Prosecco’s delicate bubbles and crisp finish make it the ideal canvas for cocktails that look impressive but require zero bartender experience. Whether you’re hosting brunch, celebrating an anniversary, or turning an ordinary evening into something memorable, these prosecco cocktail recipes deliver Italian elegance with just a few simple pours.
At La Dolce Vita Cucina, we pour plenty of prosecco alongside our homemade pasta and house-made gelato in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood. But we also understand that some celebrations happen at home, and you shouldn’t need a fully stocked bar to make them special. The five recipes below use ingredients you can grab at any grocery store, and each one captures that effervescent joy that makes Italian gatherings so memorable. From classic mimosas to creative seasonal twists, here’s how to bring a little dolce vita to your next toast.
1. La Dolce Vita spritz
The La Dolce Vita spritz takes Aperol’s bitter-orange profile and balances it with prosecco’s light sweetness, creating a cocktail that looks as good as it tastes. You’ll pour this drink in under two minutes, and its vibrant coral color immediately signals celebration. Unlike heavier cocktails that can tire your palate, this spritz keeps you refreshed through multiple rounds, making it perfect for gatherings that last from aperitivo into dinner.
Why this Prosecco spritz works for celebrations
This cocktail requires no shaking, muddling, or straining, so you can mix a round for six guests in the time it takes to open the bottle. The low alcohol content (about 8% by volume) means your guests stay conversational rather than sleepy, and the bitter-sweet balance works as both an appetite stimulant and a palate cleanser between courses. You build it directly in the glass, which means zero cleanup beyond rinsing out your stemware.
The spritz’s effervescence and low ABV make it the rare cocktail that actually enhances conversation rather than ending it early.
Ingredients and exact ratios
You need three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one part soda water for the classic 3-2-1 ratio. Measure three ounces of chilled prosecco, two ounces of Aperol, and one ounce of sparkling water. Add one large ice cube or three standard cubes to keep dilution minimal. Garnish with half an orange wheel secured on the rim.
Step-by-step method and glassware
Fill a large wine glass or balloon glass with ice first. Pour the Aperol over ice, add the prosecco slowly to preserve bubbles, then top with soda water. Give it one gentle stir with a bar spoon to combine. The orange wheel goes on last so it stays fresh.
Easy swaps and seasonal twists
Replace Aperol with Campari for a sharper bite or Select for herbal complexity. In summer, add torn basil leaves before the ice. Winter calls for a blood orange wheel and a splash of elderflower liqueur.
Food pairings for an Italian-style spread
Serve this spritz alongside antipasti boards loaded with prosciutto, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, and marinated olives. The bitterness cuts through fatty cured meats, while the bubbles refresh your palate between bites of cheese. It also pairs beautifully with bruschetta, fried calamari, and our house-made focaccia at La Dolce Vita Cucina.
2. Negroni sbagliato
The Negroni sbagliato earns its place among essential prosecco cocktail recipes by replacing gin with prosecco’s effervescence, creating a lighter aperitif that still delivers the classic Negroni’s bitter sophistication. You get the same ruby-red appearance and herbal complexity, but with half the alcohol and twice the refreshment. This cocktail works beautifully when you want something more substantial than a spritz but less intense than a full-strength Negroni.
What makes it different from a classic Negroni
The swap from gin to prosecco drops the alcohol content from 24% to roughly 14%, making this a cocktail you can sip slowly through aperitivo hour. You also gain delicate bubbles that lift the bitter Campari and sweet vermouth notes, creating a more refreshing experience. The name "sbagliato" means "mistaken" in Italian, supposedly from a bartender who grabbed the wrong bottle, but that happy accident became a modern classic.
Ingredients and exact ratios
Mix one ounce Campari, one ounce sweet vermouth, and two ounces prosecco. Use Carpano Antica Formula or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino for the best results. Add ice and one orange peel twist for garnish.
Step-by-step method and glassware
Pour Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with prosecco and stir twice gently. Express the orange peel oils over the drink, then drop it in.
The sbagliato’s lighter body makes it the perfect bridge between afternoon and evening drinking.
Easy swaps and bitterness control
Cut the Campari to three-quarters of an ounce if you’re new to bitter cocktails. Swap sweet vermouth for blanc vermouth to emphasize citrus notes.
Food pairings that match the orange-herbal notes
Serve this alongside roasted peppers, grilled artichokes, and aged cheeses like pecorino. The herbal bitterness complements our linguini with clams at La Dolce Vita Cucina perfectly.
3. French 75 with Prosecco
The French 75 with prosecco transforms a gin-and-champagne classic into a more accessible celebration drink by swapping expensive champagne for affordable prosecco. You combine fresh lemon juice with gin and simple syrup, then top it with bubbles for a cocktail that tastes both elegant and approachable. This drink shines when you want something lighter than a traditional cocktail but more sophisticated than a basic spritz.
