This glitter cocktail is my favorite way to add some sparkle to Halloween: bubbly Prosecco, a splash of vodka, sugar-free maple syrup and a hint of green apple, swirled with shimmering orange edible glitter. It takes five minutes, has just 3g net carbs, and looks like a magic potion in the glass!
I was inspired to create this recipe when I came across an ad for Brew Glitter, an edible glitter made just for drinks. No, they don't sponsor me or anything. I just thought glittery drinks sounded pretty awesome, and I was right! The shimmer swirls through the bubbles every time you move the glass, so it's a real conversation starter at a Halloween party.
Given the time of year, I decided to go orange and make a tasty cocktail for Halloween or any fall celebration, with apple flavoring, maple syrup and vodka. You're going to love it!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Prosecco. The bubbly base of the drink, and it's what makes the glitter dance. Pick a bottle labeled Brut or Extra Brut, which are the driest (and lowest in sugar). "Extra Dry" is actually a little sweeter than Brut, which catches a lot of people out. Any dry sparkling wine, such as cava or champagne, works too.
- Vodka. Plain, unflavored vodka has zero carbs and lets the apple and maple flavors shine. A vanilla or apple vodka is a fun swap, but check the label, because some flavored vodkas have added sugar.
- Sugar-free maple syrup. Just a couple of teaspoons round out the dry Prosecco with a cozy, fall-flavored sweetness. I use ChocZero sugar-free maple syrup, but any low carb maple-flavored syrup will do. You could also use a few drops of liquid monk fruit or stevia instead.
- Apple flavoring. A little green apple flavoring gives the drink a crisp, caramel-apple vibe without any apple juice (and all the sugar that comes with it). Add a drop at a time if your flavoring is strong.
- Edible drink glitter. The star of the show! I used orange Brew Glitter. It's tasteless, sugar-free and dissolves easily into any liquid. See the section below for how to choose a glitter that's safe to drink.
- Ice. For shaking and chilling the vodka mixture. It gets strained out, so it won't water down your drink.
Edible Glitter vs. Luster Dust
Drink glitter and luster dust are both shimmery powders, and they're usually made from the same thing: mica, a naturally occurring mineral, coated with food-safe colors. Mica-based pearlescent pigments are approved by the FDA as a color additive for certain foods and drinks, and you only use a tiny amount. The difference is mostly in how they're made to be used. Drink glitter, like Brew Glitter, is designed to swirl and shimmer in liquid, while luster dust is a finer powder that bakers usually brush onto cakes, cookies and chocolates. Edible luster dust will work in a cocktail too, it just gives a softer, more satin-like shimmer.
The most important thing: make sure it's food-grade. Craft stores and cake shops sell plenty of glitters and dusts that are labeled "non-toxic" or "for decorative use only." Those are not meant to be eaten, even though they look just like the edible kind. Only use a product that clearly says "edible" on the label and lists its ingredients. Brew Glitter's ingredients are simply mica-based pearlescents and food-grade colorant, with no sugar at all.
Where to buy it. You'll find Brew Glitter on Amazon in over 20 colors, and one small jar makes plenty of drinks. If you'd rather try a luster dust, look for one labeled edible and food grade, like this edible gold luster dust. Some party stores and cake-decorating shops carry edible glitter too, just double-check that label.
How to Make a Glitter Halloween Cocktail
In a small cocktail shaker, add some ice, the vodka, the low carb maple syrup and the apple flavoring.
Shake well, and strain into a champagne flute. Next, add the drink glitter. I found that half a teaspoon gave a nice shimmer, but you could definitely add more!
Top up with Prosecco, and watch the gorgeous glittery cocktail shimmer! As you enjoy the drink, swirl it around every now and then to reactivate the shimmer.
Helpful Tips
Add the glitter before the Prosecco. Pouring the bubbly on top of the glitter does the mixing for you, so the shimmer spreads through the whole glass without any stirring. If you add the glitter last, it tends to float on top in a clump.
Pour the Prosecco slowly. Tilt the glass slightly and pour down the side so the bubbles don't foam up and overflow. You'll keep more of the fizz, too.
Keep everything cold. Chill the Prosecco well ahead of time, and pop your champagne flutes in the freezer for 10 minutes if you have room. A cold glass keeps the drink crisp and bubbly for longer.
Start small with the glitter. A little goes a long way, and different brands have different strengths. Start with a quarter teaspoon, swirl, and add more until it looks just right to you.
