Skip to Content

Poinsettia Drink (Cranberry Champagne Cocktail)

0 Comments
Jump straight to the recipe here (but you'll miss a lot of good info)!

A Poinsettia Drink is a cranberry champagne cocktail that is perfect for festive and elegant holidays and to celebrate Christmas or ring in the New Year.

We have prepared four versions of this drink. The first is a traditional poinsettia drink recipe made with sparkling wine and cranberry juice. The next two are mocktail recipes, one with non-alcoholic sparkling wine and the other with a kid-friendly cranberry ginger ale. Lastly, we have a fun twist with a poinsettia pomegranate cocktail recipe.

Poinsettia Drink

What is a Poinsettia Drink

This festive drink has many names and while I call it a Poinsettia Drink, it can also be called a Cranberry Champagne Cocktail, Poinsettia Mimosa, or a Cranberry Mimosa. Whatever you want to call this drink, it will surely be your go to holiday cocktail from now on!

A poinsettia cocktail has a fabulously festive red hue paired with a cranberry orange taste. The sparkling wine adds a little bubbly for a refreshingly wintery taste.

Poinsettia Cocktail Ingredients

  • 100% Pure Unsweetened Cranberry Juice: Use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice for a tart and tangy taste. Cranberry juice cocktail is sweetened with sugar and fructose which will make this drink sweet, too sweet in my opinion. Look for 100%, Pure, Unsweetened or all 3 three on the label.
  • Cointreau (or other orange liqueur): This recipe uses Cointreau but any orange liqueur will work such as Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, or Orange Curaçao. The flavor may slightly change but it’s a mixed drink so it should not be too noticeable. Orange extract, orange zest, or orange juice can be used as a substitute in a pinch.
  • Champagne or Dry Sparkling Wine: There is also no need to splurge on pricey Champagne, leave the nice bottle of Champagne for a New Year’s Eve toast. Any bubbly, dry sparkling wine will work here as other ingredients will drown out the finer taste of any bottle. Look for Natural Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut on the label. I like Cava or California sparkling wine as a substitute. A Prosecco leans on the sweeter side, if you prefer. Here is a quick primer on which sparkling wine to choose.
  • Garnish: A garnish adds that extra bit of festive flair to this drink. I like to add sugared cranberries on a stainless steel toothpick (or in a dish) along with a sprig of rosemary in the glass for a little extra flavor and decoration. A lime wedge or a few cranberries dropped in the flute will work as well.

(Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe card with exact measurements and recipe instructions.)

How to Make a Poinsettia Drink

  1. Shake: Add ice to a cocktail shaker, pour Cointreau and cranberry and shake 10-15 seconds until cold. Pour the mix into a champagne flute through the cocktail strainer.
  2. Add the Bubbly & Garnish: Top off the flute with champagne or sparkling wine, garnish and serve immediately.

If you don’t have a shaker, chill the alcohol and juice prior and pour straight into the champagne flute.

Non-Alcoholic Poinsettia Drinks

There are two ways to make a Poinsettia Holiday Mocktail. One is more of a kids version and the other is an adult mocktail version. Here are both:

Adult Poinsettia Mocktail

  • 2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
  • 4 Tablespoons 100% Pure Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
  • 6-8 Tablespoons Non-alcoholic Champagne and Sparkling Dry Wine, Soda Water, or Sparkling cider, top off
  • Garnish with a Rosemary Sprig & Pomegranate Arils

Orange extract or orange zest can be substituted for orange juice. Cranberry juice cocktail can be used but the drink will be sweeter due to the added sugars and fructose.

Kids Poinsettia Mocktail

  • 6 Tablespoons Cranberry Canada Dry Ginger Ale
  • 2 Tablespoons 100% Pure Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
  • 2 Tablespoons Orange Juice (pulp free)
  • Garnish with Orange or Lime Wedges and Mint or Sprigs of Rosemary

Regular Ginger Ale will work in a pinch.

Pomegranate Poinsettia Drink

  • 1 Tablespoons Cointreau, or other orange liqueur
  • 4 Tablespoons 100% Pomegranate Juice (unsweetened)
  • 6-8 Tablespoons Champagne or Sparkling Dry Wine
  • Garnish with a Rosemary Sprig & Pomegranate Arils

Another way to do it is to substitute Cointreau with a pomegranate liqueur e.g. PAMA, and use cranberry juice.

Garnish Ideas

Depending on the season or occasion you may wish to switch up the garnish. Here are few garnish ideas:

  • Rimmed glasses: White sugar, colored or flavored sugar, edible glitter, crushed candy cane or peppermint, gold or silver dust.
  • Edible flowers: Lavender, elderflower, hibiscus, rose petals.
  • Substitute the cranberries: Maraschino cherries, sugared cranberry skewers, pomegranate arils, strawberries or berries.
  • Substitute the rosemary sprigs: Mint or thyme.

When to Serve this Poinsettia Drink

This drink is best served immediately, before the bubbly goes flat. If you’re looking to save some time you can make the poinsettia drinks ahead of time by adding everything but the champagne to the drink and then placing in the fridge. Just add the champagne right before serving!

Poinsettia Drink (Cranberry Champagne Cocktail)

Poinsettia Drink (Cranberry Champagne Cocktail)

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Vibrant and refreshing, a Poinsettia Cocktail is perfect for winter and fall when cranberries are in season and the holiday celebrations are abound.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Cointreau, or other orange liqueur
  • 4 tablespoons 100% cranberry juice (unsweetened)
  • 6-8 tablespoons champagne or sparkling wine, top off
  • 1 rosemary sprig, fresh cranberries, lime wedge

Instructions

    1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker, pour the Cointreau and cranberry and shake 10-15 seconds until cold. Pour the mix into a champagne flute through the cocktail strainer.
    2. Top off the flute with champagne or sparkling wine, garnish and serve immediately.

Notes

If you don't have a shaker, chill the alcohol and juice prior and pour straight into the champagne flute.

See the article for two ways to make a non-alcoholic poinsettia drink plus pomegranate poinsettia drink.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 524Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 6gSugar: 32gProtein: 1g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

© Monique McArthur
Cuisine: American / Category: Drinks
Poinsettia Drink (Cranberry Champagne Cocktail)

Try these festive cocktails next:

Monique McArthur
Latest posts by Monique McArthur (see all)

Skip to Recipe