The Aperol Spritz (Spritz Veneziano) is a classic, crisp Italian aperitif the color of a sunset. This low-alcohol cocktail is able to brighten any ordinary afternoon with its light and refreshing mix of sweet, crisp, and bitter.

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About this Aperol Spritz Italian Cocktail Recipe
A few years ago I went to Italy to cook for a Yoga retreat.
The yoga instructor who organized the whole thing kept ordering glasses of Aperol Spritz on the nights when we ventured out from our Tuscan Villa for afternoon drinks. (I know. Tough gig.) It was the first time I'd heard of the cocktail and right away I was smitten.
Here's what's awesome about the Aperol Spritz:
- It's DELICIOUS.
- The combination of bubbly with a touch of bitter is super light and refreshing.
- It's a low alcohol cocktail, so you can happily sip away on a nice big glass without overdoing it.
- It's perfectly acceptable - even encouraged - to drink this cocktail through a fun paper straw.
- Have the opportunity for some summer day drinking? This is what you want in your glass.
Ingredients Needed to Prepare this Recipe
Making an Aperol Spritz requires just 4 ingredients:
- Prosecco, well chilled. Use any kind of prosecco you like. My personal favorite is La Marca.
- Aperol. Or, you can also use Campari. One note of caution: Campari is more bitter than Aperol, so you might want to use a bit less.
- Sparkling water. Plain, unsweetened, and unflavored.
- A couple of fresh orange slices OR candied orange slices.
How to Make an Aperol Spritz
This cocktail is as easy to make as it is to drink. Making this cocktail is a 3 step process that takes about 2 minutes, including the time it takes to open a bottle of prosecco:
- Fill a glass with ice
- Pour in about 4 ounces of Prosecco followed by 2 ounces of aperol.
- Top it with as much sparkling water as you like and toss in a couple of orange slices
Variations and Adaptions on this Classic Cocktail
Want to make yours less bitter? Simply add less Aperol and more Prosecco.
Want a stronger orange flavor? Add some orange juice!
Want to make an Aperol Spritz with an even lower alcohol content? If you follow the exact amounts in this recipe, your Aperol Spritz will contain about 11% alcohol by volume.
If you want to lower the alcohol content even more, here are 4 delicious options:
- Reduce the amount of Aperol and Prosecco and increase the amount of sparkling water.
- For a low-alcohol but less watered down version of option #1, add a bit of orange juice.
- Or, replace the Prosecco entirely with sparkling orangeade or lemonade, like San Pellegrino.
- Replace the Aperol with either of these non-alcoholic bitter drinks: Crodino or Sanbitter Bitter Red.
The Aperol Spritz makes a great camping recipe! This cocktail requires just a few ingredients, can easily be adapted to serve drinkers and non-drinkers of all ages, and is happily sipped from a plastic cup. Looking for more camping cocktail recipes? Here's a list of 21 Cocktails for Camping.
What Are the Best Foods to Pair with Aperol Spritz?
The Aperol Spritz is often served as an apéritif. An apéritif is a cocktail or liquor served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Apéritifs are typically low alcohol and on the dry side (not very sweet).
So, serving Aperol Spritzes with appetizers is a fantastic way to begin a meal. Because the Aperol Spritz is on the bitter side, I like to serve foods that will balance bitter flavors - salty, creamy, and slightly sweet flavors.
Also, maybe it's because I first experienced this cocktail in Italy, but I think it pairs particularly well with foods close to its geographical origins - so foods with an Italian or Mediterranean flavor. Here are a few ideas:
- A charcuterie board loaded with your favorite cured meats, cheeses, olives, bread and crackers, and fruit preserves such as Peach Preserves or Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- Any kind of seasonal fresh fruit, especially berries and citrus fruit, and roasted, salted nuts
- Marinated Roasted Bell Peppers and a loaf of really good crusty bread. Maybe also with some goat cheese or a really good parmesan.
- A light, refreshing salad, like Israeli Salad. Honestly, one of my favorite summer weekend lunches is Israeli Salad, crusty bread, and an Aperol Spritz. Served outside, of course.
Aperol Spritz FAQs
Yes, actually. Campari is a fantastic substitution for Aperol. It's a bit more bitter than Aperol, so if extra-bitter isn't what you're going for, you might want to use less. Campari is also less citrusy, so you might want to toss in an extra slice of orange. Taste and adjust to your personal preferences.
Yes! There are 2 delicious non-alcoholic replacements for Aperol: Crodino and Sanbitter Bitter Red.
