Whether you are watching your waste line, don’t want to get too schnockered at the family gathering, or simply enjoy a lighter beverage: this is your holiday cocktail. Light & Jolly Cranberry Prosecco Spritzer is bubbly and beautiful.

I don’t know about you, but when with family and friends, I like to have an adult beverage in my hand. Maybe it’s the German Catholic coming out. It could be that my whole family and most of my friends enjoy gatherings with booze. But most of all, it’s just nice to unwind and chat with those I love.

Make your cocktail party sweeter with these Fudgy Brownie Bites.

However, I just can’t hang like i used to. Gone are the days of boozing with friends all night and being productive the next day. Is that a sign of being in your 40s? I still like a good cocktail, though. This is a libation that is lighter in alcohol, full of bubbles, and oh so delicious.

Spritzer Ingredients

Only 3 ingredients are needed to make a spritzer: wine, seltzer, and ice. Here is what is in this spritzer.

Prosecco

What is prosecco? According to Sparkling Winos post, Prosecco 101: What is Prosecco:

Prosecco is a sparkling white wine produced primarily from the Glera grape in the Veneto region of Italy.

Sparkling Winos

Sparkling Winos also mention that prosecco usually only takes 2 weeks to make, which explains the price point compared to champagne. Prosecco is a light bodied, crisp and vibrant wine. It’s typically not as sweet as some sparkling wines and champagnes can be.

According to the Sparkling Winos, there are 3 different sweetness levels:

Brut: 0-12 grams of residual sugar per liter.

Extra-Dry: 12-17 grams of residual sugar per liter.

Dry: 17-32 grams of residual sugar per liter.

Sparkling Winos

This gets confusing, as we think of a Dry wine as less sweet. In prosecco’s case, dry is the sweetest, and brut is on the other side of the spectrum. While extra-dry is somewhere in the middle.

Cranberry Juice

This tart juice has several health benefits. According to What are the Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice by Zawn Villines at Medical New Today, here are a few:

• High in Antioxidants
• Treating Urinary Tract Infection
• Digestive health
• Supporting Post-Menopausal Health

This recipe only calls for a splash of cranberry juice. To get the full benefits, drink a small glass a day.

Typically, I sway you to grab the juice without added sugar. With cranberry juice, since it’s just a splash, go for whichever you want. 100% cranberry juice is pretty bitter. If you choose 100% juice, opt for the dry prosecco.

Seltzer

Adding seltzer water, lessens the alcohol in this cocktail. It also lightens the calorie count. I’m not one to count calories, but during the holidays, I typically put on a little “Winter weight” (I blame my lack of control when it comes to cookies). Keep that in check with less empty calories in beverages.

Plain seltzer works great, or try a flavored seltzer. There are so many options in this category these days. Waterloo brand has a cranberry flavor that is tasty.

Ice

Crushed ice is the way to go with spritzers.

Garnish

Go big or go home… or just keep it simple. You do you.

Frozen Cranberries

Get festive with this drink by adding in some frozen cranberries. Not only does it keep your drink chilled, it also adds that holiday flair.

Orange Zest or Peel

I bought my husband, a citrus zester that creates the perfect citrus thin curling peel a few years ago when he was into making Old Fashions. I believe he’s used it twice. If you have one, bust it out for this cocktail.

A microplaner will work as well for zesting an orange. But it won’t get you those beautiful orange peel curls.

How to Make a Spritzer

This is an easy drink to make.

1. Start with ice in a wine glass.
2. Pour in the seltzer so the glass is a 1/4 full. Go half full to really lighten the load.
3. Add a splash of cranberry juice.
4. Top with Prosecco.
5. Garnish with some frozen cranberries and/or orange peel.

Substitutions

Wine

Not a fan of the bubbles, go wine. What kind of wine, you ask? According to Laura Burgess’s article, The Guide to Making the Perfect Wine Spritzer, at Vinepair.com:

Generally, the best varieties for spritzers are Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Grenache–all four have strong aromatic qualities, lots of fruity flavor, and very mild tannins.

Vinepair.com

I prefer Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. But really, just choose what you like.

Pomegranate Juice

Swap out the cranberry juice for pomegranate, if you would like. Or nix it all together and go for a straight up Spritzer.

Other Lightened Up Cocktails

Pomegranate Gin & Ginger Fizz

Fireball Spiked Tea – The Best Hot Toddy

Apple Cider Cocktail

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