Aperol Spritz

Christine Gallary
Christine GallarySenior Recipe Editor at The Kitchn
I grew up in a Chinese food-loving family, eating my first restaurant meals in Oakland's vibrant Chinatown. My love of food but lack of cooking experience led to me Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where I graduated with a Diplôme de Cuisine in French cooking. After culinary school, I learned how to test and edit recipes in test kitchens at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW, falling in love with the process of rigorously testing recipes to make sure they were foolproof for the home cook. I've worked with thousands of recipes over the past 15 years, including developing recipes for the James Beard-award winning Mister Jiu's in Chinatown cookbook. Living in the delicious diversity of San Francisco, I never get tired of finding new ingredients or cuisines to try. My favorite type is Cantonese home cooking — I'm on a quest to recreate the dishes my grandmother used to make. All the food I test at home is eagerly tasted and enjoyed by my husband, Hayden, and daughter, Sophie, while our little dog, Mochi, looks wistfully on.
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published Jun 13, 2024
summer
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angled shot of two aperol spritz's on a marble surface.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: James Park

It’s the perfect summer sipper.

Serves1

Prep5 minutes

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angled shot of two aperol spritz's on a marble surface.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: James Park

The Aperol spritz is one of the most popular cocktails in Italy, and it’s the perfect sipper when you want something light and refreshing. It’s a great balance of bitter, sweet, and citrusy. A glass of this gorgeous, vibrantly hued drink is best enjoyed on a lazy afternoon or to awaken the appetite before dinner. Its effervescence, coupled with its low alcohol content, also make it a plus on a hot day — so stock up on a bottle of Aperol the next time you’re at the store. Once you have it, you can use it to make other delicious things like a Paper Plane cocktail or even Aperol cookies.

Why You’ll Love It

  • It’s deliciously refreshing. It has the perfect balance of bitter and sweet. 
  • It’s super easy to make. You can make it right in the glass, no cocktail shaker needed.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: James Park

Key Ingredients in an Aperol Spritz

  • Aperol: This is a bittersweet Italian apéritif. It is light orange and made from herbs, fruit, and roots.
  • Sparkling wine: Any kind of sparkling wine can be used in a spritz. You can choose a dry one like brut Champagne or opt for a sweeter bubbly like Prosecco.
  • Sparkling water: A little sparkling water balances out the spritz and adds an extra touch of bubbles. Club soda, seltzer, or sparkling mineral water will all work.
  • Orange peel: The fragrant oils from a strip of fresh orange peel help highlight the fruity flavors in the spritz.

How to Make an Aperol Spritz

  1. Prepare the glass. Fill a wine glass with ice.
  2. Make the spritz. Add sparkling wine, Aperol, and sparkling water. Run a strip of orange peel around the rim of the glass to release its fragrant oils, then add to the spritz as a garnish.

Helpful Swaps

  • Sparkling water: While a plain bubbly water will let the flavors in the Aperol shine through, you can use a lime- or orange-flavored one for an extra hit of citrus.
  • Liqueur: Campari can be used in place of Aperol, but it is more bitter and less sweet.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Spritzes are best made right before serving, so wait to open the sparkling wine and club soda to ensure that the drinks are effervescent.

More Spritz Recipes

Comments

Aperol Spritz Recipe

It’s the perfect summer sipper.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 1

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • Ice

  • 3 ounces

    chilled sparkling wine, such as prosecco or cava

  • 2 ounces

    Aperol

  • 1/2 ounce

    chilled club soda or seltzer water

  • 1 wide strip

    orange peel, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a wine glass with ice. Add 3 ounces chilled sparkling wine, 2 ounces Aperol, and 1/2 ounce chilled club soda or seltzer water. Gently stir to combine. Twist 1 wide strip of orange peel directly over the cocktail’s surface, then garnish with the peel.

Filed in:
Beverages
Cocktails
vegan
vegetarian
quick
uncooked