How to Make An Aperol Spritz: Two Ways

Learn How to Make An Aperol Spritz Two Ways: Classic and Strawberry! These Italian aperitifs have a delightful balance between sweet and bitter to make them the ultimate fizzy, fun, and refreshing summer cocktails.

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What Is An Aperol Spritz?

A classic Aperol spritz is made with Aperol, prosecco, club soda, and orange slices. The traditional cocktail has a cool and refreshing feel with slightly sweet and bitter flavors. The best Aperol spritz recipes are made using a ratio of 3 parts Prosecco to 2 parts Aperol to help balance these flavors and make each sip extra delightful.

Not only is an Aperol Spritz easy to make, but it’s fun to drink! With its beautiful orange color and balanced flavor, this Italian cocktail is one of the best to sip on before meals in the summertime.

Learning How to Make An Aperol Spritz two different ways will have you experimenting with flavors and celebrating this refreshing Italian cocktail all summer long! Whether you sip on the classic recipe or my strawberry spritz, both cocktails aren’t overly sweet, a little tart, and always bubbly.

These easy Aperol cocktails will have you feeling like you’re summering in Italy from the comfort of your kitchen. Serve both refreshing and easily customizable cocktails when you’re sitting poolside, with Sweet Crepes for brunch, or as the Charcuterie Board comes out.

Aperol Spritz Ingredients

• Aperol – Aperol is an Italian aperitif with a bright orange hue and sweet and bitter flavors from orange, rhubarb, and herbs. It’s typically used in summery aperitif cocktails that taste best before the meal is served. With its low alcohol content of 11%, Aperol is a delicious and not-too-boozy addition.
• Prosecco – I recommend using a prosecco or sparkling white wine that is on the drier side, like a brut. You don’t want it to be too sweet, otherwise, your cocktail won’t be balanced. If you’d rather enjoy your Aperol spritz without prosecco, replace it with club soda.
• Club soda – A splash of extra bubbles makes this cocktail super fizzy. If you don’t have club soda, sparkling water is the next best thing.
• Oranges – A classic Aperol spritz is garnished with large orange slices to complement the fruity and bitter Aperol.
• Strawberries and basil – Instead of orange, a strawberry Aperol spritz is made extra sweet with muddled strawberries and basil leaves.

How To Make A Classic Aperol Spritz

1. Prepare the glass: Add ice to a large wine glass and pour 2 ounces of Aperol over top.
2. Top with bubbles: Top the Aperol with Prosecco and a splash of soda water.
3. Garnish and enjoy: Garnish your cocktail with an orange slice and sip away!

How To Make A Strawberry Aperol Spritz

1. Muddle the fruit: In 4 wine glasses, muddle 1 strawberry and 2 basil leaves using the handle of a wooden spoon.
2. Add the Aperol: Add ice and 2 ounces of Aperol to each glass.
3. Top with bubbles and enjoy: Top each glass with Prosecco. Add the sliced strawberries and a straw in each spritz, then enjoy! 

Adjust the flavors

• Less bitter: Using too much Aperol can make your cocktails taste bitter. To avoid this, use less Aperol in the spritz and replace it with more prosecco. 
• More sweet: You shouldn’t have a problem with sweetness in my strawberry Aperol spritz, but the classic may need a slight adjustment. To make the classic spritz sweeter, follow my instructions above on making the flavor less bitter but instead of topping the drink with club soda, replace it with blood orange soda.
• Less alcohol: Skip the taste of alcohol in your spritz and make it with more club soda rather than prosecco and Aperol. Feel free to top it with orange soda if you like!

What To Pair With An Aperol Spritz

Because this aperitif cocktail was designed to be enjoyed before a big meal, I recommend serving it at parties when the snack boards come out. The flavors pair nicely with nuts, meats, and olives, making it the perfect partner to a charcuterie board. When you’re hosting Sunday brunch, prepare a large batch of these cocktails (see instructions below) to enjoy with a lox and bagel board and french toast.

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

I don’t recommend preparing the classic Aperol spritz ahead of time because the prosecco or club soda could lose its bubbles before you’re ready to drink.

You can easily make a large batch of the strawberry Aperol spritz when you want to serve a crowd. To do so, combine the muddled strawberries, basil, and Aperol in a carafe or pitcher. Keep this mixture along with the prosecco in the fridge to keep everything cold. When it’s time to serve, divide the Aperol mix between glasses with ice and top with Prosecco and strawberries.

More Summer Cocktail Recipes

• Grapefruit Vodka Tonic
• Blackberry Mint Prosecco Cocktail
• Rhubarb And Elderflower Vodka Cocktail
• Sunset Citrus Champagne Cocktail

Did you try the Classic or Strawberry Aperol Spritz? Let me know which one you liked more and what you think in the comments below. Don’t forget to tag me in your recreations on Instagram – I love to see what you come up with!