This is a recipe created for the Steviva Blogger Recipe Challenge. I was sent product to test and create one-of-a-kind recipes. I hope you enjoy this Spiced Pumpkin Bourbon Sidecar.
This weekend I anticipated the weather doing what it was supposed to do. Fall, where art thou? Summer has instead continued to linger and for now we have been enjoying the rays and getting a little more sunburn. Even so, I continue to create the fall recipes.
I have a love / hate relationship with pumpkin. The more I play around with pureed pumpkin, the more I seem to enjoy its versatility. My husband is on to me though. He can smell the spices and he knows I am up to something. Pumpkin pie is on hold until November but the Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and baked goods are calling my name.
It has been a while since I shared a cocktail with you. In reality I have not been really drinking since starting my clean eating lifestyle. I actually enjoyed more wine than I am used last weekend when I attended Expo East in Baltimore. I actually prefer beer most these days, but then again, I miss my gin and tonics.
Everyone knows that many cocktails require simple syrups and sweeteners which means more calories. Steviva has a product called Nectevia which is a blend of agave nectar with stevia and is 1/4 of the calories, carbs, and sugars than regular table sugar and agave. For every 1/2 teaspoon there are only 2 calories and 1 gram of carbs. 1 teaspoon of Nectevia equals 4 teaspoons of regular blue agave nectar.
I made a spiced mulled cider with apple juice, orange juice, water, pumpkin puree and spices and added Nectevia along with vanilla extract and chilled. When I was ready to serve I prepared two cocktails, a fall version of a typical bourbon sidecar, and added triple sec and bourbon. I then topped off each tumbler with apple cider flavored sparkling water.
If you are having friends over, this is a cocktail to prepare. Move over mulled wine or spiced cider and bring in the punch. I enjoyed the bourbon in this drink because it made it warm despite it being chilled. It was comforting with all the flavors mixed.
I created a spiced sugar to rim each glass using Steviva’s Erysweet which is a erythritol and a 1:1 replacement for table sugar. I added some pumpkin spice and mixed in the Erysweet and voila. Each drink was ready to consume.
Having trouble cutting back on sugar? Nectevia is definitely a product to try if you are having a hard trouble enjoying stevia on its own. A little goes a long way. While I do not use it for everything, I have been replacing the occasional treat with Nectevia because it is sweet.
Want to try these products? Use the code THANKYOU to save 20% when you checkout at the Steviva store.
Spiced Pumpkin Bourbon Sidecar
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 10
Ingredients (2 cocktails) – 12 Smartpoints per glass
For Spiced Cocktail Base
- 1/2 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 3 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons Nectevia
- 1/2 cup water
For EACH Cocktail
- 1 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 orange peel
- apple cider flavored sparkling water
For Sugar Rimmed Glass
- 1 Tbsp Erysweet
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
Instructions
For Cocktail Base
Add all ingredients to a small pot and boil for 5 minutes. Let the juices cool and refrigerate until ready to use. If using the same day, just make sure the mix is cooled.
Cocktail Assembly
Mix the rimmed sugar with spice. Use an orange slice to moisten the edge of each tumbler and dip the glass into the sugar. Repeat with second glass.
Add 1/2 cup of the cocktail base to each glass. Add 2 ounces of bourbon whiskey and 1 ounce of triple sec to each tumbler. Add 2-3 ice cubes and top off with apple cider flavored sparkling water.
Garnish each tumbler with an orange twist.
