Easy Aperol Spritz

by Yvette Marquez on February 17, 2024

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Bright, bittersweet, and lightly effervescent, the Aperol Spritz is a classic cocktail that’s as pretty to look at as it is fun to drink. My Latina-fied version swaps in Spanish Cava for Prosecco and boasts the deliciously big bubbles of Topo Chico to make what I think is the best Aperol spritzer around.

hero shot of a stemmed wine glass filled with an Aperol spritz on ice garnished with an orange round in front of a cava and topo chico bottle.

Table of Contents

What is an Aperol Spritz?

Aperol spritzes are refreshing and colorful Italian cocktails that are perfect for sipping on a sunny day. It’s known for its vibrant orange hue and bittersweet, citrusy flavor.

The classic recipe is made with Aperol, prosecco, and a splash of club soda, though I’ve swapped in Cava and sparkly mineral water to add my own flair. An orange slice garnish adds to its summery vibe, providing a bright aroma and gorgeous color.

It’s super popular as an aperitif, which means it’s great for enjoying before a meal. Definitely a must-try if you’re into light and bubbly drinks!

Why you’ll love this easy cocktail recipe

Delightfully fuss-free preparation. You don’t need a cocktail shaker!
Made with just 4 ingredients.
Perfect for warm weather!

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, there are just a handful of Aperol spritz ingredients. See recipe card below for quantities.

bottles of Aperol, Segura Viudas Cava, and Topo Chico on a wooden surface with a bowl of orange rounds and a wine glass.

Ice: The larger your ice, the slower the cocktail will become diluted. Feel free to use some of my pretty floral ice cubes to add some extra pizzazz.
Aperol: This brightly colored Italian apéritif is flavored with bitter oranges, gentian root, cinchona, tart rhubarb, and a host of other secret ingredients. It has a flavor that is similar to Campari, but is slightly more approachable thanks to its lower ABV and slightly sweeter profile. It’s often described as citrusy with vanilla and floral undertones.
Cava: I prefer Spanish Cava, but traditionally an Aperol spritz is made with Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, or French Champagne. Feel free to swap in any dry sparkling wine you prefer.
Sparkling Water: Y’all know I love Topo Chico! It has a crisp, clean flavor with lovely large bubbles (thanks to both natural carbonation and added carbonation), making it an ideal cocktail mixer. You’re welcome to use any sparkling water or club soda you prefer.
Orange Slice: An orange slice is the classic garnish for an Aperol spritz.I typically use naval or Cara Cara oranges, but any variety will do!

How to Make an Aperol Spritz Cocktail

process shot of pouring aperol into a stemmed wine glass with ice.

process shot of pouring the cava into the glass with the aperol and ice.

Add ice to your glass and pour in the Aperol and Cava.

process shot of pouring topo chico into the glass with the ice, cava, and aperol.

stemmed white wine glass filled with an Aperol spritz over ice garnished with an orange slice on a wooden cutting board with a cava cork bottle in the foreground.

Top with a splash of Topo Chico.

Garnish with an orange slice, and enjoy!

Optional Variations & Customizations

While I love this recipe just the way it is written, there are TONS of Aperol spritz variations to consider. Here are just a few ways to customize this cocktail to your exact specifications:

More or Less Bitter: Feel free to change the classic Aperol spritz ratio of 3:2:1 sparkling wine: Aperol: sparkling water to make it taste the way you like. More dry Cava will mellow out the bitter undertones of Aperol, while more aperitif will make it more bitter.
Reduce the Alcohol: While this is already a pretty light drink with just about 11% alcohol by volume, you can use more Topo Chico and less Aperol and Cava to make it even lighter.
Non Alcoholic Aperol Spritz Mocktail: If you want the spritz experience without any of the booze, swap in your favorite NA Aperol and wine substitutes (e.g. Lyre’s).
Use Flavored Seltzer or Add Juice: Make a festive cranberry aperol spritzer for the holidays, take advantage of the winter citrus season by making a blood orange Aperol spritz or grapefruit Aperol spritz, or add a Bellini vibe by making a peach Aperol spritz. To keep these added flavors on the lighter side, use flavored seltzer in place of Topo Chico. To make them more pronounced, add about an ounce of the juice or nectar of your choice.
Frozen Aperol Spritz: For a frostier take on the classic Aperol spritzer recipe, add the Aperol to a blender with about a cup of the frozen fruit of your choice (e.g. strawberries or mango). Blitz until smoothie consistency, then add the Cava and Topo Chico. Pulse until combined, then pour into your glass and garnish with an orange slice!

artsy shot of the ingredients needed to make an Aperol spritz on a wooden cutting board.

Serving Suggestions

The Aperol Spritz pairs well with many types of food. Whether you’re having appetizers, seafood, cheese, light salads, pizza, pasta, spicy tacos, fruit based desserts, or chocolate, this Aperol Spritz can make your meal taste even better. Here are some of my favorites:

Expert Tips & Tricks

Hosting a party? Make an Aperol spritz pitcher. Multiply the quantities by 8, then pour over ice. Just note that since we don’t want the effervescence to evaporate, any leftovers should be kept in a well-sealed, airtight container.
To remember the classic Aperol spritz recipe, 3-2-1. 3 parts Cava, 2 parts Aperol, 1 part Topo Chico. I prefer mine a bit more on the bitter and boozy side, so I use 3 parts Aperol, 3 parts Cava, and 1 part Topo Chico.
Don’t over-mix: Just 1-2 spins around the glass is all you need to mix the ingredients. The more you stir, the more the bubbles will dissipate, and half the fun of a spritz is that it’s sparkling!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a Negroni vs Aperol spritz?

While both are classic Italian cocktails, the Negroni is the bold one in the group. Made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, it packs a serious alcoholic punch. On the flip side, the Aperol Spritz is the breezier of the bunch. It’s lighter, bubbly, and refreshingly bittersweet, made with Aperol, prosecco, and a splash of soda water.

What does Aperol spritz taste like?

It’s what I imagine an Italian sunset tastes like. It’s bright, bubbly, slightly bitter, and ever-so-sweet with hints of orange and vanilla.

Can you make an Aperol spritz without prosecco?

Yep! I prefer making mine with Spanish Cava, which is slightly more minerally and citrusy than Italian prosecco.

Can you make an Aperol spritz with Campari?

I suppose you could, but then it wouldn’t be an Aperol spritz! Since Campari has more than double the ABV of Aperol, I’d change the ratio to 3 parts sparkling wine, 1 part Campari, and 1 part sparkling water.

etched stemless wineglass filled with an Aperol spritz garnished with an orange slice.

Recommended Equipment

You can certainly eyeball this Aperol spritz recipe, but for the most consistent results, use a liquid measuring shot glass or jigger.
My favorite Aperol spritz glasses are basically white wine glasses or stemless wine glasses, but any rocks or Collins glass will do the trick!
Ice cube tray. While regular ice cubes will work just fine, consider using extra large cubes to keep the flavor more concentrated for longer.
If you’re using Collins glasses, a bar spoon comes in handy for stirring.

More Summery Cocktail Recipes

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #muybuenocooking.