Living La Vida Holoka


Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

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Warm up on a cold night with this cozy Caramel Apple Hot Toddy! It’s a twist on a classic Hot Toddy made with spiced apple cider and Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup!

This post has been sponsored by Torani Syrups. All opinions are mine alone. #aguiltfreeholiday #torani


Unpopular opinion – wintertime is the best time!  While the majority of people I know complain about the winter, I embrace it.  There are things I love about the spring and summer, but I get so excited for the fall and winter!  From the end of October through the first week of January, there’s a complete sense of joyfulness in the air.  Every snowfall is magical and every freezing, cold night is an excuse to move a little closer together and snuggle! 

This time of year is so full of excitement!  But preparing for the holidays can be stressful.  There are deadlines to meet, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, and relatives to visit.  That’s why I enjoy when everything gets a little quieter at night. It’s the time of day when I can decompress, hang out with my husband, admire the glow of our Christmas tree, and sip something warm and comforting.

A Hot Toddy with a caramel apple twist!

 
Last winter, I made myself a Hot Toddy for the very first time.  This classic drink is a warm and cozy beverage to sip on a cold night.  It’s even said that a Hot Toddy can help a common cold!  So what goes into a Hot Toddy?  It’s simple!  You just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon juice.  

A classic Hot Toddy is soothing on its own, but I recently made a Hot Toddy with a caramel apple twist.  The result was a delicious drink that’s full of caramel apple flavor and a hint of cinnamon spice!  This recipe is just as easy to make as a classic Hot Toddy.  But this version has spiced apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup!



Torani syrups are made with simple and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.  I used the Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup to keep this drink as guilt-free as possible.  Not only that, this syrup gives this Hot Toddy just the right amount of sweet, caramel flavor!  It’s the perfect companion to holiday drinks, coffee, and hot cocoa!  The recipe possibilities are endless! 

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Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

Serving Size: 2

Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 - .74 oz. pouches spiced apple cider mix
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 4 oz. honey whiskey, or your favorite whiskey
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 4 tbsp. Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup

Instructions

  1. Add water and spiced apple cider mix to a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir the apple cider mix until it's dissolved and the pot has begun to boil.
  3. Add the cinnamon stick (or sticks) to the pot. Remove from heat and allow the cinnamon to steep for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the cinnamon from the pot. Then, stir in the honey, whiskey, lemon juice, and Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup.
  5. Divide the hot toddy between two glasses. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired, and serve!

Notes

You can substitute bottled apple cider for the spiced apple cider pouches. Use 8 oz. apple cider per serving.

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There’s honey flavored whiskey in this bad boy, but you can use your favorite whiskey in this Hot Toddy recipe. A cinnamon whiskey might be nice! It’s a sweet drink, but not too sweet.  And it tastes just like a caramel apple!  The Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup is so good!  You definitely won’t miss the sugar!  Find it in the coffee and tea aisle at a Walmart near you! 


Did you spend a cozy evening sipping this Caramel Apple Hot Toddy recipe? Share your pics using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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hot toddy, drinks, cocktails, hot beverages

If you like this drink recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer

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Chill out this summer with a refreshing Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer. This mix of lemonade and iced tea is sweetened with stevia for a low-cal cocktail!


I’ve somehow ended up with an abundance of whiskey.  Party over here!  It’s not necessarily a bad problem to have, but whiskey isn’t my first drink of choice.  We have two bottles of flavored whiskey to use in chocolate pecan pie – my husband’s favorite that I make just for him because I’m not a fan.  On top of that, my parents ended up giving me three more full bottles of whiskey. 

Since then (and it’s been a while), I’ve been trying to come up with different ways to use up my stash instead of just having it sit on a shelf.  There are only so many pies I can make for my boo.  Especially since those summer temps are rising and I’d rather not turn on the oven if I don’t have to.  So there’s the occasional pie and I’ve been using it in barbecue marinades to use when we grill, too.

Then, there’s the obvious solution – drink it!


So here we are in the second week of July and it’s been hot AF.  On one particularly steamy 90 degree day, I decided to put some of our whiskey to good use.  I initially wanted to make whiskey spiked lemonade.  As I pulled the ingredients to make a stevia simple syrup and mix up a lemonade base, I decided to go one better.

Stevia + whiskey + lemonade + tea = Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer!

You know, that classic lemonade and tea drink named after a famous pro golfer.  It’s the best of summer beverages in a glass.  Especially when it’s spiked!


