An easy recipe for an Orange Vanilla Spritzer inspired by Chef Dana Herbert for Macy’s Culinary Council. Tastes like a creamsicle!
Chef Dana Herbert, a.k.a. “Sugar Daddy” is a Baker from Delaware who rose to fame with a win on Cake Boss: Next Great Baker in 2010. Following his win he has appeared on Cake Boss, Deals with Kat Cosely, Wedding Cake Wars, and Ultimate Cake Off. Basically y’all, what I am saying is that the guy can bake.
He is coming to Orlando this Saturday, appearing at Macy’s Florida Mall, and he is making us brunch. AND he is signing cookbooks after the demo – his latest is called Sweet & Savory Union – and is yours free with a $35 purchase from Macy’s home department (you will also receive a Culinary Council Lunch bag with your purchase).
To celebrate his Orlando appearance, I was asked to recreate one of my favorite Chef Herbert recipes. He makes a lot of really delicious food, like Raspberry Cake and Sugar Cookies. I can’t make that stuff, Mr. Beet and I could eat all the cake and cookies in one sitting. I instead found a great recipe by Chef Dana for the Macy’s Culinary Council – a Cranberry Vanilla Spritzer. But here’s the thing – fresh cranberries are just not in season right now so I used oranges instead. Here is my version – an Orange Vanilla Spritzer.
And if you have never used vanilla bean paste or orange bitters before in a recipe before, oh my, you are in for a treat.
Oh my Goodness, the recipe turned out dreamy and creamy. Just like a Creamsicle (or a Dreamsicle as some of you may know it by). Only better, and more liquid-y and not as frozen. Ha!
I had enough syrup left over to keep in my fridge and I am going to add it to my coffee in the morning. The syrup is slightly spicy, very sweet, and slightly bitter. I think it will be a perfect morning pick me up.
Orange Vanilla Spritzer
This delicious orange vanilla spritzer is based off a recipe by Chef Dana Herbert on behalf of the Macy's Culinary Conuncil.
Ingredients
- 1 cup filtered water
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- several pieces orange peel, (about 4 inches)
- 1 cup raw agave nectar
- 1 cup orange juice
- ice
- club soda
- blueberries, frozen or fresh for garnish
Instructions
- Bring water, vanilla bean paste, orange bitters,orange peel, and agave nectar to a simmer over medium heat.
- Simmer for about three minutes, stirring to mix the ingredients well.
- Let syrup cool completely.
- Divide the orange syrup among 4 glasses (avoid pouring the orange peels into glass).
- Pour 1/2 cup of the orange juice into each of the glasses and carefully add ice, leaving about an inch from the top of the glass.
- Fill the rest of the glass up with the club soda and blueberries. Serve immediately.
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Helen Corbin
Monday 8th of October 2018
I will make this for Eva at Thanksgiving :-)