This is by far the most amazing champagne Christmas cocktail you’ll make at home! Similar to a cranberry champagne mimosa, this drink is always a crowd-pleaser, and its vibrant hue makes this cocktail quite the eye candy. And by making the simple syrup ahead of time, it makes serving a breeze. A traditional champagne cocktail is typically made with sugar, bitters, champagne, and brandy but this is more of Christmas champagne cocktail. The poinsettia cocktail is also similar in that it uses champagne and cranberry juice, but this sweet and bubbly drink is different because it’s made with a cranberry simple syrup and includes Chambord instead of an orange liqueur. This Christmas cocktail is perfect for any special occasion and I always serve this at my Christmas and New Year’s Eve get togethers!
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
Before we play bartender, let’s gather the ingredients. Here’s everything you need to make this cranberry and champagne cocktail.
champagnefresh cranberrieschambordsugarmint
The key ingredient is the champagne. And there’s no need to go overboard and break the bank. While you can use a high end brand, a good mid-range brand works really well. I tend to go with Brut because it’s relatively inexpensive and dry. Because I make the homemade simple syrup from fresh cranberries and sugar, the dryness pairs really well with the sweetness of the syrup. The addition of the Chambord adds a rich and fruity flavor with a hint of raspberry and citrus. Garnish this cocktail with springs of fresh mint and you’ve got yourself one amazing champagne Christmas cocktail.
📋 How To Make Champagne Christmas Cocktail
In a medium saucepan, bring the mint, cranberries, sugar, and water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Keep simmering for about 10 minutes, ensuring to bring down the heat to keep it from boiling. Once the simple syrup simmers, turn off the heat and let it steep and begin to cool. After about 10 minutes or so, strain out the cranberries and mint and store in the refrigerator until chilled. From there, pour about an ounce of the mint-cranberry simple syrup with a ½ ounce of Chambord into a glass flute. Top with champagne and garnish with extra mint. Sip and enjoy this delicious champagne Christmas cocktail in hand!
📖 Variations
While this is a fantastic cranberry and champagne cocktail recipe that doesn’t need any alterations, there are a couple of popular variations you can make to this drink.
Instead of using champagne, try using prosecco. Prosecco is a sparkling white wine that tends to be a bit sweeter than champagne. If you enjoy a sweet cocktail, prosecco is a good choice. You can also use a non-alcoholic version. You can easily make this into more of a poinsettia cocktail by substituting the Chambord for an orange liqueur. To make this drink sparkle even more, add a sugar cube!
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
There are so many amazing flavors that pair well with this drink. My marinated cheese recipe is a great choice, as well as this basil strawberry cream cheese spread. I also enjoy sipping on this this drink with these Amaretto Chocolate Truffle. With a hint of amaretto, these truffles are rich and creamy. So indulgent, these truffles are a chocolate lover’s dream dessert!
🙋🏼 Frequently Asked Questions
💭 Expert Tips
Fresh cranberries work best, but you can also use frozen cranberries. While you simmer the simple syrup, give it a stir every so often to help the sugar dissolve.You don’t need to spend a lot of money on the champagne; however, don’t go too cheap either. You will hate yourself the next day. I used Barefoot Brut Cuvée, which didn’t break the bank and left me feeling perfectly A-OK the following morning.If you need a quick way to chill the champagne, fill an ice bucket with equal parts ice and water. Let it sit in the bucket for 20 minutes, and it’ll be perfectly chilled for serving.You can also use this simple syrup in other types of cocktails. I especially love it with a little bourbon or vodka and club soda. Store any left over simple syrup in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
🍷 Looking for More Adult Beverages?
Let’s face it. You can never have enough cocktail options, especially for the holidays and for New Year’s Eve. Here’s some more really great cocktail recipes you’ll enjoy. Buddy the Elf’s favorite maple eggnog uses maple syrup as a nod to Buddy’s favorite food group. The maple syrup gives this eggnog a warmth and richness that make for the most decadent holiday cocktail. I love this cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria because it’s the perfect sipper. This cinnamon and apple cider will absolutely get you into the holiday spirit. And if you like bourbon, then definitely try my chai-cranberry bourbon smash. It’s full of amazing warm spice. Update Notes: This post was originally published in December 2018, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions and tips in December 2022.
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