Strawberry Bellinis with Prosecco

A strawberry bellini - also known as a Rossini cocktail - is a simple drink made with strawberry puree and sparkling wine. I swap the traditional peach for fresh strawberries, add a little creme de cassis to enhance their flavor, and top it with dry prosecco. Whether you're hosting a spring brunch, weekend party, or even a bridal shower, this recipe is developed so you can make the puree in advance, making assembly easy when it's time to serve.

I first developed this recipe in 2013 when I couldn't find a strawberry bellini recipe for my friend Jen's bridal shower. It was off-season for strawberries, so we all did rigorous taste testing to find a version that made grocery store strawberries pop. We found creme de cassis really enhanced the drink, making the drink flavorful no matter the season.

I don't plan parties, so I way over-prepped. Think several mason jars with strawberry puree, several jars of peach puree for traditional bellinis - plus I literally filled my wine fridge with bottles of Trader Joe's sparkling wine. Thanks to ample leftovers, I can assure you the puree freezes well and can confidently tell you to plan for 2 cocktails per person at brunch - so you don't have to fill your fridge with 10 bottles of sparkling wine.

Serve this strawberry cocktail with something that won't overwhelm the fruity flavor - like my Sour Cream Coffee Cake. You can make it a strawberry brunch by pairing it with Strawberry and Cream Scones, or serve alongside White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies for a pink-themed bridal shower spread.

Key Ingredients

Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Fresh strawberries: Choose ripe but not overripe strawberries - strawberries with white tops have little flavor. Frozen strawberries taste slightly different than fresh, but can work in a pinch.

Creme de cassis: An inexpensive blackcurrant liqueur found in most liquor stores near vermouth and cordials. I add this to boost the berry flavor since strawberry season is short and the quality of grocery store strawberries varies. Chambord (blackberry/raspberry liqueur) or creme de fraise (strawberry liqueur) will also work. If your bottle is old, pitch it because it doesn't taste good when it ages. See below for an alcohol-free option.

Granulated sugar: Necessary for off-peak strawberries.

Dry prosecco: The classic choice, and what I recommend. Brut or extra-brut work well - ironically, sparkling wine that's labeled "Extra Dry" is often sweet. Similar sparkling wine like cava should also work well. The strawberry complements the wine but doesn't hide it, so choose something budget-friendly that you'd like to drink.

How to Make Strawberry Bellinis with Prosecco

One: Combine the strawberries, creme de cassis, and sugar. Puree until smooth, 1-2 minutes.

Two: Strain, scraping along the sieve with a spatula to get the puree to go through. Don't rush this - it takes around 5 minutes of active scraping. It won't strain without assistance. Chill the strained puree at least 30 minutes before serving.

Three: Pour some strawberry puree, about three tablespoons, into a champagne flute. Add a small amount of prosecco, and stir to mix so the puree is mixed throughout. It'll foam dramatically.

Four: Tilt the glass and pour in more prosecco along the side of the glass to minimize foaming. Slowly add around four ounces prosecco in total. You may need to pour in stages, but the cocktail will fill the glass.

Serve immediately; the sparkling wine will lose its fizz over time.

Strawberry Bellini Mocktails

My 11 year old daughter also enjoys fancy drinks when Alex and I have them, so I accommodated her by making a strawberry bellini mocktail with a couple of simple ingredient swaps.

• 🍓 Puree strawberries with strawberry jam, which both sweetens the puree and enhances the flavor. I tested this by blending strawberries with two tablespoons reduced sugar strawberry jam and one tablespoon sugar. Strain as directed.
• ✨ Using the same proportions as the original recipe, mix with sparkling grape juice, sweetened sparkling water, or lemon-lime soda.

Serving and Storage

Serving proportions: Mix around one part strawberry puree with two parts sparkling wine. In practice, I use 3 tablespoons puree for a 4-ounce pour of sparkling wine.

Storage: Puree lasts about one week in the refrigerator.

Freezing: The strawberry puree freezes very well - I recommend using decorative ice cube molds if possible. If your cubes fit into the champagne flute, no need to thaw before serving; they'll start to dissolve after 5-10 minutes.

Batch/Party scaling: One batch of this makes around 6 strawberry bellinis, and I would count on 2 bellinis per person for a leisurely brunch. You can double and triple the batch of puree in the blender, but don't strain it all at once - it's too thick. Store open bottles of prosecco in the refrigerator between drinks to prevent it from going flat as quickly.

Serving suggestions: Nowadays I serve these for Easter or spring brunches. They contrast nicely with rich St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake, or alongside English Muffins and Martha Stewart's Popovers for a proper brunch spread. For a fruit-forward table, pair the bellinis with sliced melon and Vegan Orange Muffins.

Strawberry Bellini FAQ

🌻 More Spring Entertaining Recipes

If you're planning a spring brunch or party spread, here's a few other recipes worth bookmarking.

I hope this becomes a recipe you'll return to. If you try it, a star rating below helps others find it - and I'd love to hear how yours turns out in the comments! 💕 Questions or trouble? Drop a note, and I'll do my best to help.