Every fun Holiday Party starts with a festive drink. I love to have a themed cocktail at every party even a cookie exchange. Check out the Rudolph noses we did last year. However festive and only once a year, these drinks can pack on unwanted calories. Close to Home partnered with DailyBuzz Food and Sweet’N Low as a tastemaker to come up with a festive low calorie drink.

Nothing says the holidays more than the flavors of Cranberries and Oranges. I chose this one because not only for the ease but the look. How festive with the floating cranberries. This recipe is created for one beverage but you could probably make a pitcher of the mixture and then add the tonic water to serve.

Cranberry Orange Gin Fizz

 (2-inch) orange rind strip
1 tablespoon fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup ice cubes
3 tablespoons gin
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1/4 cup tonic water
Preparation

Muddle orange rind strip, fresh cranberries, and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes, gin, and fresh orange juice. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Pour into an 8-oz. glass; top with tonic water. Serve immediately.
*Frozen cranberries, thawed, may be substituted.
FROM:Norman King, Southern Living

I found some great Holiday and New Year’s Eve Drink recipes on Real Simple and thought I would share them. I also thought I would share adapted as lower calorie. Wherever you see sugar, use Sweet’N Low for a sweeter and lower calorie Holiday beverage.

Serves 4|   Pomegranate Martinis
Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup vodka
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup Cointreau
lime slices, for garnish
Directions
Chill 4 martini glasses. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring the sugar and ¼ cup water to a simmer. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the vodka, juices, and Cointreau. Add 2 cups ice and stir until well chilled.
Strain the martinis into the chilled glasses; garnish each with a lime slice.

Mulled Wine with Cranberry

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
2 pieces star anise
3 cups dry red wine (such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
Directions
In a large saucepan, combine the cranberry juice cocktail, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Stir in the wine and cranberries and bring back to a simmer. Serve warm.

Easy Blender Eggnog
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 large eggs
3/4 cup brandy
Directions
In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream, sugar, and nutmeg just to a simmer.
In a blender, blend the eggs on low speed for 1 minute. With the motor running, gradually add the hot cream mixture. Blend until frothy, about 30 seconds more. Add the brandy and blend to combine. Serve warm.

Lemony Gin Punch
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 cup club soda
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup gin
lemon wedges, for garnish
Directions
In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer. Remove from heat, stir in the honey, and let cool.
In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the club soda, lemon juice, and gin. Serve over ice; garnish each glass with a lemon wedge.

Mango Fizzes
Ingredients
1 tablespoon sugar
1 orange wedge
2 1/2 cups sparkling wine
3/4 cup mango nectar
1 teaspoon orange bitters
orange zest twists, for garnish
Directions
Place the sugar on a small plate. Rub the rims of 4 Champagne flutes with the orange wedge, then dip the rims in the sugar to coat.
In a large pitcher, combine the wine, mango nectar, and bitters. Serve in the prepared flutes; garnish each with an orange zest twist.

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