Witches Mocktail

With the holiday season in full force, it's likely many of you are cozying up by the fire with a delicious cup of hot cocoa (possibly with a ton of those magical mini marshmallows on top). And, if you're anything like me, you're the adventurous type that likes to spice things up a bit with the toppings and mix-ins. I'm always on the lookout for the best hot cocoa, which is why I asked our nutrition team to put together eight new and revamped recipes. Then, we had the iFit team put on their best ugly Christmas sweaters and choose their favorites. The process: Our nutrition team worked their magic in the kitchen developing a wide assortment of hot cocoa recipes. Between dark, milk, and white chocolates, they did their best to vary up the flavors while still staying true to a chocolate base. For each matchup, two competing hot cocoas were presented to the team. After a taste test, the winner was marked by each team member on their individual bracket. This process was repeated for all of the recipes. The contenders: Gingerbread Indian Spiced iFit Nourish Coconut Cioccolata Calda Salted Caramel Amaretto Rum Cherry And the results are... Cioccolata Calda takes the prize! While the other contenders definitely put up a strong fight, it was this rich Italian classic that took the cake. Customarily eaten with a spoon and served in a small shot-sized glass, this treat is a true indulgence. You only need a little, but just a small amount will leave you beyond satisfied. This one pairs especially well with some fresh berries! Do yourself a favor and try this recipe! Trust me, you'll be so glad you did. Which recipes would we make again? While the Cioccolata Calda was mind-blowingly outstanding, we had to give some of the other contenders some credit and strong seals of approval. Click the links to find out how you can make them at home. Our Nourish hot cocoa recipe is the perfect choice for those days you want to indulge but still want to make a health-conscious decision. As we drank this creamy beverage, we had to keep reminding ourselves that it was, in fact, healthy. Doesn't expand the waistline AND tastes like molten chocolate lava? Count us in. The Amaretto Hot Chocolate is the perfect choice for kids and milk chocolate lovers. The velvetiness of the chocolate mixed with the warm flavors of amaretto extract (no alcohol in this one!), make for the perfect cozy cup for your winter night in. Add some mini marshmallows on top, and you're in business! For you fans of the salty/sweet combination, look no further than our Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. The sea salt brings out the richness and flavor of the chocolate, and caramel just makes everything taste better. Pair this one with a crispy biscotti and a good book for the perfect winter evening. And last, but certainly not least, our Indian Spiced Hot Chocolate is perfect for those of you who are looking to switch things up a bit. This white chocolate hot cocoa is paired with warm Indian spices for an indulgent, yet lighter version of the classic hot chocolate. Don't be scared, give this a try!

I love any reason to throw a party. With the Kentucky Derby coming up, it’s the perfect excuse to gather friends, family, or neighbors for a little celebration! If you’ve ever thrown a Derby Day party, then you know you need two things: mint juleps and fancy hats. Juleps have been a Kentucky favorite for many, many years. It was even declared the official Derby drink in 1938, so this popular cocktail has been around for ages! Since we like to put our own twist on things, we've created two thirst-quenching julep recipes that are equally delicious and perfect for any Derby party. As always, we tried to make them a little healthier than usual, too. Scroll down for the full ingredients and instructions! Lemon Basil Julep Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: -- minutes Makes: 1 serving Ingredients 5 basil leaves 1 teaspoon lemon juice ½ teaspoon agave 2 ounces bourbon 2 ounces Lemon LaCroix Crushed ice to your liking Directions Muddle the basil with the lemon juice in a lowball glass. Add crushed ice, if desired. Pour in agave and bourbon, then gently stir. Top with Lemon Lacroix. Give it another gentle stir. Sip responsibly! ------------ Cran-Ras Mint Julep Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: -- minutes Makes: 1 serving Ingredients 5 mint leaves 8 raspberries Splash of cranberry juice 2 ounces bourbon 2 ounces Coconut LaCroix Crushed ice to your liking Directions Muddle the basil with the lemon juice in a lowball glass. Add crushed ice, if desired. Pour in bourbon and gently stir. Add a splash of cranberry juice, then top with Coconut LaCroix. Give it another gentle stir. Sip responsibly!

