Description

This Candy Corn Inspired Carrot and Orange Juice Gin Cocktail is a visually stunning layered drink that combines the natural sweetness of carrot and orange juices with a hint of sweetness from a homemade Splenda simple syrup and the botanical notes of gin. Perfect for a festive occasion, this 150-calorie cocktail features a beautiful layered effect resembling candy corn and can be enhanced with a smoky dry ice presentation.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Splenda Simple Syrup

1 cup water
½ cup SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia
⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

For the Candy Corn Cocktail – Bottom Layer

2 fluid ounces tangerine or orange juice (30 calories)
1 tablespoon simple syrup (see recipe above, 25 calories)

For the Candy Corn Cocktail – Top Layer

1 fluid ounce gin (72 calories)
2 fluid ounces carrot juice (22 calories)

Additional

Ice
Highball glasses or Old Fashioned glasses
Optional: soda water, tonic water, or regular water for topping
Optional: a couple small pieces of dry ice (for smoky effect, handle with care)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare Splenda Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together 1 cup water and ½ cup SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia (plus ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract if using). Bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring continuously until the SPLENDA dissolves fully. Remove from heat and refrigerate until ready to use.
Build Bottom Layer: Fill your chosen glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 2 fluid ounces of tangerine or orange juice with 1 tablespoon of the prepared Splenda simple syrup. Shake well to chill and mix. Carefully pour this mixture over the ice in the glass to form the bottom layer.
Build Top Layer: In a clean cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 1 fluid ounce gin and 2 fluid ounces carrot juice. Shake to chill and blend. To create the layer effect, invert a spoon over the glass and slowly pour the gin and carrot juice mixture onto the back of the spoon, allowing it to gently layer on top of the orange juice mixture.
Optional Finishing Touch: If desired, top off your cocktail with a splash of soda water, tonic water, or regular water to add fizz or dilute slightly. Note that carbonation may disturb the layered appearance.
Optional Dry Ice Effect: For an impressive smoky presentation, carefully drop a couple of small pieces of dry ice into the drink. IMPORTANT: Handle dry ice with care and do not consume the cocktail until all dry ice has fully dissolved to avoid injury.

Notes

Please take care when handling dry ice and wait to consume the beverage until ALL the dry ice has dissolved.
The layering effect is enhanced by pouring the top layer slowly over the back of a spoon and by the presence of ice in the glass, which acts as a buffer.
Splenda simple syrup can be made ahead and refrigerated for convenience.
Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of simple syrup to taste.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cocktail
Calories: 150
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 20mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg