Lower Sugar Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

By
Laura Dolson
Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.
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Laura Dolson
Updated on March 12, 2020
Sugar-Free Cosmopolitan cocktail
Jack Anderson/Photolibrary/Getty Images
Total Time: 5 min
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Servings: 1

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

103 calories
0g fat
1g carbs
0g protein
Show Nutrition Label Hide Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving  
Calories 103
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g  
Includes 1g Added Sugars 2%
Protein 0g  
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 14mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Cosmopolitan cocktails are festive and fun to drink but typically have a significant amount of added sugar from the the sweetened cranberry juice and the Cointreau or Triple Sec. An average "Cosmo" can contain 3-4 teaspoons of added sugar.

This recipe lightens up the added sugar, uses 100% fruit juices, and just uses enough Cointreau and simple syrup to make it balanced. While there is the option to further reduce the sugar with a non-nutritive sweetener such as liquid stevia, this will give the cocktail the aftertaste of an artificial sweetener.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1 jigger (1 1/2 ounces) vodka
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau or triple sec
  • 1 oz cranberry apple juice (100% juice)
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon orange extract (2-3 drops)
  • Lime wedge or lime peel for garnish

Preparation

  1. First, make a simple syrup by dissolving sugar in warm water. Set aside.

  2. Combine vodka, Cointreau, cranberry apple juice, lime juice, orange juice, orange extract and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker half-full of ice. Shake well.

  3. Taste for sweetness and add more orange juice or extract if you want more sweetness without added sugar. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a small lime wedge or curl of lime peel.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Replace Cranberry Apple Juice with light or unsweetened cranberry juice.
  • Make it sugar-free by omitting cointreau and replacing simple syrup with liquid sweetener such as stevia or monkfruit.

Tips

  • Make a larger batch of simple syrup and save it in a squeeze bottle for use in other cocktails. Keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way.

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