Looking for party drink recipes? Why not try poinsettia cocktail? With its festive look, this cranberry champagne cocktail will be a star at your holiday party. Only 3 ingredients & 1 minute is all you need!
For a festive look, garnish each poinsettia drink with a few cranberries!
How to make poinsettia cocktail
I think the easiest way to make this cocktail for a crowd is by prepping half of it ahead – place your glasses onto a serving tray or table. Add juice, liquor and finish it off when your guests arrive by topping each glass with chilled champagne (or any sparkling wine you will be using).
If you have any garnish, you can prepare it ahead as well and just add it to the glasses. The easiest option is just throwing some fresh cranberries in each glass.
Another option is mixing the juice and liquor in a jug/large jar and keep it in the fridge before serving. Then, divide into glasses and tip with champagne right before serving.
Expert tips
- Don’t like cranberry juice? Use pomegranate juice instead and fresh pomegranate seeds as garnish!
- You don’t have to use sugared cranberries as a garnish but they do go well with this easy cranberry poinsettia drink. As a substitution, feel free to use an orange zest or maybe a fresh sprig of rosemary.
- Cointreau orange liqueur can be omitted if you think it’s over your budget or if you don’t like it. If you do omit it, you will turn this poinsettia champagne cocktail into a cranberry mimosa!
- If you don’t have champagne flutes, use wine glasses instead.
Champagne alternatives
To make a poinsettia cocktail you don’t have to use the real Champagne from France. There are many affordable alternatives on the market that you can use. Here are some examples:
- Italian Prosecco
- Spanish Cava
- French Crémant
No matter what brand of sparkling wine you choose, I recommend demi-sec. I personally don’t like brut but if you do, go ahead and use it.
Serving suggestions:
If you are throwing a party and looking for kid-friendly drinks, try this non-alcoholic mulled wine. It uses cranberry juice instead of alcohol so your little ones can enjoy this festive drink as well.
One of the easiest appetizers to feed a crowd is definitely a cheese board. It’s ready in no time and you can use all sorts of products to satisfy all your guests.
Those who are looking for New Year’s Eve appetizer ideas might like figs with goat cheese. It’s a fancy-looking bite-size appetizer that is perfect for this occasion.
To impress your guests I highly recommend making these mango chicken puffs. They would go so well with this poinsettia cocktail! They are always a hit whenever I make them.
If you want to go with something simple and classic, then cranberry bacon cheese ball is the way to go.
If you are thinking of entertaining at home, I hope you try this cranberry champagne cocktail as well as some of these appetizer recipe ideas for the party you are planning and if you do, please let me know in the comments section what your guest thought.
Poinsettia Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice (90 milliliters), see note 1
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (30 milliliters), see note 2
- champagne to fill up the glass, see note 3
- sugared cranberries (optional), see note 4
Instructions
- Pour cranberry juice into a champagne flute. Add orange liqueur and top it up with champagne/sparkling wine.
- Optional: garnish with fresh or sugared cranberries.
- Serve right away!
Notes
- Cranberry juice can be substituted with pomegranate juice.
- I used Cointreau liqueur. You can use triple sec. If for some reason you don’t want to use it, you can omit it. You will turn it into a cranberry mimosa.
- Use any chilled sparkling wine you like – champagne, prosecco, cava, crémant, … Count with 2-3 ounces per glass. I used 7-ounce champagne glasses (210 milliliters). 1 bottle of champagne/sparkling wine should be enough for 9-11 servings. I used demi-sec as we don’t like brut. If you prefer brut, go ahead and use it.
- Garnish is optional. Some ideas – Sugared cranberries, fresh cranberries, orange zest, rosemary sprig.
Alison says
I love this holiday cocktail recipe. The orange liqueur combined with the sparkling wine reminds me of a refined mimosa. The cranberry juice gives it a beautiful color.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks, Alison!
Angela Allison says
This is so simple and delicious! Can’t wait to serve it for my Christmas Eve Brunch. Thanks so much for sharing :)
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome!
Dannii says
What a beautiful colour. These would be great for NYE.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Absolutely!
Demeter says
I’ll be enjoying these all season long! Love a bit of bubbly.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s great to hear! :)
Neha says
Such a pretty cocktail! Loving how the recipe sounds so simple to bring together as well.
Diane Stewart says
If I wanted to make a glass pitcher full of these could I make ahead? If so how much juice, orange liquor would I use. I’m assuming almost a bottle of champagne? These are delicious! Had them at a winter wedding awhile back! Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Diane. I don’t recommend making this ahead as the champagne goes flat quite quickly (but if you don’t mind this, then go ahead – you might need to use more bottles of champagne as there won’t be many bubbles to keep it airy). The best would be probably mix the cranberry juice and liquor together in a jug and have this ready in the fridge. Then pour it right into glasses before serving and top up with champagne.Hope this helps.