When it comes to the holidays, I'm all about tradition—especially my family's tradition to try ethnic food! For Christmas Eve, we always skipped the ham and turkey in favor of kimchi, curry, and gnocchi. I loved trying new foods and learning about what people ate in others countries. You might still want your Christmas ham, but this year, my challenge for you is to try an ethnic holiday beverage! These are lighter, healthier versions, but many are still high in calories, so enjoy a glass...but maybe just one. Happy Holidays! Ponche Navideno This Mexican Christmas Punch is sweet and loaded with fruit and cinnamon. The fruit used can vary, depending on what you have available, so don’t be afraid to use what you have. Wassail Punch The aroma alone of this holiday British classic is sure to put everyone in a cheerful spirit. Hungarian Hot Chocolate This hot chocolate has unique spices, like cloves and paprika helps bring out the richness of the chocolate. Anijsmelk The warmth of milk and honey, and the soothing taste of anise seeds make this old-fashioned Dutch drink perfect for late winter nights. Ginger Beer African Ginger Beer is much stronger than ginger ale. The fiery, spicy kick ginger adds is a sure to warm you up. Cola De Mono Toast friends and family with this creamy, Chilean drink. With a hint of coffee and cloves, this drink is an excellent way to enjoy the holidays! Glogg This non-alcoholic version of the Swedish Holiday drink is a delicious, hot, spiced punch that’s sure to warm you up and put you in a cheerful mood. Sahlab Served warm or cold, this Egyptian drink is amazing! It’s thick and creamy and has a divine vanilla flavor. Plus, the recipe is so simple! Cioccolata Calda Italian hot chocolate is the perfect indulgence to enjoy this holiday season. So thick you may need a spoon! Hot Toddy This non-alcoholic twist on the traditional Scottish drink has all the flavor without the calories. Hot toddys not only warm you up on a cold day, but the honey and lemon help sooth sore throats, making the perfect drink for you to try this winter! Sorrel Punch Holidays in the Caribbean wouldn’t be the same without Sorrel Punch! With exotic spices and dried sorrel, it tastes a little bitter, but unique. If you can’t find sorrel at your store, it might be sold under the names hibiscus or Jamaica Flowers. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Infusing hot chocolate with peppermint gives it an instant holiday twist. You may want to double or triple this recipe if you’re serving for a larger crowd. SujeongGwa SuJeongGwa, or Korean Cinnamon Punch, can be enjoyed hot or cold. It’s sweet, and the cinnamon gives a warm feeling, even if you enjoy it cold. Egg Nog This low-fat eggnog recipe is still rich and creamy, bringing back all your favorite holiday memories without all the calories. Be sure to garnish with nutmeg just before you enjoy this decadent Canadian drink. French Hot Chocolate With just a hint of coffee, this hot chocolate is rich and flavorful—perfect for any true chocolate lover. Sbiten When the weather turns cold, it’s time to cozy up next to a delicious, warm drink! This Russian spicy honey drink is even soothing for your throat during cold season. Sweet Spanish Hot Chocolate If you’ve never tasted anything but hot chocolate made from store-bought envelopes, you’re about to have your tastebuds tingled with this stovetop, sweet, Spanish hot chocolate. Gluhwein This spiced punch drink has holiday flavors in every sip. So come in from the snow and warm up with a steaming mug of Germany's favorite Gluhwein! Tablea Tsokolate This Filipino drink is made with chocolate wedges that are melted to give you a mug of rich hot chocolate that can be enjoyed on any chilly night. Canelazo A steaming mug of this non-alcoholic Ecuadorian Canelazo will keep you warm and festive this winter! Conquito If you like frothy, cold drinks, you’ll enjoy this refreshing, creamy Puerto Rican Coquito. With the heavy flavor of rum spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, one serving may not be enough!