Champagne Cranberry Fizz Recipe

This is the drink for when you need something that looks impressive but takes almost no effort to pull off. Chilled champagne tops a base of cranberry juice and a splash of orange liqueur for a fizzy, bright red cocktail that comes together in about thirty seconds. It’s light enough to sip all evening without weighing anyone down before the big meal, and a few frozen cranberries dropped in double as both ice cubes and garnish. This is the go-to when guests are arriving and you need a full tray of drinks ready fast.

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Ingredients Method

Ingredients

4 oz chilled champagne or sparkling wine
2 oz cranberry juice
1/2 oz orange liqueur
Frozen cranberries for garnish

Method

Pour the cranberry juice and orange liqueur into a chilled champagne flute.
Top slowly with chilled champagne.
Stir gently to combine.
Garnish with frozen cranberries and serve immediately.

Why This Cocktail Belongs on Your Party Menu

There’s no shaking, no muddling, and no special technique here — just three ingredients poured straight into a glass. That makes it one of the fastest drinks on this list to make in bulk right as guests walk through the door.

It’s also light and bubbly, which makes it a good match for a cocktail hour or the start of a longer party, before people move on to heavier, spiced drinks later in the night.

Everything You’ll Need

4 oz chilled champagne or sparkling wine
2 oz cranberry juice
1/2 oz orange liqueur
Frozen cranberries, for garnish

Bottle Picks & Easy Swaps

A dry brut champagne or cava works best here since the cranberry juice and orange liqueur already add plenty of sweetness on their own. Cointreau or triple sec are the standard choices for the orange liqueur, though Grand Marnier adds a slightly richer flavor if you have it. For a non-alcoholic version, swap the champagne for a sparkling white grape juice or non-alcoholic sparkling wine, and skip the orange liqueur or replace it with a splash of orange juice.

Bar Tools You’ll Want

Champagne flute
Jigger

Getting the cranberry juice and orange liqueur measured properly keeps the drink from tasting too sweet or too flat. This jigger makes it quick to pour consistent drinks for a full table of glasses. Freezing your own cranberries ahead of time also helps keep the drink cold without diluting it, and a good large ice cube mold is handy if you’d rather use a bigger cube in the glass instead. This large ice cube mold is worth having stocked for drinks like this one.

Let’s Mix It Up

Add the juice and liqueur: Pour the cranberry juice and orange liqueur into a chilled champagne flute.
Top with champagne: Slowly top off with chilled champagne, pouring gently to preserve the bubbles.
Stir gently: Give it one light stir to combine without knocking out too much carbonation.
Garnish and serve: Drop in a few frozen cranberries and serve immediately.

Host’s Tips for the Best Champagne Cranberry Fizz

Keep everything well chilled ahead of time — the champagne, the cranberry juice, and the glasses themselves — so you can skip ice entirely and avoid watering the drink down. Pour the champagne slowly down the side of a slightly tilted glass, the same way you would for a mimosa, to keep it from foaming over. If you’re making a big batch for a party, premix the cranberry juice and orange liqueur in a small pitcher ahead of time so you only need to top each glass with champagne as guests arrive.

Easy Ways to Make It Your Own

Add a splash of pomegranate juice for a deeper color and a slightly different flavor. A few drops of orange bitters brings out more complexity if you want a slightly more grown-up version. For a sweeter take, use a demi-sec sparkling wine instead of a dry brut.

Perfect Occasions & What to Serve Alongside

This fizz is perfect for a cocktail hour, a holiday open house, or the welcome drink as guests first arrive. It pairs well with light appetizers, a cheese board, or simple canapés.

Make-Ahead & Serving Notes

Premix the cranberry juice and orange liqueur ahead of time and keep it chilled in the fridge, then top individual glasses with champagne right before serving. Avoid mixing the champagne in ahead of time, since it will go flat well before your guests arrive.

Still have a question? Here are a few of the most common ones readers ask before making this drink.

Can I make this cocktail without alcohol?

Yes, use a non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling white grape juice in place of the champagne, and replace the orange liqueur with a splash of orange juice.

What’s the best champagne to use for this drink?

A dry brut champagne or cava works well since the cocktail already gets plenty of sweetness from the cranberry juice and orange liqueur. There’s no need for an expensive bottle here.

Can I make a big batch for a party?

Premix the cranberry juice and orange liqueur in a pitcher ahead of time, then top individual glasses with champagne as you serve them so the bubbles stay intact.

How do I keep the champagne from going flat when pouring?

Pour it slowly down the side of a slightly tilted glass rather than straight down the middle. This helps preserve more of the carbonation as it fills the glass.

Can I use frozen cranberries as ice cubes?

Yes, they work well since they chill the drink without watering it down the way regular ice cubes would as they melt. They also make a nice pop of color in the glass.

More cocktails worth mixing:

Champagne Cranberry Fizz Recipe