When to choose this cocktail over a spritz
Pick this cocktail when you need something that transitions smoothly from brunch to dessert. The lemon juice adds brightness that works with both savory breakfast dishes and sweet afternoon treats. You’ll also appreciate the higher alcohol content (around 15% ABV) when you want a cocktail with more presence.
The French 75’s citrus-forward profile makes it the rare cocktail that actually improves your appetite rather than dulling it.
Ingredients and exact ratios
Mix one ounce gin, half an ounce fresh lemon juice, half an ounce simple syrup, and three ounces prosecco. Use London Dry gin for classic juniper notes. Add one lemon twist for garnish.
Step-by-step method and glassware
Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a champagne flute and top with prosecco. Add lemon twist.
Easy variations and spirit swaps
Replace gin with vodka for a cleaner taste or cognac for depth. Add elderflower liqueur for floral notes.
Food pairings for brunch or dessert
Serve this alongside smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, and fruit salads. The citrus complements our house-made gelato at La Dolce Vita Cucina beautifully.
4. Peach Bellini
The Peach Bellini stands out among prosecco cocktail recipes because it delivers sophisticated flavor with just two ingredients. You blend white peach puree with prosecco to create a cocktail that tastes like summer in a glass, whether you’re pouring it in January or July. This drink originated at Harry’s Bar in Venice, and its simplicity explains why it became a brunch staple worldwide.
Why Bellinis beat basic brunch drinks
Bellinis offer natural fruit sweetness without added sugar, making them lighter and more refreshing than mimosas loaded with orange juice concentrate. You get real peach flavor that pairs beautifully with breakfast dishes, and the pale pink color photographs better than any other brunch cocktail. The drink also requires zero citrus squeezing, so you can make a pitcher in minutes.
Ingredients and exact ratios
Pour two ounces white peach puree and four ounces prosecco per serving. Use high-quality frozen puree or fresh white peaches blended smooth. Skip the garnish to maintain the drink’s elegant simplicity.
Step-by-step method and glassware
Add peach puree to a champagne flute first. Pour prosecco slowly down the side of the glass to prevent overflow. Stir once gently with a bar spoon.
The Bellini’s two-ingredient formula proves that the best cocktails often come from the simplest combinations.
Frozen, fresh, and puree shortcuts
Blend fresh white peaches with a splash of lemon juice when they’re in season. Use frozen peach puree year-round for consistent results. Avoid canned peaches, which add metallic notes.
Food pairings for brunch boards and pastries
Serve Bellinis alongside prosciutto-wrapped melon, burrata with fresh berries, and buttery croissants. The peach sweetness complements our brunch pastries at La Dolce Vita Cucina perfectly.
5. Limoncello spritz
The Limoncello spritz brings sunny Italian coastline flavor to your glass with just three ingredients. You combine limoncello’s sweet lemon punch with prosecco’s gentle bubbles and soda water for a cocktail that tastes like vacation, regardless of the weather outside. This drink stands apart from other prosecco cocktail recipes because it captures authentic Italian summer without requiring fresh citrus or complicated techniques.
What this drink tastes like and when to serve it
You’ll taste bright lemon sweetness upfront, followed by prosecco’s crisp finish and a refreshing fizz from soda water. Pour this cocktail when temperatures climb above 70 degrees or when you need something that transitions from poolside to dinner table effortlessly. The drink works beautifully for afternoon gatherings that stretch into evening.
Ingredients and exact ratios
Mix two ounces limoncello, three ounces prosecco, and one ounce soda water. Use quality limoncello for the best lemon flavor. Add ice and fresh mint for garnish.
Step-by-step method and glassware
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Pour limoncello first, add prosecco slowly, then top with soda. Stir once gently and add mint sprig.
The Limoncello spritz proves that Italian simplicity creates the most memorable drinks.
Easy variations with herbs and citrus
Add torn basil leaves before ice for herbaceous notes. Float thin lemon wheels on top for visual appeal.
Food pairings for seafood, salads, and gelato
Serve this alongside grilled shrimp, fresh caprese salad, and arugula with lemon vinaigrette. The lemon sweetness complements our house-made gelato at La Dolce Vita Cucina perfectly.
Your next toast
You now have five prosecco cocktail recipes that require minimal ingredients and even less technique. Each drink offers something different: the spritz for gatherings that stretch from afternoon into evening, the sbagliato for bitter sophistication, the French 75 for citrus brightness, the Bellini for brunch elegance, and the Limoncello spritz for summer vibes year-round. You can pour any of these cocktails in under three minutes, using ingredients you’ll find at any grocery store.
The beauty of these drinks lies in their simplicity. You don’t need bartending experience or expensive equipment to create something memorable. Just grab a bottle of prosecco, pick your favorite recipe, and start mixing. When you’re ready to experience these cocktails alongside authentic Italian cuisine, visit us at La Dolce Vita Cucina in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood. We pair prosecco with our homemade pasta, house-made gelato, and a menu that celebrates the sweet life.