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    Winter Aperol Spritz

    Published: Nov 18, 2020 · Modified: Oct 7, 2021 by Elise Shivamber · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A Winter Aperol Spritz is the seasonal spin on the classic Aperol Spritz. With festive flavors of spiced orange and cranberry, it’s a super light and delicious Christmas cocktail. This winter cocktail is easy, refreshing, sweet and bubbly!

    A close up of a sugared rosemary leaf in a Winter Aperol cocktail.

    A Winter Spritz is the perfect cocktail for Thanksgiving, Christmas, a holiday party, New Year's Eve, or just a quiet night in. It’s festive, light and refreshing!

    My absolute favorite cocktail in the world is an aperol spritz - so much so, I even made one with rosé! When it passes the threshold into Fall, I wonder: what do I drink now? Well, of course a Winter Aperol Spritz with flavors of spiced orange and cranberry!

    It's the perfect light, bubbly cocktail layered with the best of Winter's flavors. The Aperol Spritz is no longer only a Summer drink! This Spiced Orange & Cranberry Winter Aperol Spritz recipe came out of a desire to make Aperol spritz a year-round cocktail.

    A blogger friend, Chelsea Peachtree, and I have been wanting to collaborate on a cocktail recipe for a while, as two foodies who very much enjoy making a delicious cocktail! After much debate we decided we should absolutely make an Aperol spritz with the delicious flavors of the holidays.

    Jump to:
    • What is Aperol?
    • What is an Aperol Spritz?
    • How to make a Winter Aperol Spritz
    • Ingredients
    • How to Serve
    • Other Fun Festive Cocktails
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What is Aperol?

    Aperol is similar to Campari, but less bitter. It is a type of Italian aperitif, which is a pre-dinner liquor that is meant to whet the palate or open the palate for dinner. At only 22% alcohol, it's a great ingredient to add to cocktails that won't be overpowering. It tastes like a slightly bitter orange and has a lovely bright orange hue that makes an Aperol spritz have its traditional orange sunset color.

    What is an Aperol Spritz?

    Aperol Spritz is a traditional Italian drink that reminds me of sipping refreshing and beautiful cocktails in the Summer heat. There's typically three ingredients: Aperol, Prosecco, and Club Soda. While there is no real enforced proportion of ingredients, I like to do 1:1, Aperol:Prosecco, and then top with club soda (about 1 OZ). The most traditional garnish is an orange wedge or wheel, to compliment the Aperol.

    How to make a Winter Aperol Spritz

    To transition a traditional Aperol spritz into a Winter Aperol spritz, you need a Spiced Orange & Cranberry Simple Syrup. This simple syrup: Winter spices, orange zest, cranberries, sugar and water. If you're familiar with the taste of the typical Aperol spritz, this simple syrup enhances the fresh orange taste and adds a small hint of spice.

    Making the simple syrup is really easy: dissolve the sugar into the water, and then strain into an air-tight container. The whole process takes about 15-minutes and can be made ahead and used in PLENTY other drinks!

    Ingredients for a Winter Aperol Spritz - Aperol, Prosecco, homemade cranberry simple syrup and club soda.

    Ingredients

    • Aperol - An absolute must-have for its namesake cocktail. Substitute for Campari (will be slightly more bitter).
    • Prosecco - No need to bring out the expensive champagne for this one. Substitute prosecco for champagne or cava!
    • Club Soda - Top off this cocktail recipe with club soda. Any kind of soda water or club soda will do!
    • Cranberry Simple Syrup - For this cocktail I used my Spiced Orange & Cranberry Simple Syrup to add not only the red color, but for warm winter spices of cinnamon and cloves. Substitute for cranberry juice but it will lose some of the spices from making your own syrup!

    How to Serve

    Glasses

    A cranberry Aperol spritz is best served in a wine glass (stemless like mine or with stems!). You can also serve this Aperol cocktail in a highball glass.

    Garnish

    • Orange - Add some bright, fresh oranges (sliced or wedged) to your glass. A typical Aperol Spritz recipe is garnished with an orange slice or orange peel. You can even use dehydrated orange wheels!
    • Cranberries - An alternative Winter option for a garnish - fresh cranberries!
    • Rosemary Sprig - Rosemary adds such a Christmas tree vibe and looks beautiful against the red and orange of this cocktail. You can even coat the rosemary sprigs in sugar to make sugared rosemary - quite the classic and festive Christmas vibe!
    • Cinnamon Stick - Use a cinnamon stick to add extra warming spices and festive flair!

    Other Fun Festive Cocktails

    Winter Cocktails:

    • Easy Spiced Mulled Wine
    • Red Wine Sangria
    • Grapefruit Rosemary Moscow Mule

    Sparkling Cocktails:

    • Basil Limoncello Spritz
    • Sparkling Rosé Aperol Spritz
    • Holiday Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail
    • Honey Ginger Gin and Prosecco Cocktail

    📖 Recipe

    Featured image of a Winter Aperol Spritz in a glass with rosemary and orange garnish.

    Winter Aperol Spritz

    Elise Shivamber
    This festive Winter Aperol Spritz is a seasonal spin on the classic Aperol Spritz and the perfect sparkling wine cocktail for the holiday season. Refreshing Aperol combined with spiced orange and cranberry makes for the perfect refreshing winter drink!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 8 mins
    Total Time 8 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 345 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 OZ Prosecco
    • 3 OZ Aperol
    • 1 OZ Club Soda
    • 1 OZ Spiced Orange Cranberry Simple Syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Add ice to cup. Pour Spiced Orange & Cranberry Simple Syrup on top of ice. Add Aperol and prosecco.
    • Top with club soda - if you prefer an even less alcoholic cocktail, feel free to add more!
    • Garnish with orange slices, orange wedge, and/or cranberries.

    Notes

    Aperol - An absolute must-have for its namesake cocktail. Substitute for Campari (will be slightly more bitter).
    Prosecco - No need to bring out the expensive champagne for this one. Substitute prosecco for champagne or cava!
    Club Soda - Top off this cocktail recipe with club soda. Any kind of soda water or club soda will do!
    Cranberry Simple Syrup - For this cocktail I used my Spiced Orange & Cranberry Simple Syrup to add not only the red color, but for warm winter spices of cinnamon and cloves. Substitute for cranberry juice but it will lose some of the spices from making your own syrup!
    A cranberry Aperol spritz is best served in a wine glass (stemless like mine or with stems!). You can also serve this Aperol cocktail in a highball glass.
    Rosemary adds such a Christmas tree vibe and looks beautiful against the red and orange of this cocktail. You can even coat the rosemary sprigs in sugar to make sugared rosemary - quite the classic and festive Christmas vibe!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktailCalories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 1gSodium: 28mgPotassium: 93mgSugar: 22gCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword aperol, cranberry, cranberry spritz, prosecco, winter aperol spritz
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Spiced Orange & Cranberry Simple Syrup
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Danielle Solazzo

      January 01, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      The Winter Spritz was a hit in our house. We drink a classic spritz on the regular and we never thought about mixing it up. I had made a cranberry tart and had extra cranberries in the house and was hoping not to waste them. The Spiced Orange and Cranberry Simple Syrup was just the recipe I needed! We were also able to add this to a Moscow Mule we were using Bittermens Spiced Cranberry bitters in already and the cranberry syrup punched it up a notch! It has been a great addition to our winter cocktail line up.

      Reply
      • Elise Shivamber

        January 02, 2021 at 2:38 pm

        I love Aperol Spritz so it was so fun to mix it up! I love that you added this to a Moscow Mule as well it sounds delish!

        Reply

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