And since I’ve been doing a decent job of cutting out extra sugar lately, I made my simple syrup for this drink with stevia.  That way, when I’m trying to unwind and cool down at the end of a summer day, I won’t feel entirely guilty about guzzling a quart-size mason jar of this whiskey spiked Arnold Palmer.


Sure, you could totally use store bought lemonade and tea, pour some whiskey in, and call it a day.  But then, you have to factor in all of that added sugar.  It’s worth the extra steps.  Not just to cut the sugar, but because it’s doesn’t get any better than homemade lemonade and iced tea!

So I started with whiskey and lemon juice in my shaker (aka a quart mason jar).  Then, I made my simple syrup with stevia and water.  I let that come to a boil and took it off the heat.  Then, I filled the mason jar with ice and poured in the simple syrup. 

After that, I boiled a little more water and steeped an iced tea bag.  I let that cool for a bit, added it to my mason jar, gave it a good shake, and poured it into pint jars.  Garnish with a slice of lemon, some fresh mint, and sip!

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Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer

Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup whiskey
  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tbsp. stevia
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 black tea bag
  • Ice
  • Optional: lemon slices, fresh mint leaves

Instructions

  1. Pour the whiskey and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker or quart mason jar. Fill it with ice and set aside.
  2. In a small pot, add the 1/2 cup of water and stevia to make a simple syrup.
  3. Bring to a boil and stir until the stevia is dissolved. Remove from heat. Once the simple syrup has cooled down a little, pour it into the shaker.
  4. In the same pot, add the cup of water and bring it to a boil.
  5. Once the water boils, remove it from the stove top and steep the tea bag.
  6. When the tea is steeped to your liking, let it cool down for a couple minutes, then pour it into the jar.
  7. Add the top onto the shaker and give it a good shake.
  8. Pour it into glasses or pint-sized mason jar with more ice. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves before serving.
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If you’re not much of a whiskey drinker – or drinker, in general – omit the booze and enjoy a refreshing summer beverage!  You could even go so far as to make the lemonade and tea mixture ahead of time.  Then, add the whiskey and garnishes before serving this seriously refreshing summer sip!

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If you like this drink recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan Holiday Cocktail

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This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

You’ll be making spirits bright with this Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan Holiday Cocktail made with Cherry Limeade Sparkling ICE!


Overwhelmed. That doesn’t even begin to explain the way I’ve been feeling lately.  In case you need another reminder, Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away and Christmas is not far behind!  I must admit that I’ve been feeling a bit “Bah Humbug” lately.  There’s a ton of work to finish, holiday shopping to be done, plans to be made, and that’s just this month alone.  

I’m trying not to let it all get to me.  I really do enjoy that warm and fuzzy feeling about the holiday season.  I look forward to stuffing my face at Thanksgiving, welcoming the holiday season by putting up my tree the next day, and spending December being as holly and jolly as possible.

Despite the stress of the approaching holidays, I know one thing’s for sure – everything that needs to get done will somehow get done in time.  There’s no reason to sit around and worry about it.

Make your holiday sparkle with this Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan Holiday Cocktail!

 
Here’s the thing – sometimes when we’re so caught up in all of the jolly holiday hustle and bustle, we tend to forget to take a moment for ourselves. And that’s when we lose our spark. So instead of letting your spark dim, let’s add a little sparkle this holiday season. Take a little time out to enjoy yourself.  If you like listening to holiday tunes, turn on the tunes.  If you like baking cookies, bake those cookies.  I won’t even tell you to share them!

For me, nothing makes me feel more peaceful than sitting by the light of the Christmas tree, enjoying the quiet of a cold night, and pouring myself a festive holiday drink.  I think I’ve already found my signature holiday cocktail for this year – this Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan Holiday Cocktail.  This isn’t your average Cosmo.  I turned that fabulous pink drink into a festive red and green cocktail.


Cut calories and sugar when you use Sparkling Ice in your holiday cocktails!

 
Traditional Cosmos are made with cranberry juice, lime, Triple Sec (or other orange liqueur), and vodka.  It’s the holidays, guys.  Let’s cut corners where we can.  I already drink Sparkling Ice on the daily.  But did you know that it makes a fantastic cocktail, too?

This cocktail is made with Cherry Limeade Sparkling Ice.  Not only does it give this cocktail a great flavor and gorgeous red color, it has zero sugar, zero calories, and it’s packed with vitamins and antioxidants.  I’ll definitely raise a glass to that!

