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When you’re serving drinks to a crowd, pitcher cocktails can really help to lighten the hosting load. This easy batched Aperol spritz recipe is perfectly presented in a pitcher so you can spend less time mixing drinks and more time enjoying your party! It’s made with Aperol, dry prosecco, and sparkling water, so it’s the perfect refreshing drink for any party!

Pouring a pitcher of Aperol spritz into a large wine glass for serving.

Growing up with an Italian immigrant grandmother means you have certain things ingrained in your DNA, like the matriarchal trait of ensuring everyone who walks through your doorway as a guest has everything they could possibly need at all times. Hosting can be super fun, but it’s also a lot of work.

That’s why big batch cocktails are so amazing— they help to take some of the hosting pressure off by allowing your guests to serve themselves. Teach a man to fish, right?! The classic Aperol spritz is transformed into a large batch cocktail with the same simple ingredients that make up the individual portion. The recipe uses the 3-2-1 spritz ratio blending a liiiittle more than 3 cups prosecco to 2 cups Aperol to 1 cup sparkling water.

Set up a spread with a pitcher of Aperol spritzes, a pitcher of limoncello spritzes, and Italian appetizers like marinated mozzarella or baked burrata dip and let the praise roll in. Your inner people pleaser will be satisfied without seething with resentment from toiling away over intricately prepared individual drinks. Not that I know anything about that. 🥲

why this Pitcher Spritz recipe works:

🥳 party perfect. Mixing up individual cocktails is a chore, even if it’s an easy cocktail. This Aperol spritz pitcher recipe helps cut down on serving time, meaning you get to actually enjoy yourself!

🙌 quick & easy. It’s as easy as measuring and pouring with this big batch beverage! No complex steps needed!

🤩 table scape stunner. This pitcher cocktail is a bold and beautiful shade of vivid orange, and if you add fun orange ice cubes it serves as a beautiful centerpiece, too!

🛒 ingredients

A labeled ingredient shot of the ingredients used to make a pitcher recipe of an Aperol spritz cocktail.
  • Aperol – the famous Italian aperitif is a bitter orange liqueur from Northern Italy that’s found in most liquor stores. It boasts a vibrant orange hue and has a lower alcohol content than typical spirits, so technically it’s classified as a liqueur.
  • prosecco – this recipe uses the whole bottle of bubbly prosecco (aka sparkling Italian wine), so you don’t need to worry about measuring out 3 cups of prosecco and then having nearly 2 ounces leftover. For the best spritz, I recommend choosing a good quality bottle explicitly imported from Italy. I love using La Marca brand prosecco!
  • sparkling water or soda water – while you can use either, I like to use sparkling water instead of club soda. You can even use a flavored soda if you want to get super seasonal! Make sure to use sparkling water, seltzer, or soda water, not mineral water, which can add additional flavors to the drink.
  • oranges – fresh slices of orange are the perfect garnish for this cocktail. You can use a sliced orange wheel, an orange wedge, or even get creative and twirl some orange peel!
  • ice cubes – use king-sized ice cubes for this pitcher recipe if possible. They melt slower and keep the pitcher colder longer. Want to go the extra mile?! Make a batch of fun orange ice cubes that serve double-duty as garnishes in the drink, too!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 instructions

Sliced fresh oranges for garnishing Aperol spritzes.

1: Slice oranges for your garnishes.

A pitcher is filled with blood orange ice cubes.

2: Add large ice cubes to your pitcher of choice. Use the biggest cubes you have to keep the pitcher cold without diluting the drink too much.

Pouring a bottle of prosecco into a pitcher.

3: Slowly pour in one bottle of prosecco, pouring too fast can lead to a bubble-over, trust me!

Pouring Aperol into a pitcher of ice and prosecco.

4: Add in the Aperol.

Topping a pitcher of prosecco and Aperol with sparkling water.

5: Top with sparkling water.

A pitcher of Aperol spritzes sits on a countertop ready to be served.

6: Serve immediately.

Hint: Put the sliced orange on a cutting board or plate next to where you’ll serve the spritzes so your guests can garnish their drinks with a fresh orange slice!

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💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ serving tips

Make sure to give each guest a large wine glass filled with plenty of ice for their spritz. The perfect portion comes up about 1/2 to 3/4 of the glass.

