Festive Sparkling Cocktails with a Healthful Twist

Below are recipes for three cocktails using Champagne — or the more affordable prosecco or cava — that any host would be proud to serve at a holiday gathering or celebration. 

Smashed Cranberry Holiday Champagne

Serves 5

This Smashed Cranberry Holiday Champagne offers just a hint of sweet honey combined with tart fresh cranberries for a treat your guests will love.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 bottle (750 milliliters) chilled dry Champagne, prosecco or cava
• 1 lemon for garnish

Instructions

1. Crush cranberries roughly in a food processor, then stir in honey until combined.
2. Add 1 teaspoon cranberry puree to a Champagne glass and top with 5 fluid ounces Champagne or sparkling wine. Be sure to pour slowly as the bubbles may overflow.
3. Garnish with a lemon twist or wedge.

Hazelnut Coffee Champagne Cocktail

Serves 5 

In this recipe, I combine a splash of hazelnut liqueur — a little goes a long way — with some fresh coffee beans. Because of their strong flavor and oils, a couple beans are all you need to enhance this cocktail on the nose and palate. 

Ingredients

• 2½ fluid ounces hazelnut liqueur, divided
• 1 bottle (750 milliliters) chilled dry Champagne, prosecco or cava
• 10 to 15 whole coffee beans

Instructions

1. Add ½ tablespoon (¼ fluid ounce) hazelnut liqueur to a Champagne glass then top with 5 fluid ounces Champagne or sparkling wine.
2. Stir with your favorite decorative stir-stick and garnish with 2 to 3 coffee beans.

Fresh Citrus Champagne Fizz

Serves 5

Champagne and sparkling wine often have natural notes of lemon or citrus so combining a fresh, tart fruit with this beverage is a definite pairing. 

Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750 milliliters) chilled dry Champagne, prosecco or cava
• 2½ fluid ounces chilled limoncello
• Juice from 1 ruby red grapefruit

Instructions

1. Pour 5 fluid ounces Champagne or sparkling wine into a Champagne glass.
2. Add 1 tablespoon (½ fluid ounce) limoncello and a teaspoon of grapefruit juice.
3. Garnish with a grapefruit twist and serve cold.

I hope you enjoy these more healthful cocktails and have a wonderful end to 2017 and start to the New Year!

Ginger Hultin

Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN is the owner of the private practices, Champagne Nutrition, and Seattle Cancer Nutritionist in Seattle, WA. She specializes in integrative health and oncology, nutrigenomics, and plant-based diets. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.