This Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail is similar to a Mimosa but uses Cranberry Juice and Orange Liqueur instead of orange juice. Altogether a beautiful and delicious libation for the holidays!
My holiday habit is to make a new cranberry cocktail and food item each year but this year almost got away from me. I honestly like to get that done before Thanksgiving because they work from then through New Years Day...this year there might even still be some imbibing on Sunday, January 2nd. 🙂
But not this year, heck my house isn't even fully decorated yet! But I did it, albeit late and the house will get done too and you've got this beautiful and delicious libation before years end! Be sure to look for a Cranberry Walnut Dressing yet to appear, I made it with Cornish Game Hens and it would be terrific for Christmas or New Year's. So easy, that's key!
I love this Cranberry Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail so much; it's not just delicious it's also very versatile. Whether having a holiday brunch, an early dinner, or something later by candlelight, it works beautifully, it's easy too.
And one important note...while I call it a champagne cocktail, I often substitute that bubbly with either Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava; there are several brands that are fabulous and will not break the bank. Champagne has a nice ring to it, but it's also pricier than the others and in a mixed cocktail like this it's not necessary. Good but not necessary.
Mimosas have very much become a symbol of weekend brunches, those times when we have more time for a leisurely breakfast with friends and family. It has literally been years since I have served the basic Mimosa though; preferring to add a bit of 'oomph' to my drinks instead.
Often it is as simple as including my favorite with a sparkling wine; a homemade Cranberry Liqueur. But this time around I did a bit more, I subbed out the orange juice entirely and used cranberry juice instead, it was more about the lively color than anything else, it HAD to look like a holiday beverage!
One caveat; look for cranberry juice, not cranberry juice cocktail which is a mixture of juices. The cranberry juice cocktail version is not as red and the results will be disappointing. I know, I tried it first and I had to start over!
I enjoy putting a festive rim on my champagne cocktails and it's so easy. You can use regular sugar but I think it's worthwhile to get some cake decorating sugar, the granules are much larger and sparkling; they look so pretty!
The garnish takes more time to make than the cocktail and yet it's still easy. You'll want to open up a hole through the berries using a toothpick, I like to start at the stem end. Then strip off the rosemary leaves at the bottom of a piece of approximately 4″ rosemary and thread that stem end into the berries...voila, they are together as one!
While I love this combination, certainly use it as a jumping off point to try others too. How about some Limoncello and Cranberry Juice garnished with Thyme...I think I must try that next myself! I've got more fabulous cranberry cocktails for this season, be sure to check them out too.
That should keep you busy...honestly every single one of them is a keeper! Happy Holidays to you and yours, and Cheers!
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