‘Tis the season to party hearty! There's a good chance that your guests will arrive at your holiday gathering already feeling merry and bright. But here are some festive cocktails to help them feel downright jolly.

It’s a good idea to select a sip that will complement any appetizers or snacks you may be serving. Or you can choose one to serve all night. These recipes can be prepared either with alcohol or as a delicious mocktail but either way, they hit the spot.

 

Fairy Gutmother’s Go-To Holiday Margarita

When everything on the table seems to be decadent, a bright and spicy cocktail can be the perfect pairing. This margarita literally spices up some familiar holiday flavors like cranberry and pomegranate by including some fresh jalapenos and then give your gut health a nod by including a splash of kombucha. 

 

Why we love these ingredients:

While many have long believed that spicy peppers like jalapenos could work against your gut, research has shown otherwise. These spicy peppers are packed with antioxidants and research has even shown that the capsaicin in chili peppers may protect the stomach from developing ulcers. Which gives us a little peace of mind heading into feast season.

It's no secret that we love kombucha for the gut boosting live bacteria these fermented teas contain. And when you’re sitting down to share a holiday meal it’s nice to know it’s helping your gut improve digestion, boost your immune system, and much more.

 

Spicy Cranberry Pomegranate Margarita Cocktail or Mocktail

Ingredients

• 1TBS jalapeno, chopped
• 3TBS pomegranate seeds
• 1 lime, juice
• 1.5 oz cranberry juice
• 1.5 oz pomegranate kombucha
• 1 oz tequila
• 1 oz Cointreau 

Instructions

1. Rim glasses with honey and a mixture of coconut sugar, chili powder, and cayenne (optional). 
2. To a glass, add jalapeno, pomegranate seeds, lime juice and smash together to release flavor. 
3. Add in cranberry juice, pomegranate kombucha, tequila, Cointreau, and ice then shake until well mixed. 
4. Strain and pour into rimmed glasses with ice. 
5. Garnish and enjoy! 

 

Margarita Notes:

• We are big fans of making a batch of these margs in a pitcher and allowing our guests to pour and garnish their own cocktails at their own pace (yeah for one less thing to do while you cook)
• To make a mocktail version of Carley’s Spicy Margarita, simply double the kombucha and cheers!

 

Eggnog with a Tropical Twist

Coquito (literally "little coconut" in Spanish) is a sweet holiday drink from Puerto Rico with tons of coconut flavor. It's made with both evaporated and condensed milk, cream of coconut, spices, rum, and egg yolks. 

Canned cream of coconut lends richness and gives the coquito its signature coconut flavor. Sweetened condensed milk makes everything more delicious, including this coquito recipe. Cinnamon and cloves add warmth and seasonal deliciousness.

For a delicious mocktail version, substitute the rum with about one to 1-1/2 teaspoon of rum extract. 

 

Why we love these ingredients:

Cinnamon and cloves are both antioxidant powerhouses that also help support blood sugar health

Coconut cream contains large amounts of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), a type of saturated fat that is much easier for the human body to digest than animal fats. MCFA’s have also been shown to help improve endurance and promote weight loss.

 

Coquito

Ingredients

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 2 large egg yolks, beaten
• 1 (14 ounce) can cream of coconut
• 8 ounces can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup white rum [or 1 to 1-1/2 tsp. rum extract]
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

1. Combine evaporated milk and egg yolks in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir  constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and reaches a temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
2. Transfer mixture to a blender. Add cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, rum, water, vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves; blend until combined, about 30 seconds.
3. Pour into glass bottles and chill 8 hours to overnight before serving.

Coquito Notes:

• Stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator, coquito can last one to two months Simply stir before serving.
• To make a mocktail version of coquito, swap the rum for water and add 1 teaspoon of rum extract to keep the flavor without the booze.

 

Spiked Hot Apple Cider

It’s the law to drink apple cider in the fall and winter Made with cinnamon sticks, fresh orange, cloves and allspice and a dash of your favorite rum, this adults-only apple cider will keep you and your friends warm and cozy this holiday season.

