^{The classic spritz is my all time favorite cocktail! Italians love our Aperol drinks (and prosecco drinks), but this one has that sweet surprise of fresh strawberries!}

If I had to stick to one fruity cocktail for the rest of my life (other than some sort of vodka soda), this would be it! It checks off all my favorite boxes. Citrus, check! Bubbly, check! Cold and refreshing, check check! And an Italian staple…sign me up!

I could drink these as is, they’re fantastic! Not to mention ridiculously refreshing in the spring and summer months. Not too sweet, not too dry, and not heavy at all, it’s really only three ingredients and some garnish and it’s lovely. I wanted to boost the flavors for the spring season and fresh strawberries just seemed to be the perfect addition.

The classic Aperol spritz is commonly served as an aperitivo, or aperitifs. These are light, pre dinner drinks to sooth you from the stress of the day and ignite your appetite and palette before dinner. Although I served that as such in the past, I personally could sit out in the sun and drink these all day long. If I am being completely honest, I would prefer this drink at brunch over a mimosa any day.

Aperol is an Italian liquor that holds a bright redish-orange hue. It has bright citrus flavor but tends to be bitter. It doesn’t make your drink too“orangey” but still have great flavors that pair really well with dry prosecco and sparkling water. You really can add any type fruit to this but the classic pairings would be orange peel with a possible appearance of a lemon wedge.

The strawberries add something bold and refreshing to the mix. If you’re still trying to figure out how The strawberries add something bold and refreshing to the mix. If you’re still trying to figure out how to enjoy an Aperol spritz or find it to be too dry and bitter, add the strawberries. It neutralizes the flavors and makes it more of a sippable summer drink

Here are some other fruits you could muddle into this drink, or a combo of two:

– Blackberries
– Raspberries
– Peaches
– Plums
– Pears
– Grapefruit

Although I think it’s the perfect drink on it’s own, get creative with the flavors. I even mixed up the sparkling water flavors using lemon, lime and/or orange. Garnish with rosemary or basil leaves if you want to give it a fancier appearance. Don’t forget to garnish with orange peels and slices…and the more the better!

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Strawberry Aperol Spritz

Print Recipe

The classic spritz is my all time favorite cocktail! Italians love our Aperol drinks (and prosecco drinks), but this one has that sweet surprise of fresh strawberries!

Prep Time:10

Total Time:10

Ingredients

3 medium strawberries muddled, w/ a splash of Aperol
3 parts prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 part sparkling water/club soda
orange and/or lemon peel or slices

Instructions

In a water glass, muddle 3 whole cut strawberries with a splash of Aperol or simple syrup. Muddle and mash until broken down.
In a large wine glass, pour in the muddled strawberries and add a scoop of ice over the berries.
Pour in the prosecco, Aperol and top with sparkling water.
Garnish with orange and/or lemon slices and extra strawberries. Gently stir.

Notes

How long does it last and where?

Make these drinks to order. Adding something “fizzy” to any drink means the serving time is immediate. If you make these in batches you run the risk of a flat cocktail, and no one likes that.

Made to order – Enjoy on the spot!

Substitutions?

There’s not too much to mix up in this recipe except the added fruit or the flavor of the sparkling water. Consider fruit combos like lemon, lime, cherry, orange, peach and grapefruit.

Tips and tricks

Always add big slices of fruit to the glass with a ton of ice. Adding more fruit to the rim is great for presentation but the more fruit the better. It all just adds to the freshness of the drink.

Everything needs to be cold when pouring. I know that’s the obvious but anything room temp is a no-go.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal

Course: Appetizer, Brunch, Happy Hour

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: brunch, Cocktail, Drink, Fruit, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: