Poinsettia Cocktail

The Poinsettia Cocktail is a festive and vibrant drink combining cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and sparkling Prosecco or Champagne. Garnished with rosemary, orange peel, or cranberries, it’s the perfect elegant touch for holiday celebrations.

This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Thyme For A Drink at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

Poinsettia Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Nothing is much more festive than a red bubbly drink for the holiday season! Just as perfect for a holiday dinner as it is for New Year's Eve made with simple ingredients this is definitely a drink to impress your guests. The poinsettia drink is twist on the much loved mimosa but instead of orange juice is made with cranberry juice and orange liqueur. This fun vibrant color of bright red makes it a smart choice for the winter holidays. 

This festive cocktail is easy to make, just a glasses and something to measure no cocktail shaker needed makes it an easy choice for holiday parties where there is already a lot going on. After pouring everything into the champagne flute simply garnish with an orange twist and fresh cranberries, you can even add a fresh sprig of rosemary for a festive looking touch.

Looking for some other great Christmas cocktail recipes? Try my Winter Wonderland Margarita or my Bourbon Pomegranate Cocktail.

Prosecco vs. Champagne: Which Should You Use?

One question you might have when preparing this cocktail is whether to use prosecco or champagne. Here's a quick breakdown to help you decide:

• Prosecco: This Italian sparkling wine tends to be slightly sweeter and fruitier, with larger, playful bubbles. The bubbles in processco are forced in a large vat and is better when drank fresh. Prosecco is going to be the more affordable choice.
• Champagne: Is the famous French sparkling wine, made on in the Champagne region. Champagne is known for its refined, crisp yet complex flavor and smaller, more delicate bubbles. Champagne undergoes a secondary fermentation process in the bottle and usually gets better as it ages. Most Champagne will cost more than Prosecco does.

Both options work well for this cocktail, so it ultimately comes down to your personal taste and budget. I personally most often use Prosecco due to it's affordability.

Ingredients

• Orange Liqueur - Cointreau or Grand Marnier are excellent choices, you could also use Triple Sec. Any to give it that little bit of orange taste for a more complex drink. 
• Cranberry Juice - Use unsweetened 100% juice for a more tangy drink or sweetened cranberry juice cocktail for a more sweet drink.
• Prosecco or Champagne - Chilled for best results.
• Garnishes - Orange peel or orange zest, a sprig of fresh rosemary, or fresh cranberries.

Instructions

Pour ½ ounce of orange liqueur into a champagne flute.

Add 2 ounces of cranberry juice.

Slowly top off the glass with chilled prosecco or champagne, pouring gently to prevent overflow.

Garnish with an orange peel, a rosemary sprig, or a few fresh cranberries for a festive touch.

Serve immediately and raise a toast to the season!