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Pop the bubbly and get ready to celebrate with a poinsettia cocktail! Named after the famed Christmas plant, it’s a fun twist on a champagne cocktail that uses real cranberry juice. Garnish this two-ingredient drink recipe with sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig during the holiday season for an extra festive bit of flair.
To me, the holidays are a perfect time to enjoy a cocktail! We usually have a bucket of brandy slush in the freezer or the ingredients for a Lillet Rose martini on hand. And let’s not forget an aged batch of my Boozy Eggnog in the fridge! But this poinsettia cocktail is a major favorite of mine because it only requires two ingredients!
Ingredients for a Poinsettia Cocktail
- Cranberry Juice
- Champagne (or Prosecco or Sparkling Wine)
Champagne vs Prosecco vs Sparkling Wine
- Champagne – Champagne is only truly Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Everything else – be it Italian, American, or otherwise – is considered sparkling wine. Champagne tends to be drier and not as sweet as other varieties and is my preference.
- Prosecco – An Italian sparkling wine, typically a bit lighter and sweeter than French champagne. Oh so tasty and great for a cocktail like this, especially if you like things on the sweeter side.
- Sparkling Wine – the American version of Champagne or Prosecco, typically made in California. You can find many brands of sparkling wine at grocery and liquor stores – with varieties ranging from extra dry brut to sweet to rosé sparkling wine!
Whatever bubbly you choose for this drink, be sure it’s one you enjoy drinking on its own. Kind of like when you’re cooking with wine – you wouldn’t cook with something you wouldn’t drink a glass of.
Making a cranberry poinsettia
- Add cranberry juice to a champagne flute. Just 2 ounces.
- Top with champagne. Or sparkling wine.
- Garnish. Wish frozen cranberries, sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to be really festive!
Cranberry Juice vs Cranberry Juice Cocktail
I like using 100% cranberry juice in this recipe. It’s tart, unsweetened, and a perfect pairing for the effervescence of the champagne or sparkling wine. Going the route of pure cranberry juice and real champagne will result in a cocktail that isn’t too sweet and has a lovely, dry finish.
If you like things a little sweet, you can substitute cranberry juice cocktail - which is cranberry juice with sugar added. Using a semi-sweet or sweet sparkling wine will also lead to a sweeter cocktail.
Storing Leftover Champagne
It doesn’t happen often – but sometimes there is champagne leftover at the end of the night. You don’t want it to go to waste! I highly recommend getting a champagne stopper/saver.
Ours is from Williams-Sonoma but many kitchen supply stores offer them and you can certainly find them online. They’ll extend the life of your champagne for another day or two of celebrating.
There’s also the option of using mini bottles while serving. You can often find multi-packs of mini bottles right alongside their full-size counterparts in the liquor store.
Cheers!
Poinsettia Cocktail (Cranberry Juice & Champagne)
Equipment
- Champagne Flutes
- Champagne Saver/Stopper (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces champagne
Instructions
- Place 2 ounces of cranberry juice into a champagne flute and top with 4 ounces of champagne (or enough to fill the top of your glass).
- Garnish the cocktail with sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig, if desired. Makes one drink, easily multiplied.
Notes
- 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons so each serving of this drink requires 4 tablespoons (or ¼ cup) cranberry juice.
- Store leftover champagne using a champagne saver, if desired.
- Refer to post for notes on using Champagne vs Prosecco vs Sparkling Wine.
· by Amanda Gajdosik