The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

Holiday Helper: A Winter Twist on a Summertime Favorite

Written by Erica F | Dec 12, 2019 2:30:00 PM

 

If you’ve been drinking Aperol Spritzes all Summer like me, try this Cranberry Spritz, a Wintertime twist on a crowd favorite.

This cocktail only has a few ingredients, so it comes together in a snap and can easily be batched for a large group. It has all the classic flavors of an Aperol spritz with the addition of bright and tart cranberry juice and some seasonal garnish. I love serving it out of a beverage dispenser jazzed up with some fresh fruit and winter herbs and spices. 

For One Cocktail

3 oz Aperol

3 oz Prosecco or sparkling white wine

2 oz Cranberry juice

Splash of soda water

Combine all ingredients over ice and top with a splash of soda water. I used an orange flavored sparkling water to compliment the bitter organe of the Aperol.

For a Batch of 12

40 oz Aperol

36 oz Prosecco or sparkling wine

24 oz Cranberry juice

I like to start by slicing some fruit and arranging them around the walls of my drinks dispenser. Fill with ice, tucking spices and herbs in as you go. I added orange slices, star anise and rosemary. Mix all ingredients together in a large pitcher and pour into dispenser. (For a batch, I omit the sparkling water and add additional Aperol because this will all go over ice and get a little watered down as it sits.) 

Serve with some orange and rosemary for garnish and enjoy a hassle-free start to a great holiday cocktail party! For more holiday party ideas, try our Iconic Cocktails Class Friday, December 27th or our Irresistible Appetizers Class Saturday, December 28th. Or, come party with us at one of our New Year’s Eve events like our New Year’s Eve Retro Appetizer Party , New Year’s Eve Hands-on French Steak House, and New Year’s Eve Hands-on Festa Italiana!