I am in love with all things honeycrisp right now...and although my favorite way to eat them is to simply take a big bite, I find uses for them in almost every sort of dish. This includes beverages! Today when I was at work, and just feeling tired and wanting it to be 4 o'clock so I could go home, I was thinking a cocktail might be fabulous this afternoon. I am usually just a classic dirty martini girl, not going for the sweet drinks, but an idea popped into my head to make a Honeycrisp appletini! Probably because I was also imagining how nice it would be to enjoy a nice honeycrisp apple, as I was also hungry at the time. I am really not a fan of most appletinis people order in bars...they are way too sweet containing lots of artificial apple flavorings and lots of sugar. What I like however is when bartenders make their own drink creations using fruit purees...so I thought I could create a honeycrisp appletini this way featuring the popular Minnesota grown fruit! I had a bag of small honeycrisps, about the size of large golf ball, and I thought one would be the perfect size to puree for a martini! I added some Asian 5 spice because it is so wonderful with apples, some local Prairie Organic Vodka, because it is my favorite, and some Domaine De Canton ginger liqueur to spice it up a bit. It was a wonderful refreshing drink...the essence of Honeycrisp apple! All you Honeycrisp apple lovers out there, you must try this! It is 100x better than any normal appletini...
5 Spice Honeycrisp Appletini
Serves 1
2 Tbsp maple sugar
3/4 tsp asian 5 spice powder
1 Tbsp agave nectar or honey
4-6 large ice cubes
1 tsp asian 5 spice powder
2 oz Prairie Organic Vodka
1 1/2 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
3 Tbsp fresh honeycrisp apple puree
2 thin slices honeycrisp apple
To make cardamom sugar, combine sugar cinnamon and nutmeg and blend well. Spread out on a small plate. Coat the rim of the martini glass with the agave syrup by dipping it into it on a plate, then dip the agave coated rim into the sugar and set aside. In a martini shaker add the ice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vodka, ginger liquer, and apple puree, and place top on shaker. Shake until well blended. Pour through a strainer into a chilled martini glass, adding the apple slice to your glass to garnish, and serve!
In general - the appletini recipes I have seen have never tempted. This spiced-up honeycrisp one intrigues. Lots of flavor and none of it cloyingly sweet.
ReplyDeleteHello, lover! I love honey crisp apples and I love a good cocktail. This would be right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteGosh, Amy! I wish I could just fly over to your place on my broom stick (smile). I would probably drink way too many of these though...!
ReplyDeleteNot going to lie, this looks pretty darn good!
ReplyDeleteAs they say "You had me at HONEYCRISP"! I first experienced the delights of these amazing fruits when a friend from Georgia suggested we try the. OMG. The perfect apple. Great use in a drink!
ReplyDeleteThis is logical: putting apple pieces in the appletini. Other people are using cherries and things like that.
ReplyDelete