Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail
Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail is a festive cocktail with Cranberry Juice and Orange Liqueur topped off with champagne.
My holiday habit is to make a new cranberry cocktail and food item each year but this year almost got away from me. I honestly like to get that done before Thanksgiving because they work from then through New Years Day…this year there might even still be some imbibing on Sunday, January 2nd. 🙂
But not this year, heck my house isn’t even fully decorated yet! But I did it, albeit late and the house will get done too and you’ve got this beautiful and delicious libation before years end! Be sure to look for a Cranberry Walnut Dressing yet to appear, I made it with Cornish Game Hens and it would be terrific for Christmas or New Year’s. So easy, that’s key!
I love this Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail so much; it’s not just delicious it’s also very versatile. Whether having a holiday brunch, an early dinner, or something later by candlelight, it works beautifully, it’s easy too.
And one important note…while I call it a champagne cocktail, I often substitute that bubbly with either Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava; there are several brands that are fabulous and will not break the bank. Champagne has a nice ring to it, but it’s also pricier than the others and in a mixed cocktail like this it’s not necessary. Good but not necessary.
Mimosas have very much become a symbol of weekend brunches, those times when we have more time for a leisurely breakfast with friends and family. It has literally been years since I have served the basic Mimosa though; preferring to add a bit of ‘oomph’ to my drinks instead.
Often it is as simple as including my favorite with a sparkling wine; a homemade Cranberry Liqueur. But this time around I did a bit more, I subbed out the orange juice entirely and used cranberry juice instead, it was more about the lively color than anything else, it HAD to look like a holiday beverage!
One caveat; look for cranberry juice, not cranberry juice cocktail which is a mixture of juices. The cranberry juice cocktail version is not as red and the results will be disappointing. I know, I tried it first and I had to start over!
I enjoy putting a festive rim on my champagne cocktails and it’s so easy. You can use regular sugar but I think it’s worthwhile to get some cake decorating sugar, the granules are much larger and sparkling; they look so pretty!
The garnish takes more time to make than the cocktail and yet it’s still easy. You’ll want to open up a hole through the berries using a toothpick, I like to start at the stem end. Then strip off the rosemary leaves at the bottom of a piece of approximately 4″ rosemary and thread that stem end into the berries…voila, they are together as one!
While I love this combination, certainly use it as a jumping off point to try others too. How about some Limoncello and Cranberry Juice garnished with Thyme…I think I must try that next myself! I’ve got more fabulous cranberry cocktails for this season, be sure to check them out too.
- Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail – One of the favorites over the holidays!
- Cranberry Sauce Mojito Cocktail
- Cranberry Sage Cocktail
- Blackberry and Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail
- Cranberry and Grand Marnier Champagne Cocktail
- Cranberry Pomegranate Moscow Mule Cocktail
- Homemade Cranberry Liqueur for Champagne Cocktails
That should keep you busy…honestly every single one of them is a keeper! Happy Holidays to you and yours, and Cheers!
PIN IT! ‘Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail’
Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail
This Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail is similar to a Mimosa but uses Cranberry Juice and Orange Liqueur instead of orange juice. Altogether a beautiful and delicious libation for the holidays!
Ingredients
- 1 lime quartered
- Cake decorating sugar
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 8 ounces champagne chilled
For Garnish
- Fresh cranberries
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions
Prepare the Garnish
- Using a toothpick, thread two cranberries on it to create a hole in berries.
- Remove toothpick, strip leaves from bottom of 4 inch piece of rosemary and thread rosemary stem into the hole in berries. Make two (or more depending on your needs).
Make the Cocktail
- Rub the edges of two champagne flutes with a lime quarter and dip the rim in sugar (see Notes). Combine cranberry juice and orange liqueur in champagne glass and gently stir. Top with champagne.
- Garnish with rosemary and cranberry skewer.
