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!

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
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Slice oranges for your garnishes.
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.
3: Slowly pour in one bottle of prosecco, pouring too fast can lead to a bubble-over, trust me!
4: Add in the Aperol.
5: Top with sparkling water.
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!
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
💡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
🫙 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.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
Big Batch Aperol Spritz (Pitcher Italian Cocktail)
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
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
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
perfect pitcher recipe for a crowd. Saved me so much time making each drink!
Thank you so much for sharing your review, Anne! I’m glad the recipe saved you time while entertaining! 💕
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!
Okay next time I want an invite to this double-big-batch-aperol-spritz party, Susan! 🤣 I’m so happy to hear that your guests enjoyed it! 💕