Strawberry Champagne Punch Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (2024)

FAQs

What to add to champagne to make it sweet? ›

Date Syrup: If you've ever enjoyed the rush of biting into a raw date, imagine that same nutty, mature, caramelized sweetness in liquid form, and you've got date syrup. The molasses-like sweetener can be thick, so use sparingly to avoid weighing down the airy co*cktail.

Not only do strawberries become beautifully iridescent in a glass of bubbly, but they also add rich, appealing color and a sweet flavor that complements the dryness of the champagne.

While the classic combo of 4 parts Champagne and 1 part fresh orange juice can certainly hold its own, this recipe adds a fun holiday twist by swapping the orange juice with fresh cranberries, cranberry juice, rosemary, and a hint of lime.

A sweeter Champagne does actually pair better with strawberries so if you in insist on Strawberries and Champagne this Valentine's Day – try going with an Extra-Dry or Sec Champagne which is sweeter than the more common Brut Champagne.

Doux is the sweetest designation of all Champagnes and is defined by containing 50 or more grams of sugar per liter.

If you don't have sugar cubes on hand, swap in 1 tsp. granulated sugar (raw sugar is particularly nice).

It's also a hands-off recipe: Just toss strawberries with sugar and let time take care of the rest. The sugar will coax out the berries' juices, creating a thick and succulent syrup, while the strawberries will deepen in flavor and soften in texture. The result is a versatile, sweet-tart topping that's hard to resist.

Generally, sugar is added to balance the high acidity of the Champagne, rather than to produce a sweet taste. Brut Champagne will only have a little sugar added, and Champagne called nature or zéro dosage will have no sugar added at all.

Fruits: What fruit goes with Champagne? Many! But the very best are berries (especially strawberries and raspberries) and stone fruits (peaches, plums). Other foods: salami, nuts (especially almonds), egg dishes (who can resist a mimosa with a cheese omelet?), popcorn, and potato chips (no, we're not kidding).

Mix it up.

Try swapping regular orange juice for blood orange juice, or use different fresh fruit juice altogether. Cranberry juice, apple cider, grapefruit juice, or pomegranate juice would all be great choices.

What does Champagne not pair well with? ›

No, this is “the mistake not to be made” according to the Comité Champagne (the organisation that brings together winegrowers and champagne houses): champagne does not go well with very salty dishes such as peanuts, crisps, or Greek olives.

Directions. In a chilled Champagne flute add cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime. Top off the glass with Champagne. Garnish with 3 or 4 cranberries.

Drop in a sugar cube: A classic way to sweeten up your sparkling wine is to drop in a sugar cube, and a dash of bitters. The sugar cube will dissolve and add a touch of sweetness to your drink. Add a splash of liqueur: Add an another layer of elegance.

This co*cktail from the bartender at The Cellar uses a sparkling rose, which, visually, is strawberry-colored champagne. He might understand Bruno better than the rest of us. His drink: A frozen, large cube of clarified strawberry juice, smashed and scooped into a champagne flute.

Your everyday champagne (or New Year's champagne, if you will) contains a lot of sugar. And when something is high in sugar, you should pair it with something else with strong flavours. This explains the strawberries in Pretty Woman, which are sweet enough to withstand the power of the equally sweet champagne.

Put equal parts blackberries, water and sugar into a small saucepan, and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the blackberries and let the syrup cool down. Add two tablespoons of syrup to each glass and pour the Prosecco on top.