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Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan Holiday Cocktail

Serving Size: 1

Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan Holiday Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Triple Sec
  • 1/2 bottle Cherry Limeage Sparkling ICE
  • 1/2 lime, juiced
  • Ice
  • Optional: slice of lime, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add the vodka, Triple Sec, and lime juice.
  3. Shake and strain into a glass.
  4. Top with Cherry Limeade Sparkling ICE (1/2 bottle).
  5. Garnish with a fresh lime slice and serve.
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This sparkling holiday cocktail is full of fun, fizzy flavor.  I love the cherry twist and that pop of lime!  Plus, it’s nice to have a cocktail that’s low calorie and low sugar.  Especially when I’ll definitely be stealing a few Christmas cookies from the baking tray before storing them in tins!  Can you really blame me?

When the holiday rush gets you down, remember to take some time for yourself.  Turn on your favorite holiday movie, put on some comfy clothes, and shake up a Sparkling Cherry Cosmopolitan! 


You can find all 16 flavors of Sparkling Ice on Amazon.  Save 15% plus get free delivery with Subscribe & Save as a Prime member!  And don’t forget to make your holiday season sparkle! 

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What’s your favorite holiday cocktail?

Sparkling Kiwi Strawberry Hard Pink Lemonade

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This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Put a little sparkle in your summer with this skinny Sparkling Kiwi Strawberry Hard Pink Lemonade cocktail!


Who doesn’t love a refreshing, fruity cocktail in the summer?  I like my cocktails like I like my fictional vampires – sparkling!  Actually, I’m just kidding around about the fictional vampire part.  I’m way more of a Louis and Lestat kind of girl.  But I do like a good, sparkling cocktail while hanging outside in the sun or enjoying a cool night out on the deck!

So I thought I’d combine my love for classic summertime sips and sparkling cocktails together in a hard pink lemonade recipe.  I had a bottle of brandy leftover from the Star-Spangled Berry Sangria I made for the 4th and decided to spike my sparkling lemonade with that.  You could definitely use bourbon or vodka in this cocktail.  Whatever strikes your fancy!  But the real rockstar of this cocktail is definitely Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling Ice!


I drink a lot of sparkling water!  It’s a great alternative if you’re not a huge fan of plain, old water.  We all know that it’s important to stay hydrated.  Especially during the hot, summer months!  That’s why I like to keep Sparkling Ice in the fridge.  It’s loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, and there’s no sugar!  With 16 fizzy flavors to choose from, staying hydrated has never been more fun!

Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling Ice not only gives this cocktail its sparkle, but also its fun, fruity flavor and pink color!  There’s zero calories in it, making it perfect for flavoring those skinny summer cocktails!  To give this cocktail its lemonade twist, I started with fresh lemon juice, a little water, and a bit of honey. 

Then, I added brandy, gave it a good shake in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, poured it into mason jars, and topped it off with Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling Ice.  I garnished the drinks with a slice of fresh kiwi and served them with a fun party straw!

THINK PINK WITH THIS SPARKLING KIWI STRAWBERRY HARD PINK LEMONADE!

Sparkling Kiwi Strawberry Hard Pink Lemonade
Serves 2
Put a little sparkle in your summer with this skinny Sparkling Kiwi Strawberry Hard Pink Lemonade cocktail!
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Ingredients
  1. 1.5 ounces brandy
  2. 3 lemons, juiced (approx. 1/2 cup lemon juice)
  3. 1/2 cup water
  4. 2 tbsp. honey
  5. 1 bottle Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling ICE
  6. Ice cubes
  7. Fresh kiwi slices, to garnish
Instructions
  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add the brandy, lemon juice, water, and honey. Then, shake, shake, shake!
  3. Pour half of the mixture into one glass (or mason jar) and half into another.
  4. Top each glass with Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling ICE.
  5. Give it a little stir and garnish with fresh kiwi slices.
Living La Vida Holoka https://www.livinglavidaholoka.com/

This has quickly become my new favorite cocktail to sip on!  It’s not loaded with sugar, but the touch of honey and Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling Ice gives it a pleasant sweetness.  Plus, it’s pretty in pink and looks super cute served in mason jars.  In fact, if you have summer celebrations happening, you can whip up a few batches of these ahead of time!  Just put a lid on them and chill!


Want to stir up even more fun?  Pop one of these Tropical Drink Stirrers into your glass of Sparkling Strawberry Kiwi Hard Pink Lemonade!  Find all 16 zero calorie flavors of Sparkling Ice on Amazon!

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What’s your favorite Sparkling Ice flavor?



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