If you’ve been following me for a while now, you know I’m a big fan of signature cocktails. During the holidays, those signature cocktails almost always involve prosecco. In order to avoid redundancy this year, I thought to myself– what’s better than a sparkling cocktail? Answer: An ombré sparkling cocktail. I found this delicious (and absolutely gorgeous!) blackberry thyme sparkler on The Effortless Chic, and I decided to create something similar for this year’s cocktail party! I call it an Ombré Cranberry Sparkler, and it’s essentially a cranberry gin cocktail that’s as refreshing as it is pretty!

This fresh cranberry cocktail recipe is also ridiculously easy to make! All you need is a bottle of Lunetta Prosecco (a longtime family favorite!), fresh cranberries, gin, gold baking sugar, and some sprigs of rosemary for garnish. Keep reading for the full recipe. There’s also a recipe card below that you can save, share, and print for safekeeping.

Ombré Cranberry Sparklers

Ingredients

There are technically two recipes involved with this drink– the cocktail itself and the simple syrup. If you happen to make too much, the cranberry simple syrup can be stored in the fridge and reused in dozens of other yummy holiday cocktails, too. That said, here’s everything you’ll need to make four cranberry sparkler cocktails (simple syrup and all):

For the cranberry simple syrup:

• 1 cup cranberries (plus 8-12 more for garnish)
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar

For the cranberry gin cocktail:

• 1 bottle Lunetta Prosecco
• 2 ounces gin
• 4 long sprigs of rosemary
• Gold baking sugar for the rim
• Champagne Flutes

Cranberry Gin Cocktail Recipe

In a small saucepan, bring fresh cranberries, water, and sugar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until simple syrup is bright red. Remove from heat and drain cranberries. If you know you’ll be busy prepping other party food, this step can be done well in advance! This cranberry simple syrup will last at least a week in the fridge. 

Next, prepare your champagne flutes! Using lemon juice (or butter!) to rim the flutes, dip the glasses in gold baking sugar. If you don’t have any handy, don’t panic or run out to the grocery store. This step can absolutely be skipped! Then, add in a splash (around 1/2 oz) of gin to each champagne glass, followed by 2-3 cranberries and 2 ounces of homemade cranberry simple syrup. 

Finally, pop the Lunetta! Fill each glass with Lunetta Prosecco and top with a sprig of rosemary. If you’ve never tried Lunetta before, I can’t recommend this bottle enough! It’s reasonably priced with a fruity aroma and subtle effervescence, and it’s perfect for mixing cocktails and drinking straight! Plus, Lunetta is produced in northern Italy by Cavit, winemakers of America’s #1 Italian Pinot Grigio, and #1 Imported Pinot Noir!

Serve chilled– and enjoy!

One last thing– can we talk about how pretty the ombré coloring is?! It makes this cranberry gin cocktail all the more festive! Heads up, though– the longer you let the sparklers sit, the more the liquids will separate. Yes, it’s pretty, but it can make the drinks taste a little stiff. That being said, if any of your guests find this cranberry gin cocktail too strong, suggest stirring it all together again to remix flavors. You can also add a splash of lime juice for a tangy twist!

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Ombré Cranberry Sparkler

Yield: 4 cocktails

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This ombré cranberry sparkler is the perfect holiday cocktail! Not only is it pretty to look at, but it's also refreshing and ridiculously easy to make. All you need is a bottle of Lunetta Prosecco, fresh cranberries, gin, gold baking sugar, and some sprigs of rosemary for garnish. 

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Ingredients

Cranberry Simple Syrup

• 1 cup fresh cranberries (plus 8-12 more for garnish)
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar

Ombré Cranberry Sparkler Cocktail

• 1 bottle of Lunetta Prosecco
• 2 ounces gin
• 4 long sprigs of rosemary (for garnish)
• Gold baking sugar (for the rim)

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, bring fresh cranberries, water, and sugar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until cranberry simple syrup is bright red. Remove from heat and set aside to cool, about 5 minutes. Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer and into an airtight container, discarding the solids. Refrigerate until needed.
2. Use lemon or lime wedge (or whatever you have available) to wet the rims of the flutes and dip each glass in gold baking sugar. Add in a splash (approximately 1/2 oz) of gin to each champagne glass, followed by 2-3 cranberries and 2 ounces of homemade cranberry simple syrup. Fill the remainder of each glass with Lunetta Prosecco.
3. Top each flute with a sprig of rosemary for garnish and serve!

Notes

Recipe Tips

• If you're not a fan of gin, leave it out altogether! These cranberry sparklers are just as tasty without it!

Storage

• Fridge (Cranberry Simple Syrup)- When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this cranberry simple syrup can be made well in advance! As is the case with most homemade flavored syrups, this cranberry simple syrup will keep in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks. You'll know when it's starting to go bad when the syrup grows cloudy.
• Freezer (Cranberry Simple Syrup)- This cranberry simple syrup can also be frozen into silicone ice trays! I recommend storing the cubes in a freezer-safe bag and thawing them overnight as needed.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 4
Amount Per ServingCalories 0Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g

More Holiday Cocktails Worth Trying

‘Tis the season for cocktails! If you need some more festive holiday cocktail ideas, here are a few of my favorites– 

• Elderflower French 75– This elderflower French 75 may be my favorite cocktail of all time. It’s light, bubbly, and an absolute must-have on New Year’s Eve. If you love sparkling wine and/or gin, I highly recommend giving it a try!
• Gluten-Free Mulled Wine– Mulled wine is a seasonal favorite for a reason– and it’s a known fact that it’s the best way to warm up around the holidays. This gluten-free (and paleo!) homemade mulled wine recipe is my go-to!
• Spiked Peppermint Espresso Macchiato– If you love coffee cocktails, this spiked peppermint espresso macchiato will be a slam dunk for you! It’s a little strong for some people, but you can always water it down with ice. 

Cheers, y’all! What’s your favorite holiday cocktail? I’m always looking for ideas, and I’d love to check it out!

Today’s post is sponsored by Lunetta. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Diary of a Debutante possible!