This cranberry spritz is the perfect holiday cocktail! It’s bubbly, the perfect shade of red, slightly tart, and lightly sweetened with orange juice. A few fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary finishes it off!
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Why You’ll Love my Cranberry Spritz
- It’s naturally sweetened. Instead of using sugar-sweetened cranberry juice or simple syrup, I’m using 100% cranberry juice and fresh orange juice for a delicious sweet-tart balance.
- It’s beautiful and easy to make. Who doesn’t love an impressive AND simple cocktail to woo guests?!
- It’s festive for the holidays. The fresh cranberries and rosemary garnish make it perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
You guys know I’m a big fan of spritz cocktails. They’re light, fresh, and super easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. That’s why I’ve already made summer favorites like aperol spritz and limoncello spritz on the website.
But when the holidays roll around, this cranberry spritz becomes my cocktail of choice! It’s the most beautiful shade of pinkish-red, it’s bubbly from the Prosecco and club soda, and it’s lightly sweetened with orange juice to balance the tartness of unsweetened cranberry juice.
Cranberry recipes always take centerstage during Thanksgiving and Christmas so this drink fits right in. And if you’re making my cranberry sauce you may even have leftover fresh cranberries sitting in your fridge waiting to garnish this cocktail!
Cranberry Spritz Ingredients
- Cranberry juice: I’m using 100% pure unsweetened cranberry juice, as I don’t love sugary-sweet cocktails. Though if you like a sweeter cocktail you can use sweetened cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail (which is a blend of cranberry juice, water, and added sugar).
- Orange juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice is great, but you can also use store-bought orange juice. Just grab a pulp-free version for a clean, untextured cranberry spritz.
- Prosecco: You can use a Brut Prosecco or a sweeter Extra Dry Prosecco. If you happen to have Champagne on hand, that’s a great substitute as well! And if you want an extra-boozy option, you can even add 1 ounce of vodka for a little extra body.
- Club soda: A splash of club soda adds extra bubbles and keeps the cocktail light and fresh.
- Fresh cranberries and rosemary: My favorite holiday garnishes! They sure do make any dish or drink extra festive.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
How To Make A Cranberry Spritz
First, add the juices. Fill a large wine glass with ice (these glasses I got at Crate and Barrel are so pretty!). Then add the cranberry juice and orange juice. Give this mixture a good stir.
Second, top with bubbles. Add the Prosecco first, then the club soda, and gently stir once or twice to combine.
Lisa’s stirring tip: You really don’t need to over-stir here. The more you stir, the more you flatten the bubbles. And you don’t want a flat spritz!
Lastly, garnish and serve! Garnish with fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig before serving. Now that’s what I call an elegant and effortless holiday cocktail! 😉
Something else I tested: When I was testing this recipe, I also tried it with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. The lime does brighten the cranberry juice, though I preferred the softer, pure cranberry flavor. But if you happen to have limes around, give it a try and see which version you prefer!
Make This Alcohol-Free for the Little Ones
Kids always want to be included in the holiday festivities, and you can easily make an alcohol-free version of this recipe. Just swap the Prosecco for non-alcohol sparkling wine or more sparkling water. Voila! A non-alcoholic cranberry spritz.
Ways To Prep Ahead
Although you technically “shouldn’t” make a spritz ahead of time (because the bubbles will fall flat), you can certainly prep the ingredients!
- Prep cranberries and rosemary. Wash the cranberries and store them in a container in the fridge. And choose the best rosemary sprigs for garnishing.
- Make a party pitcher. For eight servings, combine 1 ½ cups cranberry juice and ½ cup orange juice in a pitcher. Chill that in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Then, just before serving add 3 ½ cups of chilled Prosecco and 1 cup of club soda. Stir gently and pour into ice-filled glasses, then garnish.
More Holiday Cocktails
- Red Sangria: Always a festive pitcher for parties!
- White Christmas Sangria: Perfect for white wine lovers.
- Pomegranate Margarita: A great Christmas margarita.
If you try this cranberry spritz, let me know how it turns out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re looking for more healthy food inspiration, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce orange juice
- 3 ounces Prosecco
- 1 ounce club soda
- for garnish: rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries.
Instructions
- Add the juices. Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the cranberry juice and orange juice, then stir to combine.
- Top with bubbles. Add the Prosecco, followed by the club soda. Gently stir once or twice to combine everything together without flattening the bubbles.
- Garnish and serve. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- If you don’t have fresh cranberries or rosemary sprigs on hand to garnish the cocktail, you could also add thin slices of fresh orange to the rim.
Nutrition
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