Low-Carb Cocktails for a Skinnier 2014: Two Rules To Know.
So you did it. You made a New Year’s resolution to slim up. Maybe it was just a passing thought that you hope will stick. Or maybe you just know that you need to cut back on carbs but don’t want to completely cut back on cocktails.
Here are the two basic rules to follow and a few low-carb recipes to try for skinnier drinks in your 2014 lineup.
#1 Sugar is the white death.
We ALL know sugar is not a necessary ingredient to a healthy life. It’s been proven to decay your teeth and your body if given the chance. But it’s also one of the main ingredients in your tastiest cocktails. So what do you do? You get creative. Use sugar-free jams, juices or mixers (like diet tonic water or diet 7-up).
#2 Use no-carb spirits
Tequilla, rum, whiskey, gin and vodka are all considered no-carb spirits that you can use as your base alcohol. And these can lead to plenty of good concoctions. Watch out for liqueurs, however, as they can pack on the sugary carbs fast.
Here are a few of our fav low-carb recipes for some traditionally high-carb drinks. But also check out some new, trendy recipes created by our friends at Low Carb High Party, too.
Low-Carb Cosmo
Traditionally, a cosmopolitan is loaded with sugar. But when you use diet cranberry juice (not "light") and Stevia or other no-cal sweetener, you cut the carbs to about 2.5 grams!
- 1 jigger (1.5 oz or 3 tablespoons) Citron vodka or regular vodka
- 1 oz (2 tablespoons) diet cranberry juice OR 2 teaspoons unsweetened cranberry juice and 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (fresh preferred)
- 2 to 3 drops orange extract or orange bitters
- 2 to 4 teaspoons sugar equivalent in artificial sweetener (to taste)
Low-Carb White Russian
Wow, if you like these, there’s a reason. The high-carb version uses coffee liqueur which is loaded with sugar. It’s tasty for sure, but definitely a no-no if you’re going low-carb. So we suggest you substitute with a sugar-free Kahlua-flavored syrup. Ta-da, problem solved.
- 1 jigger (1.5 oz or 3 tablespoons) vodka
- 1 jigger heavy cream
- 1 jigger Sugar-Free Kahlua-Flavored Syrup