For the mocktail version, you can leave out the rum or add a teaspoon of rum extract for the rum flavor without the added alcohol.

 

Why we love these ingredients:

Orange: need we say more? Not only are oranges an antioxidant superstar, but they also contain Potassium, folate, and other key nutrients.  One orange packs about 80% of the daily goal for vitamin C. 

Allspice has a spicy, slightly sweet flavor similar to cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. It’s a source of Eugenol, a natural antiseptic and analgesic. 

Star Anise Star anise is often used in China and Southeast Asia for gas, abdominal cramps, indigestion, constipation, and other digestive woes.

Ingredients

• 1 gallon apple juice or apple cider
• 1 large orange, cut into 1/4” slices
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 4 star anise
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon whole allspice
• 1” ginger root, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups rum 

Instructions

1. In a large pot add apple juice, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, whole allspice, and ginger into a large pot
2. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cover for 2-3 hours.
3. Remove from heat and let the cider cool for a few minutes.
4. Add rum to the apple cider mixture.
5. Remove fruit and spices from the pot.
6. Garnish with orange or apple slices or cranberries.

 

Spiked Hot Apple Cider Notes:

• You can mull your cider ahead of your get together and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. All you’ll need to do is reheat your cider before adding your rum and serving.
• To make a mocktail version of a spiked hot apple cider you can forgo the rum flavor completely (who doesn’t love a spiced hot cider this time of year) or add 1 teaspoon of rum extract to keep the flavor without the booze.

4 Seasons Sipping Sangria

Our Sipping Sangria can be enjoyed year-round and is the perfect low alcohol batch cocktail for your next get together.

While this recipe calls for a low-alcohol white wine, you can easily use the ‘real deal.’.  You can substitute a zero-proof whiskey to reduce the alcohol content even further without losing the smokey flavor that the bourbon provides.

 

Why we love these ingredients:

Kombucha is a source of gut-friendly probiotics that help balance your microbiome and promote digestive health

Ginger has a centuries-old reputation as a remedy for nausea and constipation.  It also contains gingerol, a potent antioxidant and natural anti-inflammatory.  Some studies show that ginger could help with weight loss, too.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1 inch piece of Ginger
• 4 Whole Star Anise
• 2 Medium Peaches (thinly sliced)
• 1 Medium Apple (thinly sliced)
• 1 Medium Orange (thinly sliced)
• 2 Cups Ginger Kombucha
• 2 Cups Sparkling Apple Cider
• 1/8 Cup Orange Juice
• 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
• ½ Cup Bourbon*
• 1 Bottle of A Low ABV or Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blac

Instructions:

1. Add the peaches, apples, and orange slices to a large pitcher, bowl, or drink dispenser.
2. Pour the white wine, bourbon, lemon juice and orange juice over top.
3. Add the cinnamon sticks, ginger, and star anise and stir well to combine.
4. Add the kombucha and apple cider right before serving, give it a stir to combine, and serve over ice. 

If you’re putting together your shopping list and now wondering what a few cocktails might do to your gut health, be sure to read our blog on the topic and put into practice some of our tips for managing the not so fun side effects of celebrating with libations. 

And, don’t forget to get your digestive support BFF on deck. Digestive Enzymes will help bump up key enzymes that your body needs to break down tough to digest foods, like that coquito. In fact, it’s proven that replenishing digestive enzymes is crucial to healing and rebuilding a less than optimal intestinal lining (AKA leaky gut). 

Zenwise then… CHEERS!

 

Sources: 

Coquito
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/44187/coquito/
https://www.diversivore.com/coquito-puerto-rican-coconuteggnog/

Sangria
https://zenwise.com/blogs/news/cutting-back-try-our-end-of-summer-sipping-sangria

Mulled Cider Mocktail
https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/easy-hot-spiked-mulled-apple-cider-recipe/