This festive Sparkling Cranberry Prosecco is both quick to assemble and elegant enough for any holiday gathering. Crisp prosecco is combined with cranberry juice cocktail, and each glass is rimmed with cranberry sugar and finished with sparkling cranberries for a beautiful, seasonal presentation.

Sparkling Cranberry Prosecco Holiday Cocktail

This simple, pretty cocktail is a go-to for the holidays. It takes just a few ingredients and minimal effort, but looks and tastes like a special occasion beverage. The idea came from making sparkling cranberries: while rolling the berries in sugar, the sugar picked up a delicate pink color that looked lovely on a glass rim. That cranberry-sugar rim plus a few sugared cranberries on a skewer make this drink festive and memorable.

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Recipe Shopping List

• Fresh cranberries
• Granulated sugar
• Prosecco (or other sparkling wine)
• Cranberry juice cocktail
• Vanilla extract (for sparkling cranberries)

Try a warm option like French mulled wine for larger holiday gatherings.

Non-alcoholic Version

If you prefer a mocktail, simply replace the prosecco with sparkling water, club soda, or lemon-lime soda. Use chilled sparkling water for a light, bubbly alternative, or a lemon-lime soda for a sweeter, slightly citrusy version. The sugared cranberries and cranberry-sugar rim retain the festive look and make the mocktail feel just as special.

How to Make Sparkling Cranberries

1. Make a simple syrup by combining ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup water, and ½ teaspoon vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is clear. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
2. Pour the cooled syrup over 2 cups of fresh cranberries in a covered container and refrigerate overnight to let them soak and develop a glossy coating.
3. Drain the cranberries in a colander. Reserve the syrup for another use (it can sweeten cocktails, sparkling water, or drizzle on desserts).
4. Spread the cranberries on a tray to dry for 20–30 minutes so they are tacky but not dripping. Roll each berry in the remaining 1½ cups of sugar until evenly coated.
5. Let the sugared cranberries sit on the tray until they harden slightly. Save some of the cranberry sugar to rim glasses.

Sparkling Cranberry Prosecco — Full Recipe

Yield: 1 pitcher (about 6 servings)

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Make sparkling cranberries following the steps above. Allow them to set so the sugar coating hardens—these serve as both garnish and a pretty accent on cocktail rims.
2. In a large pitcher, combine a chilled bottle of prosecco with 3 cups of chilled cranberry juice cocktail. Stir gently to blend without losing too many bubbles.
3. To rim glasses, place a small amount of reserved simple syrup on a shallow plate. Dip the rim of each glass in the syrup, then dip into the cranberry sugar to coat the edge evenly.
4. Pour the chilled cranberry prosecco carefully into the prepared glasses to avoid disturbing the sugar rim.
5. Thread two or three sugared cranberries onto a cocktail pick and balance it across the rim, or float a few cranberries in the glass for a festive touch.
6. Serve immediately while the prosecco is bubbly. If making ahead, keep the prosecco and cranberry juice chilled separately and combine just before serving to preserve carbonation.

Tips & Variations

• Swap half the cranberry juice cocktail for orange juice for a brighter, citrusy flavor.
• Use a rosé prosecco for a subtly pink hue that complements the cranberry sugar rim.
• Make a non-alcoholic batch by using chilled sparkling water or club soda and increase the cranberry juice slightly for sweetness.
• Reserve the simple syrup for cocktails or to sweeten tea and mocktails—its light vanilla note is versatile.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.

Yield: 6   |   Serving Size: 1

• Calories: 448
• Total Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 11mg
• Carbohydrates: 91g (Sugar: 85g)
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 0g

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