Cranberry Champagne Cocktail Recipe: Festive Holiday Drink
Elevate your celebrations with a delightful Cranberry Champagne Cocktail. This sparkling drink features a quick-fix homemade cranberry simple syrup, offering a bubbly, citrusy flavor that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a festive brunch, a holiday gathering with family and friends, or a New Year’s Eve party, this cocktail is sure to impress.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
- Easy Substitutions for Your Cocktail
- Step-by-Step: Making the Perfect Cocktail
- Kelly’s Expert Recipe Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Champagne Cocktails
- Delicious Snacks to Serve with Your Cocktails
- Full Cranberry Champagne Cocktail Recipe
I adore a good bubbly cocktail, and this cranberry champagne cocktail recipe is a winner. It’s refreshing, incredibly festive, and surprisingly easy to make. A triple win!
What exactly is a champagne cocktail? Simply put, it’s a mixed drink that features champagne or other sparkling wine as its main ingredient. Traditionally, it’s served in a classic champagne flute. For this holiday-inspired cocktail, you’ll start by creating a flavorful cranberry syrup. Then, add a generous two tablespoons of the syrup to your flute and top it off with a generous amount of your favorite bubbly.
For an extra touch of elegance, I highly recommend garnishing this festive cocktail with beautiful sugared cranberries. And if you’re in the mood for another seasonal drink, don’t miss my Christmas margarita (it’s even served in a festive ornament!).
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Champagne Cocktail Recipe
- Simple ingredients: This recipe requires just five ingredients, making it quick and easy to prepare.
- Festive and flavorful: The vibrant color and taste are perfect for celebrations, from Thanksgiving dinner to Christmas gatherings and New Year’s parties.
- Great for groups: The recipe yields eight servings, making it ideal for sharing with friends and family.
- Make-ahead option: The cranberry simple syrup can be prepared up to a week in advance, saving you time on the day of your event.
- Customizable: Get creative with garnishes! Add fresh or candied cranberries, a twist of orange or lime peel, or even a sprig of fresh herbs like rosemary or mint.
Ingredients for Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
- Fresh Cranberries: You’ll need one 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries for the base of the syrup.
- Granulated Sugar: Use granulated sugar to enhance the flavors of the cranberry and champagne without overpowering them. Avoid brown sugar.
- Grand Marnier: This orange-flavored cognac liqueur adds a touch of sophistication and citrus notes.
- Orange: A standard navel orange provides fresh juice and zest, contributing to the cocktail’s overall citrus profile.
- Dry Champagne or Sparkling Wine: For champagne cocktails where you’re adding other flavors, a less expensive dry champagne or sparkling wine works perfectly. Ensure it’s well-chilled beforehand.
See the detailed recipe card below for full ingredient information and quantities.
Easy Substitutions for Your Cocktail
- Orange Liqueur Alternatives: If you don’t have Grand Marnier, Cointreau or Triple Sec are excellent substitutes, providing a similar orange flavor.
- Citrus Swap: Experiment with other citrus fruits. Instead of orange, try grapefruit, lime, or blood orange for a unique twist.
How to Make Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
- Make the cranberry syrup: In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice and zest, Grand Marnier, and 1 cup of water. Simmer over medium heat until the cranberries burst and soften. Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
- Strain and chill the syrup: Pour the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solids. Discard the solids and chill the syrup in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. This step is crucial for achieving the best flavor and texture.
- Assemble the cocktails: For each cocktail, add 2 tablespoons of the chilled cranberry syrup to a champagne flute. Gently top with chilled champagne or sparkling wine.
Kelly’s Expert Recipe Tips
- Chill the Champagne Thoroughly: The key to a refreshing champagne cocktail is well-chilled champagne. Pop the bottle in the fridge as soon as you get home. Avoid adding ice, as it dilutes the flavors.
- Prepare the Syrup in Advance: To save time, you can make the cranberry simple syrup up to 5 days ahead of your event. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions About Champagne Cocktails
Yes, you can! Just ensure you thaw the frozen cranberries completely before using them in the simple syrup.
The syrup is ready when the cranberries burst and soften, and the sugar has fully dissolved. The mixture should have a syrupy consistency, typically after simmering for 10-15 minutes.
Use a zester or a fine grater to remove only the outer, colored part of the orange peel, carefully avoiding the bitter white pith underneath.
Choose a dry champagne or sparkling wine, such as Brut or Extra Brut, to balance the sweetness of the cranberry syrup.
Absolutely! Substitute non-alcoholic sparkling cider or soda for the champagne. Adjust the other ingredients to taste.
Delicious Snacks to Serve with Your Cocktails
- Party-Perfect Cheese Straws
- Homemade Chex Mix
- Spinach-Artichoke Dip Wonton Cups
- Crescent Roll Veggie Bars
- Whipped Brie Cheese
- Baked Brie Bites with Jam
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Cranberry Champagne Cocktail Recipe
Kelly Senyei
