In this season of holiday celebrations, hosts are spreading the joy — and mixing the cocktails.

Alas, that spirit of generosity also is accompanied by extra calories, a sign of the season that is even less welcome than a regifted fruitcake.

Happily, there are recipes that enable guests to enjoy a cocktail without the guilt, including  a holiday-themed recipe from the folks at DiSaronno, the centuries-old maker of amaretto.

In fact, the legend of DiSaronno dates back to 1525, when Renaissance artist and Leonardo da Vinci protege  Bernardino Luini was commissioned to paint a fresco in Saronno. To portray the Madonna of Miracles, he chose a comely local innkeeper as his muse.

As a thank you gift, she bestowed the artist with a flask of a fragrant and delicate  amaretto flavored with fruit and herbs. With its distinctive stopper and iconic square faceted Murano glass bottle, DiSaronno is still pleasing patrons — and still makes a great gift.

Here’s the recipe:

Holiday Delight – 205 calories per serving

1 ounce rye whiskey

1 ounce DiSaronno

1 heaping bar spoon of pumpkin butter

.5 ounce soy creamer

.75 ounce egg white, foamed separately

1 dash orange bitters, Regan’s if it’s handy

Foam egg whites using hand blender, set aside. Combine remaining ingredients into shaker and dry shake without ice. Add ice and foamed egg whites to shaker and shake again. Fine strain into a cocktail glass. Go for a coupe, if you have them. Top with freshly grated cinnamon.