Give it a swirl before sipping. The glitter slowly settles to the bottom of the glass. That's totally normal! A gentle swirl brings the shimmer right back.
Variations
- Glitter mocktail. Skip the vodka and swap the Prosecco for chilled sparkling water or a sugar-free lemon-lime soda. Keep the maple syrup, apple flavoring and glitter as written, and the kids can have their own sparkly "potion" at the party.
- Gin version. Use gin instead of vodka for a more botanical, grown-up flavor that pairs really well with apple. If you like gin and apple together, you'll love my Low Carb Gin Apple Cocktail too.
- Other spooky colors. Brew Glitter comes in lots of colors, so match your drink to your party. Purple glitter makes a witchy potion, black glitter gives a dark, smoky look, and green is perfect for a monster-themed drink.
- Different flavors. Switch the apple flavoring for another extract, like peach, cherry or orange, and pick a glitter color to match.
- Make a pitcher. I made this a single serving, but it's very easy to make more. Multiply the vodka, syrup and flavoring by the number of guests, stir them together in a pitcher, then add glitter and Prosecco to each glass as you serve.
- More holiday sparkle. Love glittery drinks? Try my glittery Keto Holiday Jel Shots and my sparkling Low Carb Christmas Mimosa when the holidays roll around.
Serving Ideas
Serve this glitter cocktail in tall champagne flutes so you can really see the shimmer. For an extra spooky touch, rim the glasses with a little sugar-free sweetener mixed with a pinch of glitter, or drop a plastic spider or eyeball on the rim (just don't let anyone drink it!).
It's a fun welcome drink for a Halloween party or a grown-up treat after trick-or-treating. Set out a Keto Halloween Snack Tray and a plate of Halloween Spider Deviled Eggs alongside, and you've got an easy low carb spread that everyone can enjoy.
Storing & Freezing
This drink is best made and enjoyed right away, while the Prosecco is still nice and fizzy. If you're getting ready for a party, you can mix the vodka, maple syrup and apple flavoring up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Then just shake it with ice, add the glitter and top with Prosecco when your guests arrive. Store the glitter jar tightly closed in a cool, dry place so it doesn't clump.
I don't recommend freezing the finished cocktail, since the Prosecco goes flat. The vodka and syrup mixture is fine to freeze in an ice cube tray, though. Pop a cube or two into a glass, let them melt a little, then add glitter and top with Prosecco for a colder, slushier sip.
FAQs
Is edible glitter safe to drink?
Yes, as long as it's actually labeled edible. Edible drink glitters like Brew Glitter are made from mica-based pearlescent pigments and food-grade colors, which the FDA allows as color additives in foods and drinks in small amounts. Skip anything labeled only "non-toxic" or "for decoration," because those products aren't made to be eaten.
How many carbs are in Prosecco?
It depends on the sweetness level. Brut Prosecco has no more than 12 grams of sugar per liter, so a standard 5-ounce glass has under 2 grams of carbs. Extra Dry has a little more (roughly 2 to 3 grams per glass), and "Dry" Prosecco is sweeter still. For the lowest carb count, choose Brut or Extra Brut.
Is this cocktail keto?
Yes! Made with Brut Prosecco and sugar-free maple syrup, one glitter cocktail has about 3g net carbs, so it fits into a keto diet. As with any alcohol, enjoy it in moderation, since alcohol can hit you faster when you're eating low carb.
More Low Carb Halloween Drinks
If you loved this glittery cocktail, here are a few more spooky sips you might enjoy:
- Low Carb Pumpkin Moscow Mule
- Low Carb Caramel Apple Cocktail
- Low Carb Ghost Milkshake
- Low Carb Halloween Recipes
📖 Recipe
Glitter Halloween Cocktail
Ingredients
Equipment
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add a handful of ice cubes, the vodka, the low carb maple syrup and the apple flavoring to a small cocktail shaker.
- Shake well for about 15 seconds, then strain into a champagne flute.
- Add the edible glitter to the glass. Start with ¼ teaspoon and add more for extra shimmer.
- Slowly top up with chilled Prosecco, pouring down the side of the glass. The bubbles will swirl the glitter through the drink. Give it a gentle swirl before sipping to bring the shimmer back.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is my best approximation. Net carbs are calculated as the total grams carbs minus the total grams of fiber.
Gini says
I can't buy Brew Glitter in the UK, but Lakeland Limited sell this: https://www.lakeland.co.uk/32799/Rainbow-Dust-Edible-Glitter-Multipack-%20-Set-of-5-Assorted-Colours