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Home ยป Cocktails

How to Make An Aperol Spritz: Two Ways

by lena

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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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red drinks with ice, strawberries, and basil on white coasters

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 itโ€™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.

pinterest image of 4 red drinks with strawberries and basil in glasses

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 arenโ€™t overly sweet, a little tart, and always bubbly.

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

bottles of Aperol and prosecco next to basil leaves and a wood board with strawberries

Aperol Spritz Ingredients

  • Aperol – Aperol is an Italian aperitif with a bright orange hue and sweet and bitter flavors from orange, rhubarb, and herbs. Itโ€™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 donโ€™t want it to be too sweet, otherwise, your cocktail wonโ€™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 donโ€™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.
4 glasses holding strawberry slices and basil leaves next to a knife cutting strawberries on a wood board
overhead view of 4 glasses with ice surrounded by green herbs

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!
pinterest image with 3 images of red drinks with ice, strawberries, and basil

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! 
red drink on a white coaster surrounded by green herbs

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 shouldnโ€™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 youโ€™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.

4 red cocktails with ice, basil, and a strawberry garnish

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

I donโ€™t recommend preparing the classic Aperol spritz ahead of time because the prosecco or club soda could lose its bubbles before youโ€™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 itโ€™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. Donโ€™t forget to tag me in your recreations on Instagram – I love to see what you come up with!

How to Make An Aperol Spritz: Two Ways

3.5 from 13 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lena Gladstone
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
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.

Ingredients

Strawberry Aperol Spritz

  • 1 bottle Prosecco or dry champagne
  • 8 oz Aperol Aperitivo
  • 8 basil leaves
  • 6 strawberries 4 smashed and 2 sliced
  • ice

Classic Aperol Spritz

  • 1 bottle Prosecco or dry champagne
  • 8 oz Aperol Aperitivo
  • 1 can soda plain with no flavor
  • 4 slices orange
  • ice

Instructions

Strawberry Aperol Spritz

  • In 4 glasses, add 1 strawberry and 2 basil leaves in each glass, using the back of a wooden spoon, gently mash together.
  • Add ice in each glass. Pour 2 oz Aperol in each glass.
  • Top each glass with Prosecco, sliced strawberries and a straw. Enjoy on a hot summer day.

Classic Aperol Spritz

  • Add ice in each glass. Pour 2 oz Aperol in each glass.
  • Top each glass with Prosecco, splash with soda water. Add a slice of orange and enjoy on a hot summer day.

Notes

Make Ahead Strawberry Aperol Spritz: To make ahead or a large batch, combine the smashed strawberries, basil, and Aperol in a carafe. Keep cold until serving. When ready to serve, divide between glasses with ice, top with Prosecco, and cut strawberries.
Course: Cocktails, Drinks
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: citrus cocktail, cocktail, cocktails, drink, italian, mixed drink, prosecco cocktail, sparkling cocktail, strawberry cocktail

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 195mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
pinterest image of a red drink with strawberries and basil

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Hi, Iโ€™m Lena Gladstone, the recipe developer and food photographer behind Lenaโ€™s Kitchen. Here you will find approachable food recipes to share with the whole family. Keto friendly, weeknight dinners all made with fresh ingredients.ย Click here to learn more!

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