So the weather outside may be frightful – but the drinks definitely can be delightful. And what better excuse to cosy up at home with a Christmassy drink to hand?
“Christmastime… hot chocolate and mulled wine…” We’ve got delicious Slimming World recipes for both – plus a new, wonderfully warming winter spiced coffee! With Slimming World, you can enjoy all the tastes of Christmas and still get a sparkly weight loss result on the scales!
Join in with Slimming World’s #Slim4Xmas challenge
Slimming World groups are an extra-special place to be at this time of year! Each week between now and Christmas, there’ll be a different challenge to join in with, and you’ll find a gift-wrapped bundle of motivation, inspiration and ideas – all set to help you through six weeks of fantastic Food Optimising and keep you focused on your weight loss over the festive season (and beyond!).
Unwrap this week one’s wonderfully warming Christmas challenge here…
Festive favourite hot drinks
Hot chocolate recipe
Try the recipe: Curl up with this indulgent-tasting triple-topped hot chocolate
Top tip: If you prefer, leave your hot chocolate untopped and stir with a marshmallow pop (add an extra Syn per serving) for an ooo-ey gooey treat.
MORE FOR MEMBERS: Will those sprinkles, syrup shots and creamy toppings turn your simple Free coffee into a Syn-packed surprise? Find out with our guide to filling your cup… the Slimming World way!
Mulled wine recipe
makes 15 glasses
ready in 20 mins
5 Syns per serving
What you need:
2 x 75cl (750ml) bottles red wine
25ml brandy or rum
grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
½ cinnamon stick
3 cloves
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 level tbsp brown sugar
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
cinnamon sticks, to decorate
What you do:
1. Pour the red wine into a large pan. Add 600ml water, the brandy or rum, lemon zest and juice, spices and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon over a low heat, until the wine is hot and the sugar has dissolved. Important – do not allow to boil!
2. Transfer to a large heatproof jug (or a fancy heatproof punch bowl) and float the orange and lemon slices on top. Divide equally between your most festive glasses (pour or use a ladle) and serve with a cinnamon-stick stirrer.
Top tip: If you don’t have special mulled wine glasses then latte glasses work perfectly – I’ve spotted them for as little as £1 each in the shops.
Winter spice coffee with a snowflake marshmallow
serves 1
ready in 10 mins
3 1/2 Syns per serving
What you need:
1 marshmallow
blue writing icing
your favourite black coffee (see tip)
pinch each of ground ginger, ground nutmeg and ground allspice
4 level tbsp squirty cream
1 level tsp candy balls
1 long cinnamon stick
What you do:
1. Sit the marshmallow flat-side up. Carefully draw a snowflake on the flat side of the marshmallow with the writing icing, then set aside.
2. Make up a mug of coffee, adding the ground spices as you stir.
3. Top with the squirty cream and candy balls. Pop the cinnamon stick into the mug to use as a stirrer and serve with the marshmallow on the side.
Top tip: You can add milk, if you like – either from your Healthy Extra ‘a’ allowance or count ½ Syn per dash of skimmed.
MORE ON THE BLOG: Make your own pumpkin spice mix
Your local Slimming World group will be full of festive food and drink ideas in the run-up to the big day, with lots of tips, tools and treats for a tinsel-tastic countdown to Christmas.
We’d love to see what Christmassy treats you’re snuggling up with this snowy season. Email your snaps to the blog or share on social using our Christmas challenge hashtag #Slim4Xmas.