Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails

These Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails are perfect for a festive brunch or holiday party. The simple vanilla bean & grapefruit syrup can be made ahead of time. To serve, just add sparkling wine.

Since the holiday season is here, it’s the perfect time for a festive, sparkling cocktail. These Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails would be right at home at a holiday brunch, or served as part of a New Year’s Eve gathering.

They’re gorgeously flecked with vanilla bean and scented with grapefruit and basically all things delicious.

My favorite part about these cocktails is that all of the work can be done ahead of time. That “work” lies in making the simple syrup, but in all honestly the simple syrup really is simple. It will only take you about 10 minutes to make it, then you’ll need to let it cool.

How to Make Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Simple Syrup

Split a vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into a small saucepan. Throw the whole bean in there too. Then add the zest and juice from one grapefruit, 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Heat on medium-high until the sugar dissolves and then just let it all steep and cool for an hour or so. Strain out the solids and you’re set.

How to Make Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails

To make these cocktails add an ounce of the simple syrup to a champagne flute and top it off with sparkling wine. No need to use a spendy bottle of champagne. Instead, look for Cava or Prosecco. Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly sparkling wines.

More Cocktail Recipes:

• Vanilla Bean & Fig Cocktail
• Aperol Spritz
• Harvest Moon Applejack Cocktail
• Blackberry Ginger Bellini
• Paloma Cocktail with Honey Simple Syrup

If you loved these Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished cocktail and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings. 

More → 17+ delicious Vanilla Cocktails

Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails

These Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktails are perfect for a festive brunch or holiday party. The simple vanilla bean & grapefruit syrup can be made ahead of time. To serve, just add sparkling wine.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 1 cocktail

Created by Platings and Pairings

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Ingredients

Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Simple Syrup

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 vanilla bean (split in half, seeds scraped)
• 1 grapefruit (zested & juiced)

Cocktail

• 1 ounce Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Simple Syrup
• 6 ounces Sparkling wine
• Grapefruit wedges (for garnish)
• Fresh thyme (for garnish)

Instructions

Vanilla Bean & Grapefruit Simple Syrup

• In a small saucepan mix sugar, water, vanilla seeds and bean, and grapefruit juice and zest. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; set aside 1 hour to cool. Discard vanilla bean and strain through fine mesh strainer. Pour syrup into glass jar and refrigerate.

Cocktail

• To serve, add 1 ounce syrup to a champagne flute; top with sparkling wine and garnish with a grapefruit wedge and sprig of fresh thyme.

Notes

This recipe will make enough simple syrup for about 10 cocktails. You can also add the syrup to sparkling water for a flavored soda water. 

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 2830IU | Vitamin C: 76.7mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1.1mg