Poinsettia Drink recipe – a sparkling holiday cocktail

Celebrate the season with a spin on the Poinsettia Cocktail! Sparkling fizzy flavors of cranberry and orange make this cocktail a festive choice for the holidays!

When looking for a cocktail to celebrate the holidays the Poinsettia drink has become a favorite!

We still love a Classic Champagne Cocktail and Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch too! 

The flavor combination in this sipper of cranberry, orange, sparkling and fizzy just tastes like a perfect party drink!

What is a Poinsettia drink?

This drink is named after the red flowering plant typically associated with Christmas time. 

Traditionally the cocktail includes cranberry juice, orange liqueur and champagne and is served without ice in a champagne flute glass.

The ratios of cranberry juice to champagne can be equal or with the champagne specified ‘to fill’.

We decided to change it up!

Poinsettia Cocktail with a twist!

After lots of taste testing we wanted more specific measurements for the cocktail.

Champagne flutes are not uniform in size so ‘to fill’ as a measurement could change the cocktail flavor completely.

We also realized we really like it on the rocks as shown in the photos! Drink it with or without crushed ice as you enjoy it.

We felt it was a little bit more relaxed on the rocks and not in a wine glass.

A splash of blood orange soda develops the flavor even more. 

It’s a sweet cocktail.

It’s just as at home for holiday parties as it is bumping traditional mimosas out of the way for brunch.

Recipe Ingredients + Notes

Orange liqueur

A half ounce of orange liqueur is added to the Poinsettia drink to brighten the flavor.

We tested it with and without and definitely felt the flavors overall were better when it is included.

There are multiple types of orange liqueur: Triple Sec, Citronage, Cointreau and Grand Marnier. 

The last two are the most expensive but also have the cleanest flavor and higher quality. 

You can use any of these.

Cranberry juice

There are two main types of this juice: unsweetened and cranberry juice cocktail. 

Unsweetened is extremely tart and frankly unpleasant to drink without a sweetener added.

Try to use a sweetened cranberry juice with the least amount of additional ingredients (especially high fructose corn syrup).

Champagne

Any champagne you enjoy can be used. This is a sweet cocktail. If you want to balance that use an Brut or Extra Brut for a less sweet (‘dry’) option.

Are Champagne and Sparkling Wine the same thing?

Champagne is a sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France.

No other sparkling wine can be called ‘champagne’ unless made in that region.

Sparkling wines are made in the same method as champagne but are sold under different names, sometimes related to geographical regions.

Any sparkling wine or champagne can be used for this cocktail recipe.

Blood Orange soda

This is the untraditional ingredient. We love the extra splash of deep orange flavor and some additional fizz. It makes it feel like a party.

You can find blood orange soda in many brands. 

Make it a Mocktail

There are a few mocktail options for those wishing to join in the fun without the alcohol.

Option 1

• Substitute sparkling grape juice for the champagne
• Use the same cranberry juice 
• Omit the orange liqueur
• Add a bit more blood orange soda

Option 2

To keep it really simple and use the ingredients you’ll have for the cocktail:

• Half cranberry juice
• Half blood orange soda

More Recipes You’ll Love!

• Sparkling Drinks for New Year’s Eve {with and without alcohol}
• Holiday Cocktails Your Guests Want You to Make
• Sparkling Cranberry-Orange Champagne Punch

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