Antioxidant-Packed Christmas Cocktails

Without a few holiday cheers here and there, the season wouldn’t be nearly as fun. Unfortunately, many of the drinks served at seasonal soirees carry a caloric sticker shock just as bad as the desserts. A chocolate martini rings in at 438 calories (and 20 grams of fat), a rum punch has more than 300 and a white Russian has 250.

So when I heard of local vegan blogger Kelly White Phillips‘ healthful twist on holiday spirits, I had to share them with you.

Whether you make the Pom-Ginger Martini or the Power Collins, you’ll get a super-shot of antioxidants. Plus, her recipes swap out sugary liqueurs and corn syrups for agave nectar, which has a lower glycemic impact than many other sweeteners (which means it won’t jolt your blood sugar as badly), and neither one is a Christmas calorie bomb.

I can just see how nice the red Pom-Ginger Martini and the green Power Collins would look mingling about at a holiday party, can’t you?  Enjoy!

Pom-Ginger Snap
Serves 1

Ingredients
.5 ounces Pom-Ginger syrup (recipe below)
4 ounces crisp, white wine
1 piece dried ginger, optional

Directions
Pour wine into a wine glass. Drizzle syrup slowly into glass. Allow to settle before serving. Garnish with a piece of dried ginger. Enjoy!

Pom Ginger Syrup
Makes enough for roughly 8-10 Pom-Ginger Martinis

Ingredients
1, 2-inch knot of ginger, sliced and peeled
3 ounces Pom juice
1.5 ounces agave nectar
.5 ounces Angostura Bitters

Directions
Muddle ginger. Place in shaker without ice. Add Pom juice, agave nectar and bitters. Shake vigorously. (Work those guns!) Fine strain into a squeeze bottle. Keep refrigerated in air-tight container for up to two weeks. Shake syrup before each use.

Power Collins
Serves 1

Ingredients
1 tsp. agave nectar
2 ounces gin
2 ounces Green Juice Cooler, fine strained (recipe below)
Club soda to taste

Directions
Add agave to tall glass, followed by gin and juice cooler. Stir. Add ice. Top with club soda. Stir again. Serve and enjoy!

Green Juice Cooler
Serves 4
This basic green juice recipe has a clean, citrus-y flavor. Use it for a Power Collins or serve over ice topped with club soda for a refreshing, alcohol-free beverage.

Ingredients
1 bunch spinach
½ bulb of fennel, bulb only
1 bunch parsley
2 lemons
1.5 apples

Add all ingredients to a juicer in order above. Strain before serving. Best made the day of when using for cocktails. Keep leftover juice refrigerated in an air-tight container and enjoy within two to three days.