Amaretto Cranberry Shrub Cocktail + Herbs Black Pepper Crackers

If you’re going to throw a cocktail party anytime soon but worry about what to eat or drink, you might want to check today’s post, because it’s awesome! Two recipes in one, including an awesome amaretto and cranberry shrub cocktail recipe (shrub what? you say, I’ll tell you!), and some simple and easy herbs and black pepper crackers using ground almonds and wholegrain flours, and both can be ready within an hour (including some cooling time in the fridge). You can live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy treating yourself too, in a non-guilty way.

I posted a delicious recipe for an orange chocolate cake last week, but now it’s time for some savoury crackers and yummy drinks!

Amaretto and cranberry shrub cocktails

What are shrubs? No, I’m not talking about the small bushy trees in your backyard… haha Shrubs are becoming more and more popular in drinks and other cocktails, they are based on fermented drinks (like Kombucha) and/or infused apple cider vinegar or other fruit vinegar type of liquids. The beauty of shrubs is that it’s a syrup that can be used in any drink combination, with or without alcohol. You can pair it with sparkling water, just like you can pair it with white wine, sparkling wine, liquor, or even beer.

I love the fact that it usually uses real food ingredients, and in today’s recipe, raw apple cider vinegar, which is pretty darn healthy, so all in all, that makes a pretty darn drink and also as healthy as an alcoholic drink can be! 😉

Herbs and black pepper crackers

I’m a big fan of crackers. I’ll take yummy crackers over cake or cookies any day of the week! I usually buy my healthy crackers, but now that I started making my own, and know how simple it is to make, I might start experimenting more with this, and making my own more often. Honestly, a big batch of healthy homemade crackers ready in less than 20 minutes?? Crazy!

The menu

Make some healthy cocktails, bake some healthy crackers… serve them with a cheese platter or vegan cashew cheeses, some fresh fruits (pomegranate seeds are just amazing with both), fresh vegetables, and raw nuts, and you’ve got yourself a winning combination for your cocktail party! Yum!

Enjoy!

ECP xo

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Amaretto and cranberry shrub cocktail

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

A healthy way to enjoy a cocktail!

Ingredients

Shrub

• 2 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (1/2 lb)
• 1 cup filtered water (or spring water)
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar raw/unfiltered
• 1/2 cup organic cane sugar (or amber maple syrup)

Cocktail

• 1/4 cup prepared shrub syrup (2 oz)
• 1/4 cup amaretto liquor (2 oz) (any orange liquor should work)
• 1 organic orange juiced (keep 2 thin slices aside for decoration)
• 1/3 cup sparkling spring water
• 1/2 pomegranate (seeds)
• maple syrup a dash

Instructions

1. To make your shrub: Put all the ingredients in a medium size pot, mix well.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low heat, cover with a lid, and cook for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and cool down for 15 minutes, then transfer into a large measuring cup, pouring it through a large mesh sieve to remove any cranberry pieces. You can use a spoon to squeeze as much liquid out as possible. You should end up with approximately 2.5 cups of shrub.
4. Then transfer in a container with an airtight lid, and put in the fridge until completely cooled down (1-2 hours).
5. Once your shrub is ready and cooled down, prepare your cocktail, either in a cocktail shaker, or just any container (a large measuring cup works well). Put some ice at the bottom, and pour all the other ingredients (amaretto, shrub syrup, fresh orange juice, water, and maple syrup if using).
6. Shake or mix well.
7. Prepare 4 cocktail glasses by putting 1/2 slice organic orange and some pomegranate seeds, and pour the cocktail over it (ice cube optional if your shrub is really cold). Enjoy right away!

Note: I do not believe anyone should worry about counting calories, but here is the nutritional information for one serving
Calories: 228kcal | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 250mg | Carbohydrates: 51g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 43g | Protein: 1g | Vitamin A: 110% | Vitamin C: 29.4% | Calcium: 31% | Iron: 0.4%

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Herbs and black pepper crackers

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

Servings: 48 crackers

makes approximately 4 dozen crackers

Ingredients

• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1/2 cup light rye flour
• 1/2 cup almond meal (approx. 1/3 cup raw whole almonds, ground in a coffee grinder should give you 1/2 cup almond meal)
• 2 tsp Herbes de Provence spices or rosemary
• 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
• 1 tsp aluminium-free baking powder
• 1/2 tsp unrefined sea salt
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Optional

• 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top before baking or for a vegan option, mix 1 tsp nutritional yeast in the dough

Instructions

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl (and nutritional yeast, if using), make a well in the centre and pour the water and olive oil.
2. Using a fork, simply mix everything together until it's not wet and sticky, then knead the dough with your (clean) hands for 1-2 minutes.
3. Divide the dough in half, and roll it on a large piece of parchment paper (big enough to cover your baking sheet), as thin as you can, then use a very sharp knife to cut the crackers into triangle shapes (or whatever shape you'd like), and delicately move them around so that they have space in-between them. You will have enough dough for 2 large baking sheets.
4. Slide the large piece of parchment paper onto a large cookie sheet. If using parmesan cheese (grated), sprinkle some on top at this stage.
5. If you have 2 large baking sheet, you can cook them at the same time, otherwise, you'll have to bake them in 2 batches.
6. Bake at 450F for about 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them after 8 minutes. Don't overcook these. You want them barely golden on top.
7. Remove from the oven, and cool down on a cooling rack.

Note: I do not believe anyone should worry about counting calories, but here is the nutritional information for one serving
Calories: 31kcal | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 14mg | Carbohydrates: 2g | Vitamin A: 5% | Calcium: 10% | Iron: 0.2%

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