our festive holiday cocktails.
Homemade Vanilla Vodka:
Take your favorite bottle of Vodka
Add 1 vanilla bean that is split down the middle (just cut it with a knife)
Let it sit for about 1-2 weeks
(Absolut makes a zero carb vanilla vodka, as well as a lot of flavors. But if you want to make your own with a different brand of vodka or punch up the flavor a bit, it’s easy to do)
Homemade Vanilla, Cinnamon and Cloves Vodka:
Take your favorite bottle of Vodka (or choose to start with a no-carb vanilla flavored vodka)
Add 1 vanilla bean that is split down the middle (just cut it with a knife)
Add 3 Cinnamon sticks
Add 1-2 teaspoons whole cloves (you can experiment with slightly toasting these on a non-greased hot pan for a few minutes before adding to the vodka)
Let it sit for 5-7 days.
Homemade Peppermint Vodka:
Take your favorite bottle of Vodka
Add 10-20 Peppermint candies
Let it sit for about 2-4 days
Now peppermint candies do have about 5 g of carbs per each candy. Depending how long you let it sit the more of each candy will dissolve. Remember when calculating your carbs that they are dispersed into the full bottle of vodka. Use more or less based on your carb intake allowances.
Second Option:
Take your favorite bottle of Vodka
Add 1 tsp Peppermint extract (per each 20 oz of vodka)
Let sit for 1-2 days
Homemade Cranberry Vodka or Tequila:
Take your favorite bottle of Vodka or Tequila
Add fresh or frozen cranberries
Let sit for 1-2 days.
Homemade Cinnamon Whisky:
Take your favorite bottle of Whisky
Add 3-5 Cinnamon sticks in
Let it sit for about 5 days
Other fun flavor combinations to try:
- Vodka + Jalapeño
- Vodka + Rosemary
- Vodka + Berries
- Vodka + Ginger
- Vodka + Your Favorite Tea
- Whisky + Cinnamon + Vanilla + Orange Peal
- Whisky + Apples + Cinnamon
- Whisky + Butterscotch (just throw in some of the candies)
- Tequila + Oranges + Pineapple
- Tequila + Oranges + Cranberries
Making Your Own Simple Syrup
Craving a touch of sweetness in your cocktail? Elevate your holiday spirit by crafting your very own simple syrup. Whip up a quick batch, pour it into a decorative bottle, and let your guests craft delicious cocktails all night long—minus the unwanted sugar.
Begin with a classic simple syrup and then dive into the joy of experimenting with festive holiday flavors. Your drinks just got a whole lot sweeter, and your gatherings a whole lot merrier!
No-Carb Simple Syrup:
1 part water
1 part no-carb sweetener (think Stevia, Monk Fruit, or similar)
Add both into a small pan. (For a first batch try 1 cup water and 1 cup sweetener). Stir together. Bring to simmer. Stir with a whisk until it dissolves completely. Let it cool and you are ready to add it to your favorite cocktail recipes.
Add this simple syrup along with your infused alcohol and you have the perfect drink for special occasions.
Another option to infusing your own alcohol is to add the flavor right into the simple syrup. As with infusing your own vodka, keep in mind the amount of carbs for the entire batch when picking your flavors.
Low-Carb Vanilla Simple Syrup:
1 Cup water
1 Cup no-carb sweetener (think Stevia, Monk Fruit, or similar)
1 TBSP Vanilla Extract (1.6.g carb per TBSP)
Add water and no-carb sweetener into a small pan. Stir together. Bring to simmer. Stir with a whisk until it dissolves completely. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let it cool and it’s ready for your cocktails.
Low-Carb Cinnamon Simple Syrup
1 Cup water
1 Cup no-carb sweetener (think Stevia, Monk Fruit, or similar)
1 Cinnamon Stick
Add water and no-carb sweetener into a small pan. Stir together. Bring to simmer. Stir with a whisk until it dissolves completely. Reduce heat to low, add Cinnamon stick, cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. (For a bonus, add in 1 TBSP vanilla after you remove it from the heat)
Low-Carb Simple Syrup with Herbs
1 Cup water
1 Cup no-carb sweetener (think Stevia, Monk Fruit, or similar)
1 Bunch of fresh herbs or 1-4 TBSP dried herbs
Add water and no-carb sweetener into a small pan. Stir together. Bring to simmer. Stir with a whisk until it dissolves completely. Remove from heat, add fresh or dried herbs and cover. Let it seep for about 30 minutes or until it is cool. Strain and enjoy!
For your herbs you can try so many options and flavor combinations: Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, just to name a few.
Experiment with different flavor options by adding any of these elements or more when you take your simple sugar off of the heat. Cool, strain, and start making some cocktails:
- Orange zest and peel
- Lemon zest and peel
- Muddled cranberries or other berries
- Ginger
- Butterscotch
Imagine your next holiday party with a variety of different sugar-free or low-carb simple syrups. Your guests can get creative, mixing and matching their perfect holiday cocktails tailored to their unique tastes. Elevate your gathering with a touch of DIY cocktail magic!
Festive Holiday Cocktail Garnishes
Now that you have the perfect cocktail flavors, it’s time to top them off. Because let’s be honest, a touch of festive flair can make every sip a celebration!
- Cranberries or Raspberries
- Cinnamon Stick
- Ground Cinnamon Sprinkle
- Cocoa Powder Sprinkle
- Cinnamon and Sugar-Free Sweetener Rim
- Sugar-Free Marshmallows
- Lemmon Wheel Dusted with Sugar-Free Sweetener
Cheers!
It’s totally possible to stick to your low-carb or keto diet this holiday season while enjoying a delicious cocktail. As always, make sure to double check the nutritional information on any ingredient you are adding to your drinks to ensure it doesn’t have any surprise carbs. I hope you enjoy these easy recipes and fancy festive cocktails this holiday season.