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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    Published: Nov 20, 2022 · Modified: Dec 19, 2022 by Pate Giltner 2 Comments

    Festive Cranberry Aperol Spritz

    170 shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This Cranberry Aperol Spritz is the winter version of the always delicious Aperol Spritz! A little cranberry juice turns this summer staple into the perfect cocktail to celebrate with during the Holidays!

    This cocktail is so easy to make, has just three ingredients, and embodies the flavors of the Holidays!

    Overhead shot of a cranberry aperol sprtiz with old glitter ice, cranberries and cinnamon sticks.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love this recipe:
    • About this recipe:
    • What is Aperol? 
    • Key Ingredients:
    • How to make this recipe:
    • Tips for success:
    • Looking for more Holiday recipes? Check these out!
    • Cranberry Aperol Spritz

    Why you will love this recipe:

    This is the perfect December and Christmas cocktail! Orange and cranberry are some of my favorite holiday flavors and the cinnamon garnish really takes this cocktail to another level!

    I love celebrating the holiday season with cocktails, and this Bourbon Apple Cider Old Fashioned, Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider Mimosa, or this Kentucky Mule with Ginger Maple Syrup are other perfect cocktails for the season.

    About this recipe:

    • Taste - The slightly bitter orange-flavored Aperol is mellowed by the sparkling wine and enhanced by the tart cranberry, making this cocktail taste of sparkling orange and cranberry. 
    • Effort - Easy! This cocktail is just three store-bought ingredients!
    • Notes: you do need a jiggler or cocktail measurer because the balance between the Aperol and cranberry is delicate. 

    What is Aperol? 

    Aperol is a bitter-sweet Italian apéritif made from oranges, rhubarb, and other herbs and spices. It is the star ingredient in the Aperol Spritz and is the sweetest of the Italian bitters. It is still slightly bitter and best when mellowed with water or wine.

    Ingredients for the cranberry aperol spritz against a marble wall.

    Key Ingredients:

    Aperol: it wouldn't be a spritz without Aperol! There is only one brand, and it is very easy to find in all liquor stores.

    Processo or sparkling wine: the Aperol is mellowed by the chilled wine, making it a really refreshing cocktail. Use any sparkling wine you like, but I always use prosecco to keep with this spritz Italian roots. 

    Cranberry Juice: use fresh, no-sugar-added cranberry juice, and do not sub for cranberry cocktail. 

    Garnishes: the key garnish is a couple of cinnamon sticks; as the drink melts, the cinnamon adds a wonderful flavor! 

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to make this recipe:

    Gold glitter ice sitting in a large wine glass on a red table and surrounded by ornaments.

    Add ice to a large wine glass. (Optional make glitter ice by freezing a dash of gold cocktail glitter with water in an ice cube tray.)

    Processo being poured on top of the ice.

    Pour in the Prosecco.

    The aperol being poured on top of the processo and ice.

    Add in the Aperol.

    The cranberry juice being added to the cocktail.

    Followed by cranberry juice.

    Tips for success:

    • Use fresh no sugar-added cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail.
    • To create a sparkly festive version, make sparkly ice by freezing a dash of cocktail glitter with water in an ice cube tray.
    • Garnish with cinnamon sticks to really bring out the Holiday flavors!
    Straight on view of the cocktail that is garnished with dried ornages, cranberries, and cinnamon. Tea lights and ornaments surround the cocktail.

    Looking for more Holiday recipes? Check these out!

    • Tasty Bourbon Whipped Cream
    • Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider Mimosa
    • Bourbon Apple Cider Old Fashioned
    • Sparkling Fall Thanksgiving Margarita
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Overhead shot of a cranberry aperol sprtiz with old glitter ice, cranberries and cinnamon sticks.

    Cranberry Aperol Spritz

    ★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
    • Author: Pate Giltner
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
    • Category: Cocktail
    • Method: Stirred
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This Cranberry Aperol Spritz is the winter version of the always delicious Aperol Spritz! A little cranberry juice turns this summer staple into the perfect cocktail to celebrate with during the Holidays! 


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 4 oz Prosecco
    • 2 ½ oz Aperol
    • 1 ½ oz Cranberry Juice
    • Cinnamon sticks and orange slices for garnish.

    Instructions

    1. Add ice to a large wine glass. 
    2. Pour in the Prosecco.
    3. Add in the Aperol.
    4. Followed by cranberry juice. 
    5. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and oranges.

    Notes

    (Optional: make glitter ice by freezing a dash of gold cocktail glitter with water in an ice cube tray.)

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @thegandmkitchen — I can't wait to see what you've made!

    More Cocktails

    • Fresh Raspberry Simple Syrup
    • Fresh Blackberry Simple Syrup
    • Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
    • Strawberry Aperol Spritz

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elizabeth says

      November 22, 2022 at 3:07 pm

      This was amazing!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Laurie Baker says

      January 31, 2023 at 4:37 am

      This festive cranberry aperol spritz is stunning, thank you for your recipes that taught me how to make it
      https://www.tdchinges.com/

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

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    Pate Giltner holding a cupcake
    Pate Giltner holding a cupcake

    About Pate

    Hi, I'm Pate, and welcome to The G&M Kitchen!

    The G&M Kitchen is a recipe blog that specializes in southern baked goods. Here you will find classics like buttermilk and honey biscuits and beautiful show stoppers like strawberry basil cupcakes. While all recipes are inspired by traditional southern classics, they all have a twist or adjustment that elevates them and brings them into the modern age.

    Learn more about me →

    As featured in: thefeedfeed, Sur La Table, Bake From Scratch, Foodtography School, The Bourbon Review, Bringing it Home

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