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Fresh grapefruit juice, prosecco, and a sprig of thyme — this grapefruit prosecco cocktail recipe takes five minutes and looks far more impressive than the effort involved.
I first made this for my mom on Mother’s Day — she drinks wine and almost nothing else, so a simple prosecco cocktail was the obvious move.
The grapefruit cuts through the sweetness of the prosecco and keeps it light.
That New Year’s Eve I first tried prosecco I realized it was much more versatile than I thought — it takes citrus really well, which is why this combination works so cleanly.
It works for brunch, a spring gathering, or just a Friday afternoon when you want something that feels a little more put together than a glass of wine.
Tips
Fresh grapefruit juice makes a real difference here — bottled tends to be sweeter and more uniform, which flattens the drink. Squeeze it the same day.
Use a dry prosecco rather than a sweet one. The grapefruit already brings brightness; a sweet prosecco tips it too far in one direction.
The thyme sprig is not just decoration — bruise it lightly between your fingers before dropping it in the glass. It releases a faint herbal note that makes the cocktail smell as good as it tastes.
To make a pitcher for a crowd, combine the grapefruit juice with the full bottle of prosecco just before serving — not ahead of time, or you lose the bubbles.
FAQ
You can, but fresh gives you a sharper, slightly bitter edge that balances the prosecco much better. Bottled juice is sweeter and produces a noticeably milder drink. If fresh grapefruit isn’t available, a good-quality cold-pressed juice is the next best option.
Add half a teaspoon of honey or simple syrup to each glass before pouring the juice. Stir it in first so it dissolves before the prosecco goes in — adding it after will cause fizzing. Pink grapefruit is also naturally sweeter than white if you want to adjust at the source.
Yes — mix the grapefruit juice in a pitcher and add the prosecco right before guests arrive. Don’t combine them more than a few minutes in advance or the carbonation goes flat. Keep both the juice and the prosecco cold before mixing.
A dry (brut) prosecco is the best match. Extra dry also works. Avoid sweet or demi-sec styles — the grapefruit already brings enough brightness and a sweet prosecco makes the whole drink taste like juice.
Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice, from about 2 grapefruits
- 1 bottle dry prosecco
- 4 thyme sprigs
- Grapefruit slices for garnish
Instructions
- Fill each champagne flute with ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice.
- Top with prosecco.
- Lightly bruise a thyme sprig between your fingers and drop one into each glass.
- Garnish with a grapefruit slice and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Oh! Easy to make AND elegant? Love it! Mira, you’re the best at these impressive recipes that are secretly easy to make. Btw, awesome GIF! I can practically feel the bubbles popping. 😉 Have a great weekend, Mira! Pinning this. 😉
Thanks so much Demeter!
This is my favorite brand of prosecco! And adding grapefruit sounds so delicious…
This si so pretty – and so delightful!
Happy Thursday, Mira!
This is such a pretty cocktail! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!