This skinny Valentine’s Day cocktail, the Shot Through The Heart, is part of a sponsored post for SocialStars #SweetNLowStars

This past Friday my family began the move to our new home.  It’s exciting, it’s exhausting.  One of my favorite features of this house is the three citrus trees that sit in the side yard.  I’m a total citrus junkie.  I live off of lemon water and often my whole meal consists of only grapefruit, so this was a big deal for me.  When I was thinking about what my next Sweet’N Low skinny cocktail would be, the direction was clear to say the least.

Since Valentine’s Day is just a month away, I went with the delicious ruby red grapefruit.  They are literally falling off my tree right now, crazy ripe and crazy delicious.  To kick up the pink a notch, I decided to whip up a raspberry “syrup” using fresh raspberries, apple juice and Sweet’N Low.

I thought vodka would be the obvious route here but since it is still winter, I went with Rye Whiskey — and that choice paid off.  These little shooters are seriously so yum, perfect for a Valentine’s Day gathering, be it 2 or 10.

I have a tendency to over-complicate things in the kitchen – always a 12 ingredient meal being prepared and my cocktails are just as bad.  This time I felt like going the simple route and while I could have opted for grenadine to make that red color, I prefer to be a bit more natural, hence the raspberries! Okay, so maybe I didn’t go way simple, but I did go way SKINNY!  These little shooters (yes, I know they are in shot glasses, not shooters, but the restaurant supply store was out of shooters) are actually quite nutritious and low on the calories.

The tart ruby red really needs a sweet component and Sweet’N Low really fits the bill.  Normally, I would just dissolve the sugar replacements in water but I thought this drink would benefit from some naturally sweet apple juice as well.  So let’s get to the recipe!

Shot Through The Heart

serving: 4 shots

4 oz rye whiskey
2 oz fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
2 oz raspberry Sweet’N Low syrup

Ingredients

rye whiskey
fresh raspberries
natural apple juice
Sweet’N Low
fresh grapefruit juice

Directions

1. Over medium heat, pour in 1/2 C fresh raspberries, 1 C natural apple juice and 1 packet Sweet’N Low.  Bring to boil, reduce to simmer.  With the back of a wooden spoon, smash the raspberries.  Once reached desired consistency, strain into a liquid measuring cup with pour spout.
2. In a shaker filled with ice, add 4 oz rye whiskey, 2 oz raspberry syrup and 2 oz grapefruit juice.  Shake to chill.  Strain into 1 1/2 oz shooter or shot glasses. enjoy.

Check out Sweet’N Low’s Facebook page for more recipes and ideas!