Easiest Winter Cranberry Aperol Spritz

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This winter cranberry Aperol spritz is the perfect holiday version of the traditional Aperol spritz! This cocktail perfectly balances tart cranberry and sweet orange. Plus, it's quick and easy to whip up with fresh cranberry juice, Aperol, and prosecco – no fussing with syrup!

cranberry Aperol spritz on a marble table surrounded by Christmas decor.

I've tested this recipe multiple times to nail the ideal combination of sweet, tart, and bitter – ensuring no flavor overpowers the other. As a summer Aperol Spritz fan, adapting it for winter was a blast. After a week of tinkering with ratios and debating juice vs. syrup, this version emerged as the clear winner! Cheers to the perfect winter sip.

If you love holiday and winter cocktails, these recipes will also hit the spot: Pomegranate Holiday Margarita, Bourbon Apple Cider Old Fashioned, Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider Mimosa, or this Kentucky Mule with Ginger Maple Syrup!

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⭐ Why I love this recipe:
🥘 Key Ingredients:
🔪 How to make this recipe:
💭 Expert Tips:
What is Aperol?
What does this cranberry aperol spritz pair with?
FAQ's
Here's a video showing how to make this recipe:
Looking for more Holiday recipes? Check these out!
Cranberry Aperol Spritz

⭐ Why I love this recipe:

Perfect for Aperol spritz lovers who want a festive version for winter!
So easy. All it takes is adding the ingredients to a glass and stirring!
Cranberry orange flavors at their best! I love the combination of cranberry and orange. In this cocktail, the slightly bitter orange-flavored Aperol is mellowed by the sparkling wine and enhanced by the tart cranberry.

🥘 Key Ingredients:

The ingredients for the spritz sitting up on a marble table.

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:

Aperol being poured into a glass with ice.

Step 1: Add ice to a large wine glass and top with the Aperol.

The cranberry juice being added to the glass.

Step 2: Measure out and pour in the cranberry juice.

Step 3: Top with the Prosecco.

the finished drink garnished with rosemary, cinnamon, and cranberries.

Step 4: Then garnish and serve!

💭 Expert Tips:

Use fresh, no-sugar-added cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail.
Infuse spices like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg in the cranberry juice overnight for more flavor.
Garnish with fresh cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cranberries, and rosemary.
Freeze cranberry juice into ice cubes and use them in the spritz. They'll infuse the drink with more cranberry flavor as they melt without diluting it.
Taste the drink before serving and adjust the sweetness if necessary. You can add more Aperol or a touch of simple syrup, depending on your preference.

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.

An Aperol spritz is a low-alcohol aperitif made with processo, Aperol, and soda water that is a bitter-sweet refreshing cocktail.

Two of the finished cranberry aperol spritzes shot from the side.

What does this cranberry aperol spritz pair with?

A spritz is the perfect aperitif and pairs well with almost all Italian small bites, appetizers, or charcuterie boards. I especially love it with burrata, focaccia, or fried mozzarella.