This Cranberry Aperol Spritz is perfect for fall or winter. With a hint of cranberries, bubbly prosecco and the delicious flavor of aperol, now spritzes aren’t just for the summer. They’re perfect for the holidays too!
While I love a classic Aperol Spritz for sipping on in the summer, once fall hits, I feel the need to switch up my cocktail game with more seasonal ingredients like maple, apple, cranberry, and pear. That’s when I’ll normally start mixing up these Cranberry Maple Bourbon Smash cocktails or this Hot Mulled Cider.
So, I thought, why not create an aperol spritz cocktail for the winter?
It’s got all the standard spritz ingredients – aperol, prosecco, and soda water, but it’s all dressed up with a yummy cranberry simple syrup.
You can serve your cocktails up in wine glasses or rocks glasses, but be sure to garnish with rosemary sprigs and cranberries for an extra festive pop.
Table of Contents
What is aperol?
- Bright orange in color, aperol has notes of both bitter and sweet oranges and many other herbs, including rhubarb. Aperol is light and refreshing, and low in alcohol (11%).
Ingredients needed
You only need four ingredients to make this cranberry aperol spritz:
- Prosecco – No need for expensive French Champagne here! Go for Prosecco, an Italian sparking wine that’s light, bubbly and festive!
- Aperol – Find it in the liquor store.
- Soda water.
- Cranberry simple syrup.
The cranberry simple syrup is very easy to make! You’ll just need to set aside enough time for it to cool before you plan on serving the cocktails.
How to make cranberry simple syrup
- Bring 2 cups cranberries, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves.
- Then just cover the pot and let it rest for 15 minutes to allow the cranberries to steep and release all their yummy flavor.
- That’s it! You’re ready to use it in this delicious cocktail.
How to make this winter aperol spritz
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add the aperol, cranberry simple syrup, prosecco and top off with the soda water.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig and cranberries, if desired.
Variations
Make it less strong
In general, a spritz is a lower alcohol cocktail. However, if you would like to make it even less strong, use less Aperol and Prosecco, and more soda water and cranberry simple syrup. Or, you can leave out the Prosecco entirely and just combine Aperol, cranberry simple syrup and soda water.
Make it less bitter
Aperol is a bittersweet spirit, and it can be a little too bitter for some people. If so, you can reduce the amount of Aperol in your spritz.
Make it more bitter
If you’re a fan of the bitter notes in Aperol, you’ll probably love Campari too! Campari is very similar to Aperol but this Italian apertif is even more bitter. Try swapping it in place of the Aperol to make a Campari Winter Spritz.
ℹ️ Read about the differences between Campari and Aperol here.
What to serve with it
In Italian tradition, the aperol spritz is served as an apéritif. Apéritifs are designed to be served before lunch or dinner to excite one’s appetite.
I like to serve them with Italian or Mediterranean-style appetizers. Since Aperol is a bitter spirit, it pairs best with creamy, salty foods that will take the bitter edge off.
Here are some easy appetizers that pair well:
- Olives or Olive Tapenade
More aperol cocktail recipes
- MORE→ 25+ Aperol cocktail recipes to try!
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Did you try this holiday aperol spritz?
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Full Recipe
Cranberry Aperol Spritz
Equipment
Ingredients
Cranberry Simple Syrup:
- 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
Cranberry Aperol Spritz:
- 3 ounces Prosecco (or any sparkling wine)
- 1 ounce Aperol
- 1 ounce cranberry simple syrup
- Splash of soda water
To Garnish:
Instructions
- In a small saucepan stir together cranberries, water, and sugar. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let mixture simmer until sugar completely dissolves. Take care because cranberries will pop. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes.
- Strain cranberries from syrup mixture and let cool completely.
- Pour the sparkling wine into a glass of ice cubes. Add the Aperol, cranberry simple syrup and a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprigs. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This winter aperol spritz post was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2023. The recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
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