This Thanksgiving cranberry cocktail is the easiest drink you'll make all day and with a turkey in the oven, that matters. Tart cranberries, a splash of apple juice, and cold prosecco come together in 5 minutes, finished with a cinnamon stick and a sprig of rosemary so every glass looks like you fussed over it.
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Festive Thanksgiving Cocktail with Cranberries
I've been making this one since 2016, and it's earned a permanent spot at our table for one simple reason: you build it right in the glass.
No shaker, no syrup to cook, no juggling while guests arrive. Pour one as an apéritif when everyone walks in, or mix up the pitcher version below and let people help themselves.
The deep red cranberries against the pale gold prosecco also happen to match the Thanksgiving table perfectly - this is the drink guests photograph before they sip.
What do you need for a Sparkling Thanksgiving Cocktail?
To prepare this Thanksgiving Cranberry Cocktail, you require the following ingredients. You can find the correct amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the blog:
- Apple juice: Pure and refreshing, it gives a natural sweetness to this cocktail. Made from ripe apples. A delicious combination with sour cranberries.
- Prosecco: This sparkling white wine from Italy has a light, fine texture. Sparkling and elegant.
- Cranberries: This juicy, sour fruit is wonderfully fruity. You can use frozen, dried, or fresh cranberries.
- Cinnamon Stick: Has a sweet woody warm, earthy flavor with a hint of lemon. It adds a touch of spiciness to the cranberry cocktail.
- Rosemary: Spicy, aromatic, with a bittersweet taste. The lovely needle-like leaves in this cocktail give off a subtle flavor.
How to prepare a Sparkling Cranberry-Prosecco Cocktail
You can find a printable recipe with a step-by-step description at the bottom of this blog.
- Put ice in the glass and add the cranberries.
- Add the apple juice
- Fill further with the Prosecco.
- Put the cinnamon stick and the sprig of rosemary in the glass and serve immediately!
Tips, Substitutions, and Variations
- Vary the amount of apple juice to adjust the sweetness and strength of your cocktail to your preference.
- Citrus: Adding two tablespoons of orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier) is also excellent. Nice and fresh.
Make it for a crowd (pitcher for 8)
Hosting? Skip the glass-by-glass pouring. In a large pitcher, combine:
- ½ cup cranberries
- 1 cup (240 ml) apple juice
- 2 bottles (750 ml each) chilled prosecco
Add the prosecco just before serving, so it keeps its sparkle. Set out glasses with ice, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary sprigs, and let guests garnish their own: it doubles as a little activity while the turkey rests.
Make-ahead tip: Measure the cranberries and apple juice into the pitcher up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Top with prosecco at the last minute
Frequently asked questions
- Can I make this cocktail ahead of time? Partly. Prep the cranberries, apple juice, and garnishes up to a day in advance, but add the prosecco just before serving - once opened, it loses its bubbles within a few hours.
- Fresh, frozen, or dried cranberries - which is best? All three work. Fresh and dried cranberries float prettily; frozen ones double as ice cubes and keep your drink cold without watering it down. Raw cranberries are for looks - they're too tart to eat straight, so no one expects you to.
- How do I make it non-alcoholic? Swap the prosecco for sparkling apple cider or flavored sparkling water. Same look, same garnish, safe for kids and non-drinkers at the table.
- Do I have to use prosecco? No, cava is the budget-friendly swap, champagne the splurge. Any dry sparkling wine works. Just make sure it's well chilled.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Recipe Help
Two easy tools to make cooking even easier. Cooking mode keeps the screen on. The easy-step recipe displays the recipe step by step, including the ingredients needed. And you can adjust servings easily
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon dried cranberries, fresh, dried, or frozen cranberries
- 1 tablespoon apple juice
- ½ cup prosecco
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1 twig rosemary
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Put the cranberries in the glass1 teaspoon dried cranberries
- Add the apple juice.1 tablespoon apple juice
- Fill the glass with prosecco.½ cup prosecco
- Stick the cinnamon stick and the sprig of rosemary in your cocktail for extra flavor and a nice effect, and enjoy!1 stick cinnamon, 1 twig rosemary
Notes
- Prosecco: Instead of Prosecco, you can use other sparkling wines, such as Cava or Champagne.
- Alcohol-free: Use sparkling (flavored) mineral water instead of Prosecco.
- Citrus: Adding two tablespoons of orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier) is also excellent. Nice and fresh.
- Apple juice: Vary the amount of apple juice to adjust the sweetness and strength of your cocktail to your preference.
Nutrition
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