My bright, citrusy and refreshingly minty Skinny Mojito is the 5-ingredient, low-calorie cocktail you need in your back pocket. Featuring freshly squeezed lime juice, garden mint, a hint of sweet agave syrup, and fizzy club soda, this rum-based drink is such an easy recipe to have on hand for cocktail hour!
I love the treat of a cocktail or two when the weekend rolls around, especially in the spring and summer when the warm weather just begs for a drink that's cool and crisp. Margaritas are typically my go-to, but sometimes I forget how refreshing a good mojito can be!
Flavored mojitos are fun - my orange "mimosa" mojitos are perfect for brunch and strawberry mojitos are always good for a summery moment - but there's something to be said for the simplicity of a classic mojito cocktail. It's light, bright, and always thirst-quenching - truly the ultimate drink for sunny weather! Plus, at just 116 calories per cocktail, this "skinny" variation allows you to enjoy more than one without getting bogged down by booze or sugar.
Why You'll Love This Skinny Mojito Recipe
- Using fresh ingredients makes it taste better than your favorite bar mojito. There's no artificial mixers to be found here; just tart lime juice, agave syrup, and real mint!
- Whipping up this skinny Cuban cocktail only takes 5 minutes, making it the ideal workday wind-down or lazy summer day drink.
- Unlike many of my favorite cocktail recipes, you don't need a shaker or other special bar supplies to make this drink. It's mixed directly in the glass you'll serve it in - meaning less cleanup!
- A typical mojito isn't exactly a low calorie drink. But by using slightly less rum and a small amount of agave nectar in place of cane sugar, we can reduce the calories significantly and make a cocktail with a lower glycemic index that's also relatively low carb. Plus, my variation doesn't rely on diet sodas with artificial ingredients for flavor and sweetness, like many skinny mojito recipes do. But don't worry, even with these changes - it doesn't taste skinny!
Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
Here's a quick look at what you'll need to make this low calorie mojito:
- Fresh Limes - Freshly squeezed lime juice is a must-have for this recipe, so grab the whole fruit! As with my skinny margaritas and fresh cucumber mules, I beg you, don't use the bottled stuff!
- Fresh Mint Leaves - Mint is both a main ingredient and a garnish for this cocktail, so once, again freshness is key! I like to use about 15 leaves per cocktail, but if your mint leaves are tiny, feel free to throw in a bit more. Basic spearmint (what you'll find in most grocery stores) is perfect for this recipe. It's easy to grow at home too!
Tip!
Mint spreads like crazy, so if you decide to grow some, plant it in a pot to keep it contained. Otherwise, it can easily take over your garden!
- Light Agave Syrup - With a more complex flavor profile than simple syrup, this less-refined liquid sweetener softens the acidity of the lime without being overpowering. I use just a touch to keep this mojito light on calories, but you're welcome to skip this and use a sweetened lime soda in place of the club soda listed below, or try subbing in some lime simple syrup for even more citrus flavor.
- White Rum - This sugar cane liquor is the classic spirit used in traditional Cuban mojitos. It has a lightly sweet flavor with caramely, tropical undertones. You could also make this skinny mojito with vodka or tequila blanco for a cocktail that's less traditional, but still delicious!
- Club Soda - For big, sparkly bubbles. I make my own soda water with a Sodastream, but you can also swap in sparkling water, or - for more lime flavor - La Croix, Sprindrift, or even lemon lime soda. Whatever you use, make sure it's cold so your ice doesn't melt too quickly!
How to Make a Skinny Mojito at Home
This DIY skinny girl mojito is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Muddle: Add fresh lime juice and mint leaves to a highball glass or similarly-sized tumbler. Muddle mint leaves to crush them and release their natural oils.
- Mix: Add agave syrup and rum to the glass and stir.
- Assemble: Add ice to your glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and/or a lime wedge before serving. Cheers!
Tip!
A jigger isn't technically required for any cocktail recipe, but it does make things easier! These small measuring cups often have markers for the exact measurements you need to make most cocktails.
Mojito Variations
As much as I love this classic mojito recipe as-is, who am I to stop you from adding your own twist? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Use flavored seltzer water instead of club soda to make things interesting. Lime or mint are no-brainers, but tropical flavors like coconut or pineapple could be fun!
