Who isn't a sucker for holiday cocktails? Warm, spicy, sweet, and creamy is kind of everyone's thing. Unfortunately, all the spin classes in the world are not going to save you from a daily eggnog habit this season. Luckily there's a healthy alternative to just about every holiday cocktail that normally spells disaster for a healthy diet. Keep reading to see which traditional holiday cocktails are the worst offenders — and what their healthy counterparts are.
On the hunt for a yuletide cocktail that'll set your Christmas party above the rest? Look no further than this creation, which comes to us courtesy of Rockwell VT in Los Angeles. Dubbed the Rockwell Holiday Tonic, this cranberry, cinnamon, and apple vodka concoction is a signature cocktail at the restaurant — and sure to be a hit amongst your party guests!
Ever since I spotted this cocktail in Market-Fresh Mixology, I've been dying to try it. With my renewed focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, the weekend was the perfect time to give The Apple Cocktail a shot.
The key is to find a large fruit that sits evenly so it makes for a well-balanced cup. The cozy combination of apple, cinnamon, and lemon means you'll be done with the drink in no time — and the beverage's rustic presentation would make it the perfect après-ski libation. Charm your drinking buddies with this recipe when you read more.
With the baking and gift-giving hysteria that surrounds a holiday like Christmas each year, one would think there'd be more drinks dedicated to Dec. 25. I've always been surprised that only few classic yuletide tipples, beyond the requisite eggnog, mulled cider, and spiked hot chocolate, exist.
Hopefully, the Kentucky Christmas is a forerunner of a holiday trend to come in the following years. Made with fresh cranberries, organic cranberry juice, and bourbon, this festive, jewel-toned cocktail tastes crisp, oh-so-slightly tart, and not overly sweet. Celebrate Christmas cocktail hour in style when you read on.
Every other year, my family hosts a big holiday party where we invite all our friends over. My sister and I always make Martha Stewart's eggnog. It's thick, frothy, and most importantly, boozy. Since this Christmas is an off year, I'm a little bummed we won't be enjoying the eggnog. That's why I decided to cheer myself up by making an eggnog martini. 
There's not much difference between an eggnog martini and eggnog; most eggnog recipes serve a large crowd, while the martini serves just one. To save time I used store-bought eggnog. The resulting concoction wasn't as wonderful as the real thing, but it sure hits the spot. It's potent, creamy, and delicious. See the recipe I used and read more
The holidays are a great time to enjoy spirited cocktails. On today's episode of YumTV, Armando, a bartender at Rockwell VT in Los Angeles, teaches us how to make their cinnamon-spiced beverage, the Rockwell Holiday Tonic. Get the recipe and watch it now! 
After PartySugar served grapefruit sparklers at last week's Cookie Swap, I felt inspired to offer another fizzy citrus cocktail. This vodka-based variation is just as effortless, and since it's a punch, it's perfect for the masses. Each citrus element — orange, lemon, limoncello, zest — contributes a unique brightness to this refreshment, which winds up being complex yet casual at the same time. For the recipe, read more.
This week — the span of time when one has barely recovered from Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas hysteria has not fully begun — I've decided to dine in a manner that's as pared-down as possible. After all the roulades and triple chocolate pumpkin pies, there's something nice about a dinner of roast chicken and butternut squash.
The same goes for cocktails. I've been sipping a drink, the white Cosmopolitan, that possesses an elegant simplicity that most beverages don't have. It tastes nearly identical to the popular favorite, except it gets its gin-clear appearance from white cranberry juice, which is made from berries that are harvested before they turn red.
The result is a libation that's mysterious yet familiar, and glamorous while also practical. Learn how to make it when you read more.
Every few months, I host a book club in my home, and find it a lovely occasion to try out a new cocktail. This time around, I couldn't wait to incorporate ingredients that evoke the holidays, like cranberries and the zesty Italian after-dinner favorite, limoncello.
This three-ingredient sipper couldn't be easier to pull together; it simply calls for seltzer, limoncello, and cranberry juice — no shaker required. Yet the payoff is in spades: "What went into this? Can I have the recipe?" friends asked me throughout the night. I assured them that even the most bar-challenged could make this drink. For a pretty garnish that's a hint of what's to come, toss in a few fresh cranberries, too. Keep reading for the recipe.
While I'm a fan of the classic margarita, during November, I like to enjoy its Thanksgiving-themed cousin, the cranberry margarita. It's surprising how much the addition of cranberry juice changes the flavor of the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice cocktail. It's festive and familiar, but potent with a rich autumnal hue. Instead of craving tortilla chips and guacamole, I found myself wanting something elegant and savory. Thus, I paired the cran marg with a warm crab dip. Shake and serve straight up, or pour over ice, like I did. To check out the recipe, which is perfect for a party, read more
