Apple Spritz
This apple spritz is light, crisp, and easy to build in a pitcher. Apple cider, prosecco, lemon, and sparkling water make a fall-friendly drink that still feels bright and refreshing.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 drinks
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 10mCook 0mAmericanDrinks
An apple spritz is the kind of drink that works before dinner, at a fall gathering, or with a snack board. It has the bubbly feel of a classic spritz, but the flavor leans toward fresh apple cider and a little lemon.
This version is made in a pitcher, so you are not measuring one drink at a time. Keep everything cold, stir gently, and pour over ice when guests are ready.
Use dry prosecco if you can. Apple cider is already sweet, so a dry sparkling wine keeps the drink balanced instead of syrupy.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
7 items · 4 drinks
- 2 cups chilled apple cider, preferably unfiltered
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 bottle chilled dry prosecco, 750 ml
- 1 cup chilled plain sparkling water or seltzer
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced
- Ice, for serving
- 4 cinnamon sticks, for garnish, optional
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the ingredients
Make sure the apple cider, prosecco, and sparkling water are cold before you start. A spritz tastes brighter when it is well chilled, and cold liquids hold bubbles longer.
2. Slice the apple
Cut the apple into thin slices. You can leave the peel on for color. If you are slicing it ahead, toss the slices with a teaspoon of the lemon juice to slow browning.
3. Mix the cider and lemon
Pour the chilled apple cider and fresh lemon juice into a large pitcher. Stir once or twice to combine. The lemon adds acidity, which means it keeps the sweet cider from tasting flat.
4. Add the prosecco
Slowly pour in the chilled prosecco. Tilt the pitcher slightly if it foams a lot. Stir very gently so you do not knock out too many bubbles.
5. Add the sparkling water
Pour in the chilled sparkling water or seltzer. Stir once more with a long spoon. The goal is to mix, not to whisk.
6. Fill the glasses
Add ice to four glasses. Divide the apple slices among the glasses, then pour the spritz over the ice.
7. Garnish and serve
Add a cinnamon stick to each glass if using. Serve right away while the drink is cold and fizzy.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Mix the apple cider and lemon juice up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate. Add the prosecco and sparkling water only when you are ready to serve.
- Storage: This drink is best fresh. Leftovers can be refrigerated for a few hours, but they will lose bubbles. Keep them covered and serve over fresh ice.
- Swap the prosecco: Use cava, dry sparkling wine, or dry sparkling rosé. Avoid very sweet sparkling wine unless you also reduce the apple cider.
- Make it non-alcoholic: Replace the prosecco with non-alcoholic sparkling wine or extra sparkling water. For more flavor, use 2 cups sparkling apple cider plus 2 cups plain sparkling water in place of the prosecco.
- Adjust the sweetness: If your cider is very sweet, add another tablespoon of lemon juice. If it is tart, use a sweeter sparkling wine or add a small splash of maple syrup.
- Ice matters: Add ice to the glasses, not the pitcher, if you expect the drink to sit for more than a few minutes. This keeps the pitcher from getting watered down.
Cook's note
This recipe contains alcohol. Serve it only to adults of legal drinking age. For a zero-proof version, use the non-alcoholic swap in the tips.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Can I make an apple spritz without alcohol?
Yes. Use non-alcoholic sparkling wine in place of the prosecco, or use a mix of sparkling apple cider and plain sparkling water. Keep the lemon juice so the drink still tastes balanced.
What kind of apple cider should I use?
Use fresh, refrigerated apple cider if you can. Unfiltered cider gives the drink a fuller apple flavor. Shelf-stable apple juice will work, but the spritz will taste lighter and sweeter.
Can I make this by the glass instead of in a pitcher?
Yes. For one drink, use 1/2 cup apple cider, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, about 3/4 cup prosecco, and 1/4 cup sparkling water. Build it over ice and garnish with apple slices.
Why did my spritz go flat?
The most common reasons are warm ingredients, over-stirring, or making it too far ahead. Chill everything first, stir gently, and add the bubbly ingredients right before serving.
Can I add Aperol or another bitter liqueur?
Yes. Add 1 to 2 ounces Aperol to the pitcher for a more classic bitter-sweet spritz style. The drink will be stronger, more orange in color, and slightly sweeter.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
4 drinks
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium8 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate27 g
- 10%
- Dietary Fiber1 g
- 4%
- Total Sugars19 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium33 mg
- 3%
- Iron0.7 mg
- 4%
- Potassium348 mg
- 7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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