  • Italian brunch – spritzes make wonderful brunch cocktails because they are lower in alcohol compared to other cocktails, making them the perfect drink for adding just a bit of fun to your next gathering!
  • antipasto hour – salty snacks hold up well to the bite of the spritz! This classic Italian cocktail pairs perfectly with appetizers like roasted mixed nuts, potato chips, and a variety of topped crostini crackers.
  • summer party – the absolute most classic way to enjoy an Aperol spritz is on a hot summer day, preferably next to water, and preferably channeling the Italian Riviera.

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

When it comes to Italian aperitifs, Aperol spritzes are less bitter than other amaro-based drinks, but some guests might not be accustomed to the bittersweet taste. I like to offer a few ingredients table side to allow guests to tweak their spritzes if they aren’t a fan of the flavor.

  • stir it up – you can place a long cocktail stirring spoon into your pitcher to stir it up if it’ll be sitting on the table for a while. This allows you to mix up the contents every once in a while in case things start to settle.
  • season with saline – yes, salt! A homemade saline solution for drinks will help to cut the bitterness in the beverage, but use it sparingly to start! Just a few drops can cut the bitter flavor by a large amount, making it more palatable to those who aren’t a fan of aperitifs.

♻️ substitutions & variations

Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!

  • flavor your spritzes – a simple syrup or fruit infused syrup can help to add a bit of sweetness to the drink, which offsets the bitter taste. I love using citrus syrups like blood orange syrup or lemon syrup, because they offer the perfect balance of sweet and zesty.
  • swap your bubbles – you can replace prosecco with a dry Spanish cava or even gasp a French champagne if you have one of those on hand!

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

  • pitcher – choose a pitcher that has a large capacity of at least 64 ounces. This drink is about 50 ounces total, and the ice will take up a lot of space in the pitcher, too. If you don’t have a large enough pitcher, you can split it into two serving containers or pour some back into the empty prosecco bottle and use a champagne stopper to store it in the fridge. That’ll help maintain the bubbles!
  • measuring cup – you’ll need a cup for measuring your Aperol and sparkling water, making sure it is clearly marked for even measuring!
  • cocktail stirring spoon – this long-handled spoon is perfect for stirring up any ingredients that may have settled in your pitcher.

🫙 storage tips

Because of the bubbles in this cocktail, it’s best to drink it within a few hours of making it. If you must store any extra, be sure to do so using a bottle with a stopper to preserve the carbonation, and drink it within 24 hours of making it for the best taste.

Bottling a pitcher of Aperol spritzes to save for later.

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A big batch Aperol spritz pitcher recipe.

Big Batch Aperol Spritz (Pitcher Italian Cocktail)

This easy batched Aperol spritz recipe is perfectly presented in a pitcher so you can spend less time mixing drinks and more time enjoying your party! It’s made with Aperol, dry prosecco, and sparkling water, so it’s the perfect refreshing drink for any party!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Beverages, Brunch, Cocktails
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: al fresco, aperitif, big batch, party
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 188kcal
Author: Lindsey Neumayer

Equipment

  • 1 large pitcher at least a 64 ounce capacity
  • 1 measuring cup
  • 1 knife and cutting board for slicing oranges
  • 1 cocktail stirring spoon
  • large wine glasses for serving drinks
  • straws

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle prosecco
  • 16 ounces Aperol 2 cups
  • 8 ounces sparkling water or soda water, 1 cup
  • orange for garnishing

Instructions

  • Slice oranges for your garnishes.
  • Add large ice cubes to your pitcher of choice. Use the biggest cubes you have to keep the pitcher cold without diluting the drink too much.
  • Slowly pour in one bottle of prosecco, pouring too fast can lead to a bubble-over, trust me!
  • Add in 2 cups of Aperol.
  • Top with 1 cup of sparkling water.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information

Servings: 8
Calories: 13mg
Total Fat: 13mg
Saturated Fat: 13mg
Trans Fat: 13mg
Cholesterol: 13mg
Sodium: 13mg
Carbohydrates: 13mg
Fiber: 13mg
Sugar: 13mg
Protein: 13mg

The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I needed a BIG recipe for aperol spritzes and this did the trick! I doubled it (told you I needed a big batch lol!) and put it in a large drink dispenser. I am not the biggest fan of bitter flavors so I used a little less aperol but everyone loved it, it was a great party cocktail!

5 from 2 votes

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