Soothing Digestive Recipes For The Holidays

Holiday Kitchen · Bitters Recipes

Enjoy these soothing digestive recipes made with Urban Moonshine Bitters this season. Your guests will leave your home well-nourished and comfortable after the holiday feast.

Most of these can be made ahead of time, so they're ready to pass around when the plates are cleared.

Fresh Ginger Chews with Bitters

Chewy, spicy little candies with a bitter finish. Wrap them in parchment for the table or tuck them into holiday gifts.

MakesAbout 20 small chewsTimeAbout 1½ hoursKeepsIn the fridge or a sealed jar
Bitter ginger chews laid out on marble with fresh ginger root

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup shredded fresh ginger root, packed
  • ¾ cup organic cane sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 oz Original Bitters
  • Coconut oil, for greasing
  • Powdered sugar, for rolling
You'll need
  • Candy thermometer
  • Small saucepan
  • Small rectangular glass dish
  • Parchment paper
  • A glass of ice water, for testing

Directions

  1. Grate the ginger and pack it into a ¼ cup measure. Simmer it in the water until half the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Strain and set aside 1 cup of this strong ginger decoction.
  2. Grease the glass dish with coconut oil. Cut parchment to fit the bottom and grease that too.
  3. Combine the ginger decoction, sugar, and honey and heat over high heat with a candy thermometer in the pan. Once it boils, the temperature will start to climb (about 15 minutes). Watch closely and stir occasionally so it doesn't burn.
  4. When it reaches 260°F, stir in the bitters. Drop a small spoonful into the ice water, then fish it out and test it. It should be chewy: not runny, and not hard.
  5. Pour the syrup into the greased dish and let it sit for 30 minutes.
  6. Turn the dish over and peel the parchment off the candy. It's very sticky, so you may need a knife to pry it out.
  7. Cut into small strips and roll or shape to size. Dust with a little powdered sugar and wrap in parchment for storage or gifting.

Digestive Soothing Switchel

A tangy, old-fashioned farm tonic of ginger, apple cider vinegar, and honey, topped with sparkling water.

Serves8Make aheadOvernightKeeps2–3 days in the fridge
Glasses of digestive bitters switchel with lemon

Ingredients

  • 2 inches fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
  • 5 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 4 Tbsp honey
  • 4 cups water
  • ¼ tsp Citrus Bitters per glass
  • Sparkling water and ice, to serve
  • Lemon slices or candied ginger, to garnish

Directions

  1. Combine the ginger, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and water in a glass jar and shake well.
  2. Let it sit overnight in the fridge.
  3. To serve, pour ¼ cup of the concentrate into each glass and add ¼ tsp bitters.
  4. Top with sparkling water and ice, garnish with lemon or candied ginger, and salute to your health!

A Bitters Aperitif

A traditional Italian ritual, taken before meals to support digestion. Throughout Europe, eating is about enjoying quality, authentic food, drink, and life, and herbal digestifs are commonly found at the table to aid digestion and enhance the whole experience.

Serves1When15 minutes before or after a meal
A tray of Original Bitters aperitifs with a dropper bottle

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add the bitters to a glass over ice.
  2. Top with sparkling water.
  3. Enjoy 15 minutes before a meal, or after a meal to soothe occasional gas, bloating, or digestive upset.*

Bitter Ginger Syrup

For an extra-strength Dark and Stormy or a gingery mocktail. Stir it into apple cider vinegar and seltzer for an afternoon pick-me-up, or into warm water with lemon in the morning. It also makes an excellent "ginger ale" for kids, and 1–2 tsp is easy to sip on for an upset belly.*

Makes9 ozTime5 minutes
Bitter ginger syrup

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Blend everything together.
  2. Store in a jar for later use.

The root of good health is great digestion.

Cheers to the holiday table

Bitters for the recipe box

The bottles behind these recipes, and worth keeping on the table all season.

Originally published November 2020. Updated October 2026.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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