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Anna Vocino Brings a Low-Carb Twist to Happy Hour in New Cookbook

HEALTH & BEAUTY

10/13/20262 min read

Eat Happy Cocktail Hour cookbook cover featuring gluten-free appetizers, dips, and drinks on a dark table.

Eat Happy Cocktail Hour: Deliciously Gluten Free and Low Carb Sips, Dips, and Bites, is a new collection of 72 cocktails, mocktails, appetizers, dips, and shareable dishes created for entertaining without giving up the way you want to eat.

A smiling woman in a brown sweater sits at a bar with a dirty martini, cocktail shaker, and framed horse artwork.

Bestselling cookbook author Anna Vocino is also a comedian, culinary personality, and voice actor. Her most recent role was Mrs. Potato Head in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 5.

Released October 13, the cookbook features 72 recipes for cocktails, mocktails, appetizers, dips and shareable dishes. The collection is designed for hosts who want celebratory food and drinks without abandoning their usual dietary preferences.

A More Flexible Approach to Entertaining

Cocktail parties can present a challenge for people who avoid gluten, grains, excess carbohydrates or added sugar. Traditional spreads often rely on sugary drinks, bread-based appetizers and other foods that may not fit those needs.

Vocino’s new cookbook offers an alternative centered on flavor and sociability. Instead of presenting the recipes simply as healthier replacements for familiar party foods, she focuses on options that feel suitable for an actual celebration.

The author’s philosophy is that nutritious or restriction-friendly food should still be satisfying and enjoyable. Her recipes are intended to help hosts create gatherings where guests can relax, connect and indulge without feeling that dietary goals have been set aside.

Cocktails, Mocktails and Crowd-Friendly Bites

The book’s beverage section includes cocktails such as the Meaty Mary, Watermelon Mint Martini and Chai Spiced Whiskey. Alcohol-free options include mojitos and Strawberry Hibiscus Frozés, giving hosts choices for guests who prefer mocktails.

Savory recipes range from Sesame Deviled Eggs and Spicy Pizza Bites to Bacon Beef Mini Smash Sliders. The collection also features dips, sauces and small plates such as Hot Spinach Dip, Creamy Beet Hummus and Chicken Satays with Thai Peanut Dipping Sauce.

Full-color photography accompanies the recipes, while practical mixology guidance helps readers prepare and serve drinks with greater confidence. Together, the recipes and tips make the book useful for casual get-togethers, holiday parties and other celebrations.

A Personal Connection to Gluten-Free Cooking

Vocino began developing gluten-free versions of her favorite foods after being diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002. Her cooking later expanded to emphasize grain-free, low-carb and lower-sugar ingredients.

Eat Happy Cocktail Hour is her fourth cookbook. It follows Eat Happy, Eat Happy Too and Eat Happy Italian, all of which helped establish her approachable style of dietary-conscious cooking.

Beyond publishing, Vocino is the founder of Eat Happy Kitchen, a natural food company that produces sauces, seasonings and snacks without gluten, fillers or added sugar. She is also a comedian, podcast co-host and voice actor, with credits that include Mrs. Potato Head in Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5.

Availability and Book Details

Published by BenBella Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster, Eat Happy Cocktail Hour is available in hardcover and digital formats wherever books are sold. The hardcover carries a list price of $24.95.

With its mix of drinks, appetizers and entertaining advice, the cookbook extends Vocino’s “Eat Happy” concept into the social occasions where mindful eating can be most difficult. Its central message is simple: hosts do not have to choose between serving food that supports their preferences and creating a festive experience their guests will enjoy.

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