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4 low-calorie holiday cocktails you need to try from Joy Bauer

Joy Bauer, TODAY's Nutrition and Health expert, shares her tops holiday recipes for delicious skinny cocktails.
/ Source: TODAY

The holidays aren't complete without a festive drink, but WAIT! That martini or classic eggnog is packed with way more calories than it seems. Here to the rescue, Joy Bauer, TODAY's nutrition expert, shares her top holiday recipes for delicious skinny cocktails.

1. Peppermint-Ini

BEFORE: 487 calories - That's the equivalent of 32 mini candy canes!

This holiday martini is typically made with 2 large peppermint candy canes, 1.5 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon water, 2 ounces white chocolate liqueur, 1 ounce vanilla vodka, 1 ounce half and half, 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract.

AFTER: 210 calories

Recipe: To a shaker with ice, add 1 ounce vanilla vodka, 3 ounces unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract, 1.25 ounces crème de cacao. Shake vigorously and drain into a chilled glass. Garnish with 1 mini candy cane hanging on the side or rim the glass with crushed candy canes before pouring.

2. Spiked Eggnog

BEFORE: 440 calories - That's the equivalent of seven holiday sugar cookies that are about 2" in diameter!

AFTER: 200 calories

Recipe: Diluting ready-made store-bought eggnog with low-calorie unsweetened vanilla almond milk is a simple trick to lighten things up. Go light on the alcohol by opting for just 0.5 ounces of good quality rum instead of a full 1.5 ounce shot. It will give your drink enough "juice" to loosen you up, without taking you over the line to tipsy. Or, try Joy's Lower-Calorie Eggnog recipe.

3. Champagne Ginger Cocktail

BEFORE: 223 calories - That's equivalent to six ginger man cookies!

AFTER: 143 calories

Recipe: In a small dish or saucer, combine equal parts sugar and minced ginger. Run a lemon wedge along the rim of a Champagne flute, then dip it in the sugar-and-ginger mixture to rim the glass. Add 1 teaspoon crystalized ginger to the bottom of the Champagne flute, then pour in 5 ounces of Champagne. Enjoy!

4. Hot Buttered Rum

BEFORE: 445 calories - Typically made with lots of butter and sugar, that's the equivalent of 20 chocolate kisses!

AFTER: 96 calories

Recipe: In a high-powered blender, combine 1.5 teaspoons maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 ounce spiced rum, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves and 1/2 cup hot water. Process until combined.

For more delicious holiday recipes, follow Joy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.