There’s something magical about serving a cocktail that looks like it belongs hanging on your Christmas tree. This stunning Christmas Ornament Cocktail combines festive flavors with a presentation that will have your guests reaching for their cameras before their glasses. The beautiful layered colors and sparkling finish make it the perfect centerpiece for your holiday celebrations.
What makes this cocktail truly special is how it captures the essence of the season in a glass. The combination of cranberry, citrus, and sparkling wine creates a refreshingly balanced drink that’s neither too sweet nor too tart. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a full-blown holiday party, this showstopping cocktail comes together in under an hour and delivers maximum impact with minimal effort.
Why I Love These
This cocktail transforms a simple drink into an elegant holiday experience that tastes as incredible as it looks.
The layered presentation is surprisingly easy to achieve, and the flavors are perfectly balanced between tart cranberry and bright citrus notes.
I make these whenever I want to impress guests without spending hours behind the bar—they’re my secret weapon for stress-free entertaining.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cranberry juice.
- 1 liter Cherry 7UP (about 4 cups).
- 3/4 cup grenadine.
- Fresh cranberries.
- Rosemary sprigs for garnish.
How To Make
- Combine cranberry juice, 7UP and grenadine in a large punch bowl. Mix well.
- Remove tops from ornaments. Use funnel to fill with punch mixture.
- Add splash of preferred alcohol if desired.
- Garnish with rosemary sprigs.
Nutrition
This festive cocktail is a lighter option compared to cream-based holiday drinks, with most of the calories coming from the alcohol and natural fruit sugars. Each serving provides a modest amount of vitamin C from the fresh orange juice and cranberry juice, making it slightly more nutritious than many traditional cocktails.
To reduce the sugar content, opt for unsweetened cranberry juice and skip the sugar rim, which can save about 50 calories per serving. Conversely, if you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add a splash of simple syrup or use a sweeter sparkling wine like Moscato instead of dry Prosecco.
This cocktail contains alcohol and citrus, so it’s not suitable for those avoiding either ingredient. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute the vodka and orange liqueur with additional orange juice and the Prosecco with sparkling water or non-alcoholic sparkling wine, maintaining the same festive presentation.
Tips & Variations
- Make the sugared garnishes up to 4 hours ahead and store them in an airtight container at room temperature—they’ll stay crisp and beautiful until serving time.
- For a pomegranate twist, substitute half the cranberry juice with pomegranate juice and garnish with pomegranate arils for a jewel-toned variation.
- Create a virgin version by using sparkling white grape juice instead of Prosecco and replacing spirits with a combination of orange juice and a splash of grenadine for color.
- Batch the vodka, liqueur, and juice mixture in a pitcher up to 2 hours before serving, then simply pour and top with Prosecco when guests arrive.
- Experiment with different herbs like thyme or mint in place of rosemary for a unique aromatic profile.
Ways To Serve Them
- Present as a welcome cocktail at your holiday party, serving them on a tray with the garnishes already in place for maximum visual impact
- Pair with light appetizers like cheese boards, smoked salmon canapés, or prosciutto-wrapped melon to balance the cocktail’s brightness
- Serve alongside Christmas dinner as a festive alternative to traditional wine, especially with turkey or ham
- Offer as a signature drink at a New Year’s Eve celebration, timing the toast perfectly with the midnight countdown
- Create a cocktail bar station where guests can customize their garnishes and add their own shimmer for an interactive experience
Proper Storage
- Fridge: The mixed cocktail base (without Prosecco) can be stored in an airtight pitcher for up to 24 hours. Keep it well-chilled and add the sparkling wine just before serving to maintain carbonation. Sugared garnishes should be stored separately in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 hours.
- Freezer: This cocktail is not suitable for freezing as the carbonation will be lost and the texture will separate. However, you can freeze cranberry juice in ice cube trays to use as festive ice cubes that won’t dilute the drink.
- Reheat: Not applicable for cocktails. If serving a second round, simply shake fresh batches as needed. Pre-batched base should be re-shaken with fresh ice before straining to ensure it’s properly chilled and diluted.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cranberry juice.
- 1 liter Cherry 7UP (about 4 cups).
- 3/4 cup grenadine.
- Fresh cranberries.
- Rosemary sprigs for garnish.
Steps
- Combine cranberry juice, 7UP and grenadine in a large punch bowl. Mix well.
- Remove tops from ornaments. Use funnel to fill with punch mixture.
- Add splash of preferred alcohol if desired.
- Garnish with rosemary sprigs.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 180 kcal
Notes
- Make the sugared garnishes up to 4 hours ahead and store them in an airtight container at room temperature—they'll stay crisp and beautiful until serving time.
- For a pomegranate twist, substitute half the cranberry juice with pomegranate juice and garnish with pomegranate arils for a jewel-toned variation.
- Create a virgin version by using sparkling white grape juice instead of Prosecco and replacing spirits with a combination of orange juice and a splash of grenadine for color.
- Batch the vodka, liqueur, and juice mixture in a pitcher up to 2 hours before serving, then simply pour and top with Prosecco when guests arrive.
- Experiment with different herbs like thyme or mint in place of rosemary for a unique aromatic profile.