20 Best Fall Cocktails: Delicious Low-Calorie Autumn Sips

Celebrate autumn with creative, low-calorie cocktails that capture the cozy, crisp, and colorful flavors of fall.

By Medha deb
Created on

20 Best Low-Calorie Fall Cocktails to Try This Autumn

As leaves transform and the air turns crisp, autumn inspires a return to cozy traditions—and that includes festive drinks. Whether you love the zing of apple, warm notes of cinnamon, or crave pumpkin-spiced everything, fall cocktails celebrate the season’s bounty. Even better, you can enjoy these low-calorie cocktails (mostly under 210 calories) without losing track of your healthy goals.

Mix up a batch for fireside evenings, Halloween celebrations, or simply to toast autumn’s arrival. Here are 20 easy, flavorful cocktails capturing the best of fall’s flavors and colors—perfect for anyone (21 and up) who loves a lighter twist on classic sips!

Table of Contents

Paloma

Total calories: 129

  • 1 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
  • 1 oz. traditional tequila
  • ½ oz. lime juice
  • 4 oz. grapefruit soda

Pour tequila and lime juice into a glass filled with ice. Top with grapefruit soda, stir gently, and garnish with a fresh lime wedge. This tart, refreshing drink is perfect for the transition from late summer to early fall.

Darn the Weather

Total calories: 137

  • 1 oz. Ritual Gin Alternative
  • 1 oz. sweet vermouth
  • ½ oz. orange juice
  • ½ oz. triple sec

Combine over ice, stir, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist for a citrusy, herbal profile reminiscent of cool, brisk autumn evenings.

Harvest Highball

Total calories: 162

  • 1 oz. whiskey
  • 4 oz. apple cider
  • 1 oz. club soda

In a highball glass with ice, pour whiskey and apple cider. Top with club soda for a slightly fizzy, apple-forward drink that pairs beautifully with fall’s crisp air.

Bourbon Highball with Lemon Wedge

Total calories: 148

  • 2 oz. bourbon
  • 3 oz. soda water
  • Lemon wedge for garnish

Build in a highball glass over ice, garnish with a lemon wedge. The simple pairing of bourbon and soda water allows the whiskey’s subtle vanilla and oak notes—so evocative of autumn—to shine.

Apple Cider Spritz

Total calories: 110

  • 2 oz. apple cider
  • 2 oz. Prosecco
  • 1 oz. club soda
  • Apple wheel for garnish

Stir cider and Prosecco together, pour into a flute, and top with club soda. Garnish with a crisp apple wheel. This sparkling drink is light but packed with fall flavor.

Pumpkin Spice Margarita

Total calories: 147

  • 1 oz. tequila
  • ½ oz. Cointreau
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
  • ½ oz. lime juice
  • Pinch pumpkin pie spice

Shake ingredients together, strain into a glass with ice, and top with a cinnamon stick. The pumpkin touch adds creamy, spiced warmth to the usual margarita tang.

Pear Ginger Fizz

Total calories: 120

  • 1 oz. gin
  • 2 oz. pear nectar
  • 1 oz. ginger beer
  • Pear slice for garnish

Pour gin and pear nectar over ice, top with ginger beer, and garnish. The spicy ginger with subtly sweet pear is cozy and uplifting—a signature fall pairing.

Maple Old-Fashioned

Total calories: 151

  • 2 oz. bourbon
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Orange twist for garnish

Stir bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with orange. This drink offers a subtle maple sweetness against the deep warmth of bourbon.

Spiced Cranberry Cosmo

Total calories: 123

  • 1 oz. vodka
  • ½ oz. Cointreau
  • 1½ oz. cranberry juice
  • Dash cinnamon

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a martini glass, and top with a fresh cranberry. Cinnamon gives the classic Cosmo an autumn twist.

Autumn Sangria

Total calories: 156

  • 3 oz. dry red wine
  • 1 oz. brandy
  • 2 oz. apple cider
  • Apple slices, orange wheels, and cinnamon sticks for garnish

Mix wine, brandy, and cider in a pitcher. Add fruit slices and cinnamon sticks. Let chill to meld flavors. Serve over ice for a fruity, festive crowd-pleaser.

Chai Whiskey Sour

Total calories: 138

  • 1 oz. bourbon
  • ¾ oz. lemon juice
  • ½ oz. chai syrup
  • Lemon twist for garnish

Shake ingredients, serve in a rocks glass with ice, and garnish with a lemon twist. The chai syrup adds gentle, aromatic spice perfect for fall.

