Cranberry Bellinis
Get festive this holiday season with our signature Cranberry Bellinis! Made with leftover cranberry sauce and a splash of sparkling wine, these will be the star of any celebration.!
Picture this. A refrigerator full of left over turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole and the cranberry relish that seems to multiply and not disappear like all the other left overs. You always feel obliged to purchase or make a cranberry relish, but honestly, who really eats that stuff anyway?
Yes. I see the two of you over there. Do you like the canned stuff or do you honestly make something from scratch?

Cranberries get such a bad rap. They’re always so tart. Their juice is just bitter. They’re hard little fruit in a bag that we all buy but never know what to do with. OR they’re the can of jellied or whole jellied cranberries that we purchase and then leave in the pantry, completely forgotten. Which is sad. Cranberries, when cooked properly with delicious fruits and spices, can taste wonderful!
But there it sits. Almost untouched in your refrigerator container on the shelf. It sits between the turkey leg that rarely gets touched in our house and the carcass awaiting a slow simmer for delicious turkey stock. So, what’s a kitchen hoor to do? You know I can’t throw food out, right? I have to save it to death or find SOMETHING to do with it.

So, that’s just what I did. Found something to do with it. Add cranberries to alcohol and voila! A delicious pairing and fabulous drink to serve after all that Black Friday shopping!! Or, you can show your guests how delicious these luscious little berries can be and serve this drink as they’re waiting for the finishing touches on the turkey. OR this would be perfect for a holiday brunch! These bellinis, some brie and crackers, a nice quiche and you’re all set for opening pressies!
Sometimes, my recipes have a story. This recipe, has a story. You see, my mother read this recipe in a magazine for Cranberry Margaritas. I’m not sure which one. It was the 90’s and I’ve slept many times since then. If memory serves, they were craw cranberries that were blended with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. But I always thought they were a bit crunchy and honestly could be so much more than they were. But, she followed the recipe and I really liked the idea of the cranberry margarita.

So, last year we had some left over cranberries. Actually, we had almost a whole can of left over cranberries and I thought about Mom and that batch of cranberry margaritas. It inspired me to do something productive with the cranberries and the champagne that has traveled with us for at least three years. Yes. I’m ashamed to say I had a bottle of champagne in the fridge for well over three years. Don’t judge.

I decided to combine two things I couldn’t seem to discard and came up with this delicious idea of a drink. Those that follow in Instagram might have seen it, but I never really worked out a recipes…that is until #SundaySupper had Thanksgiving Leftovers as a theme.
I knew exactly what I was going to make and how I was going to make. I wanted to use the item that usually doesn’t get eaten at most dinners; at least our dinners. Also, I wanted to make something that everyone would love and I wanted to make something that would make those leftovers worthwhile!

No matter how you serve your cranberries, fresh or canned, make sure you save every last little berry because you will not want to waste any of the after you make these Cranberries Bellinis.

Cranberry Bellinis
Get festive this holiday season with our signature Cranberry Bellinis! Made with leftover cranberry sauce and a splash of sparkling wine, these will be the star of any celebration.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberry relish, jellied cranberry sauce, or whole jellied cranberries
- 1 cup orange juice
- 750 ml chilled sparkling wine, proseco, moscato, or champagne
- 6 to 8 strips thinly sliced orange peel
Instructions
- Heat the cranberries in a small saucepan over medium heat until they begin to bubble. Add the orange juice and simmer until the mixture liquefies.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Pour the cranberry mixture into the bowl of a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Strain with a fine mesh strainer.
- Rub each of 4 to 6 glasses with orange. Reserve the peel for garnish. Then pour 2 tablespoons of the strained cranberry mixture into the bottom of a champagne flute.
- Carefully pour a small amount of sparkling wine and stir with a spoon, then fill the glass being careful not to allow it to bubble over. Let set a minute or two then continue to fill the glass 3/4 full. Garnish with the reserved orange peel and serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 328Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 31mgCarbohydrates 57gFiber 1gSugar 17gProtein 1g
Breakfast:
- Sweet Potato Casserole Muffins by Magnolia Days
Main Dish:
- Herbed Turkey over Cornbread Waffles with Cranberry Sauce by girlichef
- Stuffing Hash by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Turkey Croquettes by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Turkey Kreplach Soup by Panning the Globe
Side Dishes:
- Cheesy Mashed Potato Croquettes by Noshing with the Nolands
- Italian Mashed Potato Pancakes by The Weekend Gourmet
Sandwiches:
- Monte Cristo Sandwich by Nik Snacks
- Turkey Cranberry Flatbread by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Turkey Hot Brown by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
Condiments & Sauces:
- Leftover White Wine Syrup by Food Lust People Love
Dessert:
- Banana Cheesecake with Pecan Graham Cracker Crust by Desserts Required
- Gluten Free Lemon Drizzle Cake by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Cocktails & Drinks:
- Cranberry Bellinis by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Gorgeous! I love cranberry drinks!
Thanks! I do too, Julie.
We love the sauce and I make a new version every year; it is so easy and so good. I make my own cranberry liqueur too but had this idea about using the sauce for a cocktail and am delighted to see it in action!
I actually love home made cranberry sauce, too. I'm interested in the cranberry liquer… I hope you try my recipe. I think you'll really like it.
Great idea to do a drink!
Thanks, Sarah!
Can't go wrong with a fruity drink in hand after Thanksgiving 😉 happy holidays!
So tru, Ala! Happy Holidays to you, as well!
I am a sucker for a bellini and I love that you repurposed the cranberries in them!!
Thank you, Bobbi! We always have leftover cranberries, but I think they're under-rated and definitely under used! They are so tasty!
Very elegant looking!
Thank you, Cindy!
What a gorgeous, gorgeous drink! And perfect throughout the holidays and into Valentine's Day, as far as I'm concerned 🙂
YES! The color would be PERFECT for Valetine's Day! I hadn't even thought of that! LOVE it!
This sounds absolutely perfect!
Thank you, Brianne!
I had to come check this out. It sounds wonderful, and I'm pinning it!
Thank you for pinning! I hope you try them. They are delicious!
I usually don't feel like eating for days after Thanksgiving, but I would totally be up for a post-Thanksgiving day brunch if these bellinis were being served!
Thank you, Shaina!! I LOVE the left overs! Stuffing is my absolute fave! And these are perfect for a brunch.
This is a gorgeous bellini, perfect for leftover cranberries!! It is so festive looking!!
Thank you, Tara! The color is inviting, isn't it?
Now this is my kind of drink! Cheers!
Mine, too! Thanks, Jennifer!
I actually love cranberry sauce. Along with the stuffing,it's my favorite part of the meal! There does always seem to be a ton leftover though, and these bellini's look like a great way to use it up!
I've never been a fan of the canned stuff. We rarely made fresh cranberry relish. I think if we did I might have a different opinion of it.
This is a great idea! I can't believe I've never thought of this.
Thanks, Leslie! It took me quite a few years to think of it and at least one to post it. So, don't feel so bad.
Three years? Don't feel bad. I have had one in the fridge for a year myself. It was given to us as a gift for Christmas last year, along with a couple flutes. Um…. yeah. I do believe this is a great way to use it up though!
It even traveled with us from one apartment to another. I just couldn't throw it out. LOL
My favorite festive holiday drink! Bring on the bubbles. And how great to make it from the leftover cranberry sauce.
Thank you, Renee. I wanted to think of something creative to use up the cranberries. They're not a fave here.