Cranberry Bellini
Raise your glass to the holiday season with a sparkling twist on a classic Italian cocktail! This Cranberry Bellini combines tart cranberry granita with bubbly Prosecco for a festive, refreshing drink that’s perfect for brunches, holiday gatherings, or even a cozy winter evening. Kids can join the fun too with a non-alcoholic version and help with the granita or garnishes—making this a drink the whole family can enjoy. Quick to prepare and beautifully festive, it’s sure to become a seasonal favorite!
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Cheers! Elevate your holiday celebrations with a sparkling twist on a classic Italian cocktail. This Cranberry Bellini swaps the traditional peach purée for a tart and refreshing cranberry granita, creating a drink that’s both visually stunning and flavorfully balanced.
CHEERS 🥂 JENN
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Bellini
A classic Bellini relies on the perfect balance between fruit sweetness and sparkling effervescence. By substituting cranberry granita, we introduce a naturally tart component that complements the bubbles of Prosecco or Prosecco Rosé, creating a refreshing drink that isn’t overly sweet.
Simplicity Meets Sophistication: With just two main components, this cocktail is approachable for home bartenders while still feeling upscale for holiday entertaining.
Cranberry Granita: Slightly sweetened and frozen, it forms a slushy texture that keeps the cocktail chilled longer and adds a beautiful, ruby-red visual appeal.
Prosecco or Rosé: The gentle acidity and delicate bubbles of these sparkling wines lift the tartness of the cranberries, making every sip elegant and festive.
Making the Bellini
Enjoy your sparkling, refreshing Cranberry Bellini right away to savor the perfect combination of icy granita and effervescent bubbles.
Scoop the Granita:
Place two 1½-tablespoon scoops of cranberry granita into the bottom of a champagne flute. (Pro tip: I like using a small cookie scoop for a uniform and pretty presentation—it’s a tight fit, but it works beautifully!)
Add the Bubbles:
Slowly pour Prosecco or Prosecco Rosé over the granita until the glass is about ¾ full (or more, depending on your preference).
Tip: The granita can create a lot of frothy foam on the first pour, so you might need to pour in two stages to avoid overflow.
Garnish:
Top with a few fresh or frozen cranberries and a sprig of mint or rosemary for a festive touch.
Serve Immediately:
Cooking With Kids
DISCLOSURE: Please keep in mind that the following tips are general and are meant to be suggestive. I personally use these strategies with my own kids, who are all unique even within my own family of five. Therefore, please regard these as suggestions or ideas. If you feel that your child requires more or less assistance, then go with what you and your child are comfortable with. Ultimately, you know your child best.
Including children in holiday cooking can create meaningful family memories. While alcohol should be kept out of reach, kids can still participate safely.
This is a wonderful opportunity to teach basic culinary techniques like freezing, scraping granita, and presentation skills—all in a festive, celebratory context.
Perfect Pairings:
The tartness of cranberry granita complements a range of holiday and brunch dishes:
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Cranberry Bellini
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 5 glasses 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Midwest twist on a classic bellini cocktail is perfect for all your holiday celebrations! For this simple and delicious recipe, you’ll only need fresh or frozen cranberries and Prosecco (or Prosecco Rosé). The recipe yields about 5 bellinis; multiply for a bigger crowd.
Ingredients
Bellini
- 1/2 batch Cranberry Granita
- 1 bottle Prosecco [Or Prosecco Rosé, chilled] (See Notes 1 for a Non-Alcohol substituion]
Garnish
- 3 fresh cranberries
- 1 sprig Rosemary
- 2 leaves Mint (still connected)
Instructions
-
Scoop two 1½-tablespoon portions of cranberry granita into the bottom of a champagne flute. (Tip: Use a small cookie scoop for a neat, uniform presentation—it’s a tight fit, but it works beautifully!)
-
Slowly pour Prosecco or Prosecco Rosé over the granita until the glass is about ¾ full (or more, depending on preference). You might need to pour in two stages as the granita can create frothy foam on the first pour.
-
Garnish with a few fresh or frozen cranberries and a sprig of mint or rosemary.
Equipment
Prep Solutions 1.5 Tablespoon Measuring Scoop
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ELIXIR GLASSWARE Classy Champagne Flutes
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- sparkling water or non-alcoholic sparkling cider
Storage:
Granita can be prepared 2-3 days ahead and stored in the freezer. Scrape before serving to return to slushy consistency.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktail / Beverage / Holiday Drink
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired, Midwest Twist
Nutrition
- Calories: 84
- Sugar: 21
- Sodium: 3
- Fat: 0.1
- Saturated Fat: 0.002
- Carbohydrates: 21
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0.1
Photo, Prop Styling, and Food Styling by Jenn Smith © 2023 Always Jenn Smith; Jenn Smith, LLC
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