Smoky Mezcal Apple

Total calories: 145

  • 1 oz. mezcal
  • 2 oz. apple cider
  • ½ oz. lime juice
  • Tiny pinch smoked paprika (optional)

Shake and strain into a glass with ice. Mezcal’s smoky aroma enhances the natural sweetness of apple for a bold taste of autumn woods.

Mulled Wine Spritz

Total calories: 153

  • 2 oz. mulled red wine (chilled)
  • 2 oz. sparkling water
  • Orange slice and cinnamon stick for garnish

Serve mulled wine over ice, top with sparkling water, and garnish. All the aromas of classic mulled wine, delivered lighter and sparkling.

Fig & Thyme Smash

Total calories: 128

  • 2 fresh figs, quartered
  • 1 oz. gin
  • ½ oz. lemon juice
  • ½ oz. simple syrup
  • Thyme sprig

Muddle figs and thyme, add remaining ingredients with ice, shake and strain. The earthy thyme and honeyed fig complement each other for a luxurious fall sip.

Hazelnut Mocha Martini

Total calories: 142

  • 1 oz. coffee liqueur
  • 1 oz. hazelnut liqueur
  • 1 oz. chilled espresso
  • Cocoa powder for dusting

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a martini glass, dust with cocoa. Warm, creamy flavors for cool fall nights.

Ginger Pear Mule

Total calories: 144

  • 1 oz. vodka
  • 2 oz. pear juice
  • 2 oz. ginger beer
  • Pear sliver and mint for garnish

Build in a copper mug over ice. Garnish with pear and mint—a lively, spicy, and juicy flavor for anyone who loves a fall twist on the classic Moscow Mule.

Caramel Apple Highball

Total calories: 149

  • 1 oz. caramel vodka
  • 4 oz. apple cider
  • Splash of soda water
  • Apple slice for garnish

Combine over ice, top with soda, and garnish. Caramel and apple is a fall dessert classic, made refreshingly drinkable.

Pomegranate Rosemary Martini

Total calories: 140

  • 1 oz. gin
  • 1 oz. pomegranate juice
  • ½ oz. lemon juice
  • Rosemary sprig for garnish

Shake gin, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice with ice, strain into a martini glass, garnish with fresh rosemary. Tart, woodsy, and vibrant.

Spiked Cinnamon Vanilla Cider

Total calories: 136

  • 1 oz. spiced rum
  • 3 oz. apple cider
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • Whole cinnamon stick for garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass, and garnish. Vanilla adds seductive warmth to the spice and apple notes.

Pumpkin White Russian

Total calories: 167

  • 1 oz. vodka
  • 1 oz. coffee liqueur
  • 1 oz. light cream
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
  • Pinch cinnamon on top

Shake vodka, coffee liqueur, and pumpkin together with ice. Pour into a glass, top with cream and fresh cinnamon for a fall-flavored after-dinner drink.

Tips for Mixing Great Fall Cocktails

  • Use fresh ingredients: Apple cider, pear nectar, and citrus lend freshness.
  • Stock up on spices: Cinnamon sticks, star anise, and nutmeg are essential.
  • Choose infused spirits: Bourbon, vodka, or gin with apple, pumpkin, or maple flavors add depth.
  • Balance sweet and spicy: Achieve autumn flavor harmony by adjusting simple syrups and bitters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are low-calorie fall cocktails easy to prepare at home?

Yes! Most recipes require only a few ingredients and basic bar tools. Start with a cocktail kit for best results.

What are typical fall flavors in cocktails?

Common flavors include apple, cinnamon, pumpkin, pear, ginger, maple, and vanilla. Fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary also work well for a woodsy note.

Can I make these drinks non-alcoholic?

Absolutely—substitute non-alcoholic spirits or skip the alcohol and add a splash of extra juice or soda for robust flavor.

How can I lower calories even more?

Use low-calorie sweeteners, swap regular soda with diet versions, or dilute juices with sparkling water to keep drinks light yet lively.

What is the best way to garnish autumn cocktails?

  • Fresh apple or pear slices
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Rosemary, thyme, or mint sprigs
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Dehydrated citrus wheels

Drink Smarter, Sip Seasonal

With these 20 low-calorie fall cocktail recipes, you can enjoy festive, full-flavored drinks without over-indulging. Celebrate the best of autumn’s harvest, and toast to cozy gatherings, golden afternoons, and flavorful health-conscious sips all season long.

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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