The holiday season brings so many opportunities for hosting and enjoying festive drinks. It’s often a good idea to include a holiday twist on a classic, giving guests something familiar but with all the flavors of the season, like this holiday cranberry aperol spritz.

This vibrant crimson cocktail combines the iconic bitter orange notes of Italian Aperol with crisp prosecco and a warm infused simple syrup. Each sip starts with lively effervescence, leading into a refreshing blend of tart fruitiness, cozy spices, and a delicate woodsy herbal aroma. The natural tartness of fresh fruit enhances the sweet liqueur, making it balanced and refreshing.

What makes this drink so uniquely seasonal is its winter ingredient profile. Fresh tart berries hit peak harvest right as cooler weather arrives, while aromatic evergreen sprigs evoke cozy evenings by the fireplace. Serving this bright red drink adds immediate festive color to any table, making it the perfect centerpiece for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year celebrations.

Looking for more cranberry cocktails? Try a Holly Jolly Cranberry Aperol Margarita

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Tools and Ingredients You Will Need

Equipment Needed

• Small saucepan for simmering the simple syrup
• Fine mesh strainer to strain out fruit solids, herbs, and cinnamon
• Glass jar or bottle for storing the syrup in the refrigerator
• Large wine glass for traditional spritz serving
• Jigger or measuring tool for accurate liquid ratios
• Long bar spoon for gentle stirring

Cocktail Ingredients

• 3 oz Prosecco chilled (or dry sparkling wine)
• 1 oz Aperol chilled
• ½ oz Spiced Cranberry Rosemary Syrup
• 1 oz Club soda chilled
• Fresh ice cubes
• Garnishes including fresh cranberries, fresh rosemary sprigs, and orange slices

Spiced Cranberry Rosemary Syrup Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 to 2 whole cinnamon sticks

When Are Cranberries in Season?

Fresh cranberries reach their peak harvest season from September through November across North America. Growers flood coastal bogs to float the ripe red fruit to the surface, signaling that winter holiday preparation has officially begun.

While you can purchase frozen berries in grocery stores year round, fresh bags hit produce aisles in early autumn and stay stocked through December. Buying them during late autumn guarantees plump berries packed with juicy tartness, ideal for simmering down into flavorful handcrafted bar syrups.

What Is an Aperol Spritz?

An Aperol Spritz is a classic Italian aperitif traditionally served before meals to stimulate the appetite. Originating in Northern Italy, the iconic cocktail relies on a straightforward ratio of three parts bubbly wine, two parts bittersweet orange liqueur, and one part sparkling water.

Aperol itself is a low alcohol Italian bitter crafted from gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, delivering a distinct bittersweet flavor profile and a luminous orange hue. When poured over ice with sparkling prosecco and soda water, it creates a light, bubbly, and incredibly crisp drink. Introducing infused seasonal fruit completely transforms this summertime classic into a cozy winter recipe.

Order Aperol online at CW Spirits.

How to Make Spiced Cranberry Rosemary Syrup

Making custom simple syrup at home elevates standard drinks into craft bar experiences. The warmth from cinnamon pairs naturally with piney herb aromas and tart fruit juice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 or 2 whole cinnamon sticks

Instructions

1. Combine the water and white sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring gently until the sugar crystals fully dissolve.
2. Add the fresh berries, rosemary sprig, and whole cinnamon sticks into the warm liquid.
3. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to let it simmer for roughly ten minutes until the berry skins burst and release their rich red juice.
4. Remove the pan from the heat source and let the ingredients steep in the warm liquid for twenty minutes to deeply infuse the herb and spice flavors.
5. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a clean glass container, discarding the solids without pressing down on the fruit to keep your syrup crystal clear.
6. Allow the liquid to cool down to room temperature before closing the container and placing it in the refrigerator.

Quick Alternatives

If you are short on time or lack fresh ingredients, swap the cooked reduction for a mix of store bought unsweetened tart cranberry juice and simple syrup. You can crush a sprig of fresh herb directly into the shaker or glass to release its natural fragrant oils instantly without any cooking required.

How Long Will the Syrup Keep?

Homemade simple syrups store exceptionally well when kept in airtight containers. Stored inside a clean glass jar in your refrigerator, this homemade batch remains fresh and potent for up to three weeks.

You can find the syrup bottles I use here.

For long term storage, pour the cooled syrup into clean silicone ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen into solid blocks, transfer the cubes into a sealable freezer bag. You can thaw individual portion cubes in the fridge overnight or microwave them for a few seconds whenever you want to mix a quick evening drink.

Can I Use Champagne or Sparkling Wine?

Absolutely. While Italian prosecco remains the traditional base wine because of its light fruit forward profile, any quality dry sparkling wine works wonderfully in this recipe.

Champagne, Spanish Cava, or domestic American sparkling wines make incredible substitutes. Look for bottles labeled Brut or Extra Brut to ensure the wine retains enough crisp acidity to balance out the sweet liqueur and fruit reduction. Avoid ultra sweet dessert wines like Moscato, as they will overwhelm the drink’s pleasant bitter balance.

What Is Club Soda Plus Alternatives

Club soda is carbonated water infused with added minerals such as potassium sulfate and sodium bicarbonate. These added minerals give the water a clean, neutral taste and provide long lasting effervescent bubbles that keep cocktails lively.

Great Alternatives

• Seltzer Water Plain carbonated water without added minerals provides clean effervescence without altering the flavor balance.
• Flavored Sparkling Water Cranberry, orange, or lemon sparkling waters bring a subtle fruity boost to the glass.
• Sparkling Mineral Water Brands offering fine carbonated bubbles add a smooth mouthfeel to the cocktail.

What Else to Do with Extra Syrup?

Do not let extra syrup sit unused in your fridge. It is a incredibly versatile flavor booster for various holiday treats.

• Brush it over fresh vanilla cake layers or warm pound cake to lock in moisture and flavor.
• Drizzle a spoonful over warm oatmeal, Greek yogurt, or fluffy morning pancakes.
• Stir a tablespoon into hot black tea or warm apple cider.
• Mix it into bourbon or rye whiskey with a dash of bitters for an incredible holiday Old Fashioned.
• Swirl it into chilled prosecco on its own for an effortless two ingredient mimosa twist.

How to Make It a Mocktail

Creating a non alcoholic version allows everyone at your gathering to enjoy the festive flavors without any alcohol content.

Non Alcoholic Recipe

Replace the prosecco with chilled non alcoholic sparkling wine or extra club soda. In place of the Aperol, pour one ounce of a non alcoholic Italian bitter zero proof spirit. Combine the components over ice, stir gently, and finish with fresh fruit garnishes.

Pro Tips

• Always chill your prosecco, Aperol, and soda water thoroughly before mixing to keep your ice from melting too fast.
• Fill large wine glasses completely to the top with fresh ice before pouring to maintain crisp carbonation.
• Slap the fresh herbal garnish gently between your palms right before placing it in the glass to wake up its natural essential oils.
• Float a few fresh whole berries and an extra cinnamon stick on top of the liquid for an eye catching presentation.

Recipe