Mix either one with with sparkling orangeade or lemonade, like San Pellegrino and you have a non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz that's positively delicious!
I love to keep a few small bottles of prosecco around for those days when I only want to make one or two Aperol Spritzes and don't want to open an a regular size bottle of prosecco.
Many liquor stores will stock mini bottles, also known as "quarter bottles" or "splits", which contain only 6 ounces of prosecco and are perfect for single servings.
More Popular Summer Cocktails
The Dirty Shirley is my favorite beverage to serve to a crowd because I can mix up a pitcher without alcohol and let the drinking adults in the group add their own vodka. Everyone else can happily sip on the non-alcoholic version, aka, the Shirley Temple. Speaking of crowd-pleasing summer cocktails...
Pomegranate Margaritas are easy to make and perfect for entertaining. The recipe can be scaled up or down and the flavors are true crowd-pleasers - a delicious balance of sweet, sour, and bitter.
And there's nothing I love more when blueberries are in season than to sit on our back deck with a blueberry mojito! The combination of sweet berries, tart lime, and fresh mint is perfect for warm summer evenings.
📖 Recipe
Aperol Spritz Cocktail Recipe (Spritz Veneziano)
The Aperol Spritz (Spritz Veneziano) is a classic, crisp Italian aperitif the color of a sunset. This low-alcohol cocktail is able to brighten any ordinary afternoon with its light and refreshing mix of sweet, crisp, and bitter.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces chilled prosecco
- 2 ounces Aperol
- Sparkling Water
- A couple of fresh orange slices or candied orange slices
Instructions
- Add a few pieces of ice to a tumbler or wine glass.
- Pour in the Prosecco, then the aperol, and top it with as much, or as little, sparkling water as you like.
- Add a slice of orange and serve.
Notes
Substitution for Aperol
You can use Campari instead of Aperol in this cocktail. Campari is a bit more bitter than Aperol, so you might want to use a bit less. Taste and adjust the ratios to your personal preference.
What if you don't want to open an entire bottle of prosecco?
I love to keep a few small bottles of prosecco around for those days when I only want to make one or two Aperol Spritzes and don't want to open an a regular size bottle of prosecco. Many liquor stores will stock mini bottles, also known as "quarter bottles" or "splits", which contain only 6 ounces of prosecco and are perfect for single servings.
How to lower the alcohol content in an Aperol Spritz:
- Reduce the amount of Aperol and Prosecco and increase the amount of sparkling water.
- For a low-alcohol but less watered down version of option #1, add a bit of orange juice.
- Or, replace the Prosecco entirely with sparkling orangeade or lemonade, like San Pellegrino.
- Replace the Aperol with either of these non-alcoholic bitter drinks: Crodino or Sanbitter Bitter Red.
How to make a non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz:
There are 2 delicious non-alcoholic replacements for Aperol: Crodino and Sanbitter Bitter Red.
Mix either one with with sparkling orangeade or lemonade, like San Pellegrino and you have a non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz that's positively delicious!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1 drinkAmount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 0g
Mario and Carla says
Me and my wife had it in Venice and we love it and we still have it in Wales with this love weather in our game garden.
Dawn says
I’m looking so forward to making this cocktail. Thanks for the recipe. Cheers!
RebeccaBlackwell says
It's one of my all-time favorite libations! I hope you enjoy it! Cheers! xo
MaryAnn Gomez says
Can t wait to try it ! I drink prosecco Never heard of Aperol but love orange flavor so will let you know if enjoyed!
Javiee says
I just back from Venice Italy where I had this drink for first time, and I love it.
I had it with a sparkling wine and not Prosecco but it's still lovely.
Today I went for shopping to get all the ingredients 🙂
RebeccaBlackwell says
So glad you're going to make these at home! Although, I just gotta tell you... they're never as good as the are in Italy because, well, you're in Italy. 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment for me! Cheers!
Cymry says
Had this in Venice, Rome, and Florence♡♡♡
RebeccaBlackwell says
It should be illegal to go to Italy and not have at least one aperol spritz. 🙂
Kathy HArteister says
I spent a month in Tuscany with two of my BFF's, and immediately got hooked on Aperol Spritz Cocktails!! SO refreshing, and so much lighter than the hard liquor cocktails I was used to!! I've now continued the ritual after returning home to Minnesota!!!
RebeccaBlackwell says
They are the best, aren't they??? I'd never even heard of them before going to Italy, and now they are one of my favorite cocktails. The next time I make one, I'll raise my glass and think that there might be a woman in Minnesota drinking one too. 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment for me! xo