- Make a "diet mojito" by opting for a sugar free agave alternative in your cocktail. Or, sweeten your skinny mojito with Sprite, 7Up, or any similar diet soda instead of using club soda.
- Make a "dark mojito" or "dirty mojito" by using dark spiced rum instead of white rum.
- Make it non-alcoholic by swapping in your favorite zero proof white rum or, for a low calorie mojito mocktail, skip the rum altogether. The alcohol-free variation makes this even more of a healthy mojito recipe, and it seriously tastes just as good!
Recipe Tips
- Get the most from your ingredients! Peel the lime zest before juicing, then use it to make a fun twist on my candied lemon peel, or grate it finely to make lime salt or lime sugar for a flavorful cocktail rim. You can also save the spent lime rinds and mint stems to infuse homemade simple syrup or make a pitcher of no-waste flavored water to serve alongside your agave mojito.
- Muddle mindfully. When you muddle mint for a mojito, you're not looking to decimate it completely - you just want to lightly crush it so it releases all of its essential oils. No cocktail muddler? No problem. Flip over a wooden spoon and use the handle.
- Fancy a boozier cocktail? You can increase the rum in this recipe to 1 ½ ounces for a stronger drink.
- Dress it up! If you ask me, an at-home happy hour should feel just as fun as one spent at your favorite cocktail bar. Get yourself a nice set of tall glass tumblers, don't forget the garnishes, and maybe even add a cute straw! A few simple touches can easily take your DIY drink to pro status.
Tip!
Got extra mint leftover? If you don't want to use it in another cocktail, make mint iced coffee or mint ice cream instead!
FAQs
A skinny mojito is just a lighter version of the classic Cuban cocktail, made by swapping the cane sugar or other sweet mix-ins with a low or no-sugar alternative. Since I prefer to make my recipes with simple ingredients, I use a small amount of less-refined agave nectar to sweeten my skinny mojitos - it's sweeter than sugar, so you can use less! Like a traditional mojito, this skinny cocktail is still crisp, invigorating, and perfect for sipping on a sunny day.
Sure thing! If you're serving a crowd, multiply the ingredients by the number of heads you plan on serving. Muddle the mint and juice directly in the pitcher, and then add the agave and rum. Pour this mixture over the ice in your serving glasses, and then top the individual glasses with club soda so that every drink has fresh bubbles!
White rum is the classic option. I typically use Bacardi.
More Refreshingly Easy Cocktail Recipes
Here are some of my other favorite cocktails to enjoy on a hot summer day!
Skinny Mojito
This skinny version of the classic mojito cocktail - made with fresh mint and lime and sweetened with just a touch of agave nectar - is such a refreshing drink to enjoy on warm summer days. Although it's made with less sugar, this delicious mojito is still pleasantly tangy-sweet and full of bright minty flavor!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail
- Category: cocktails
- Method: mixing
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 15 fresh spearmint leaves, rinsed
- 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons light agave syrup
- 1 ounce white rum
- 5 ounces club soda, chilled
- ice
- lime wedge and/or mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions
- Add mint leaves and lime juice to a highball glass or other tall glass tumbler. Use a cocktail muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon to muddle mint leaves, crushing them just enough to release their natural oils.
- Add agave syrup and rum to glass and stir.
- Add ice to glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and/or a lime wedge before serving.
Notes
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Simple syrup can be used instead of agave syrup if preferred. You can also skip the added sweetener and use a sweetened lemon lime soda in place of club soda. Use diet soda for the lowest-calorie option!
- Club soda can also be substituted with sparkling water/seltzer. Feel free to experiment with flavored varieties like lime or mint!
- For a skinny mojito mocktail, use zero proof rum, or skip the rum completely!
Have you made this recipe?
If so, I'd love to hear your feedback; you can leave a rating and review in the comments section below! It's also so helpful if you help spread the word by sharing this post on your favorite social media channel. If you happen to snap a photo of what you've baked, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me (@brighteyedbaker) so I can give you a shoutout!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
First, what beautiful pictures! But that cocktail ... looks so refreshing and perfect to celebrate the end of the week.
alexandra
Aww thank you so much Jennifer!