Make your New Year's Eve refreshingly bright and simple with an easy citrus champagne cocktail or two--made with just two ingredients in under five minutes!
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my pomegranate champagne cocktail!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick & Easy - These champagne simple syrup cocktails are elegant but still easy. With this recipe, you're just two pours away from a sparkling sip!
Versatile - Add whatever flavor your want to this cocktail and get creative with the serving suggestions below to make as much festive fun as you wish. Think of these are mimosas for evening events: classy champagne cocktails ready in a snap.
In Season - The citrus flavor in this bubbly New Year's Eve champagne drink is perfect for winter celebrations when oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and more are abundant.
We love easy champagne based cocktails around here, like the champagne whiskey cocktail and my hibiscus French 75. Ooh, and my blushing bride rosé cocktail and pink grapefruit mimosas are perfect for parties!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Champagne for the bubbles and New Year nostalgia. I recommend a crisp, dry brut to balance out the drink but if you don't have champagne, Cava, Prosecco, and other sparkling wines will work.
Citrus Simple Syrup adds a twist of lemon, blood orange, or grapefruit flavor depending on your preference. Use my homemade version for the best results or grab a bottle of ready-made winter citrus syrup.
Try my hibiscus simple syrup, pineapple syrup, or ginger honey syrup for champagne cocktail ideas during every season!
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Citrus - Use whatever citrus you like for this simple champagne cocktail. Meyer lemon is a great option and you can even layer the flavors with multiple syrups.
No Alcohol - Use a non-alcoholic champagne alternative, sparkling water, or a dry sparkling apple cider to make a zero proof champagne cocktail. Check out my mocktail for New Year's Eve for a deliciously bubbly option, too.
Garnishes - I love the sparkling sugar rim on my NYE cocktail and have included instructions for that below but you can mix things up with a candied citrus slice or twist of citrus peel or even stir in some edible glitter for extra razzle dazzle!
How to Make
Step One: Run a piece of citrus fruit around the rim of the champagne glass then dip into coarse sugar to create a festive sparkly rim.
Pro Tip #1: Use coarse sugar, aka sanding sugar, or sugar sprinkles for this step as regular granulated sugar won't sparkle the same way.
Pro Tip #2: You can serve this cocktail up in just about any kind of glass. I've showcased three that I love for aesthetic in this post. The OG is the classic champagne flute. Next is the trendy diamond glass which I typically like for sipping whiskey but the gold rim adds a festive touch to this drink as well. Finally, try a coupe glass or champagne cocktail glass, for something unexpected and fancy.
Step Two: Pour citrus simple syrup into the glass.
Step Three: Top up with champagne and serve.
Pro Tip #3: Use a jigger to measure out the syrup or a standard size shot glass, which holds the same volume as the large side of a jigger.
Pro Tip #4: Gently stir the cocktail with a bar spoon or butter knife to ensure consistent taste from top to bottom!
How to Serve this Drink for NYE Party
For entertaining, I love to do a self-serve bar setup and allow everyone to craft their own drinks so just set up glasses near a couple chilled bottles of bubbly and an assortment of syrups. This takes the pressure off me as a hostess and lets people play with their food--don't we all love that? I'm always here for a sophisticated holiday drink that takes no time to create.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because of the fizzy factor, I don't recommend making this cocktail in advance.
Large batch easy champagne cocktails for a crowd by combining two bottles of champagne or sparkling wine with 8 ounces of citrus simple syrup. Serves up to eight!
More Easy Cocktail with Champagne Recipes
You're just two pours and a swirl away from a festive good time with fancy champagne drinks. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this easy cocktail recipe with champagne and follow me on Pinterest. Happy New Year to you and your family and thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Easy Citrus Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ounce citrus simple syrup
- 7 ounces champagne chilled
Instructions
- Add 1 ounce of citrus simple syrup to glass.
- Top up glass with champagne or sparkling wine. Gently stir to combine.
- Enjoy chilled and drink responsibly.
Notes
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Add one cup granulated sugar and one cup water to a small saucepan over medium heat.
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Squeeze juice of three citrus fruits into saucepan and stir until mixture is uniform and sugar is dissolved.
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Remove peels from juiced fruits and add into saucepan.
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Bring mixture to a boil (about 5 minutes) then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to fully cool before using in cocktails, homemade fountain drinks, or other recipes.
Jen says
I love anything with citrus so I was super excited to try this champagne recipe. It didn’t disappoint at all and I’ll definitely be making it again
Britney Brown-Chamberlain says
My girlfriends and I sipped on these all night for our galentines day celebrations! They are super delicious!
Stephanie says
Such a refreshing drink! I made some for date night and they were a hit! Will definitely be making these again.
Lilly says
I love how simple this drink was to make and how elegant it looked and tasted! Everyone loved these at my latest brunch event! They were a huge hit!
Robin says
I'm a sucker for pink grapefruit and this cocktail! It is now my weekend brunch at home, go to beverage.
Marcus Avery says
I made these sparkling cocktails for my at-home brunch this weekend and they were hit. I'll definitely make them again!
Marta says
I've always been a fan of crisp, refreshing cocktails, but this one bowled me and my guests over this weekend. I hosted a small gathering and served these citrus champagne sparklers on a champs buffet. Everyone asked for the recipe, that's how much they loved it.
Robin Rue says
These look so delicious! I need to make something like this to ring in the new year.
Lauren Elliott (@elliott_lauren) says
These look so perfect for celebrating!
slaywithamyrae says
Your photos look so nice and professional! I don't really like champagne because I don't like carbonation in drinks but this does look really refreshing!
Jazz says
Thanks and thanks for stopping by!
Debbie J. says
I love the combination. I have a thing for sparkling drinks so this is right up my alley.
lonestarpersuasion says
These look delicious!!!
Courtney Connolly says
Those look so delicious, I love champagne but sometimes it's nice to have a twist on it.
La Belle Sirene
meximoments says
This looks like a fun drink. I love the citrus twist! I think I will like this alot!