Autumn Aperol Spritz

Last Updated April 25th, 2024 at 12:56 pm by Lisa

A taste of Fall in every sip, these Aperol Spritz cocktails have cider, Aperol, and fresh citrus juice topped with prosecco or Champagne bubbles. These refreshing drinks are great for brunch, happy hours, Friendsgiving, and Thanksgiving.

The sweet blood orange and apple cider add a nice counterbalance to the natural bitter flavors of the Aperol, creating these gorgeous ruby-red sippers...

Autumn Aperol Cocktail Recipe

A classic Aperol spritz recipe has just Aperol, prosecco, and a splash of soda. These Italian cocktails are sipped on hot days in the late-afternoon as an aperitivo pre-dinner drink as the sunsets. This recipe adds all the Fall feels and makes them change their color just like the falling leaves...

• 2 ounces blood orange juice (you can use regular oranges, the drink color is lighter)
• 2 ounces apple cider
• 1 ounce Aperol
• 1 splash of club soda
• optional: Add 3 ounces of Prosecco, Champagne, or any sparkling wine
• garnish: 1-2 slices of blood orange

1. First, juice a couple of blood oranges, and slice one for garnish. The more blood orange juice you add the pinker the cocktail gets!
2. Place ice in a large wine glass or tall glass, Aperol, blood orange juice, apple cider, a splash of soda water, and garnish with sliced blood orange. Cheers!
3. Optional: Pour Prosecco, Champagne, or sparkling wine instead of club soda.
4. Garnish with blood orange slices.

Variation Ideas

If you like your cocktails sweeter, and can't find blood oranges, you can swap in pineapple juice, fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice, fresh lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, or try my Limoncello Recipe!.

In a cocktail shaker add ice, the juice you choose, Aperol, and apple cider, and shake. By the way, shaking any bubby soda water, or champagne is not a good idea, it will be everywhere due to the carbonation! Simply stir or blend in a pitcher with ice to keep it simple. Then top with your bubbly additions.

How To Host An Appetizer & Cocktail Party

Host a Fall appetizer party with an Autumn-colored palate. Have 1 signature cocktail, water, and a non alcoholic drink for guests with plenty of glasses and ice. Pick a good spot and set up a long table indoors or outside depending on the weather. Borrow one or use what you have, you can even rent from a party store.

Place a large Fall colored tablecloth in red, orange, brown, or yellow colors. Again, use what you have, a couple of linens together can look great in layers.

Use fresh fruit like apples, pumpkins, pomegranates, small flower arrangements, or vases with herbs. For texture, add silk flowers or a garland of leaves for this table, isn't it gorgeous?

My amazing dear friend Lidy at French Garden House set up this serving area in her gorgeous garden with different heights using books, baskets, bowls, and containers to add texture and interest.

What To Serve With Aperol Cocktails?

Serve 2-3 seasonal appetizers and snacks using season Fall ingredients like apples, a Salted Caramel Apple Dip it's addictively yummy, and a darling pumpkin-shaped Everything Bagel Cheeseball is what we served!

Take a look at the 30+ Best Thanksgiving Appetizers for your next Fall gathering, so many delicious recipes...

More Fall Cocktail Recipes

Fireball Whisky Cocktails are made with orange, cinnamon, cloves, apple cider, and cinnamon flavored whiskey. 

Fireball Punch "big batch cocktails" are made with orange juice, apple cider, and Fireball whisky that tastes like cinnamon red hot candies. It's just the right sweetness and tastes like Fall with crisp apples, fresh oranges, and spicy cinnamon.

Candy Corn Jello shots have 3 colors in these boozy adult shooters, just like the famous seasonal Fall candy! Batches of jello shots are known as a college party classic. But who doesn't love a layered shot that actually tastes great for a bit of mischief-making?

More Fall Halloween Cocktails

A Candy Corn Martini is the ultimate Fall cocktail and Halloween drink for parties, with simple ingredients that are easy to find. Have lots of fun chilling out with these, oh and homemade candy corn vodka is super easy to make. Fascinate your friends with these bright orange festive cocktails.

Serve Halloween Aperol Cocktails to your thirsty party guests with black sugar rims and eyeballs in these easy Halloween drinks. Spooky-cute and just about the easiest drink for your party.

Mix up a batch of these chartreuse green Witches Brew Midori Sours. Add some spooky bones and magical edible drink glitter with bubbly mixers to enchant your guests!

A Black Halloween Martini is the perfect frightening Halloween drink for parties. Make these dark mysterious black cocktails for your friends!