Holiday Cocktails Ideas With Cara Cara Oranges – Cara Cara Winter Spritz

Today I’m sharing a fun and festive Cara Cara Winter Spritz plus a few more holiday cocktail ideas made with Cara Cara oranges. 

Can’t find Cara Cara’s … navel oranges are fine too.

The holiday season is underway!

Chances are you’ll be having people over.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,

there’s no better way to welcome guests into your home than with a glass of bubbles.

Or a bubbly cocktail or spritzer.

Today I’m sharing a Cara Cara Winter Spritz.

With only three ingredients it’s quick, easy, deliciousness and festive!

When I decorated our library for Christmas, I filled a couple of compotes with mandarins.

And that got me thinking about orange-based cocktails.

Cara Cara oranges are wonderful for cocktails and are usually in season mid-December.

This year they’re late (more about that later).

To make my spritzers I used readily availably navel oranges, a cousin of the Cara Cara.

While orange juice-based cocktails can feel mimosa-esque,

Why not embrace them for all kinds of holiday and winter celebrations?

Brunch, Lunch, Cocktail Hour & Midnight Toasts

Following Images by Monica Vargas Photography

Let’s make Cara Cara Winter Spritz

You’ll need Cointreau, fresh squeezed OJ and Champagne or sparkling wine.

Dried orange slices and mint sprigs for garnish.

Your juice and sparking wine should be very well chilled.

Chilling your glasses is nice too.

When squeezing juice for multiple drinks an electric juicer is helpful.

Mine went on the fritz while making these in a batch.

I’ll probably replace it with this one.

But this heavy duty juice press is tempting … and pricier.

For just a drink or two I use a traditional hand juicer like the ones my mother and grandmother had in their kitchens.

 

PIN AND PRINT THE RECIPE ~

 

Cara Cara oranges are cousins to navel and blood oranges.

They have a shorter growing season and are generally available December to April.

Although I haven’t found them in our local markets yet.

Cara Cara’s are are sweeter and less acidic than other oranges, and contain higher levels of vitamins C and A.

In Ina Garten’s latest book, Go-To Dinners, she suggests ordering ‘the best oranges’ from The Sisters Market here in California’s Central Valley.

I went straight to their website, which is gorgeous by the way, and it turns out this year’s Cara Cara’s crop is not quite ready.

I sent a quick email and got an immediate response.

As you can see Cara Cara’s will be available mid-January.

That’s only a month away. Yay!

Elise, Emily & Jenna / The Sisters Market

In addition to several varieties of oranges, The Sisters Market offers in season nectarines, pomegranates, peaches and persimmons (did you read that, Kim?).

And, gift boxes … their holiday gift box looks amazing.

I might need to gift myself.

But wait, look at this Vitamin C, Tea & Chill box.

I can’t decide!

A few other cocktail ideas using Cara Cara oranges ~

Cara Cara Margarita / The Lush Life

 

Orange French 75 / Jessica Levinson

 

The Pure Cara Martini / Aperitif Friday

 

When all else fails and there’s no time for mixing fussy drinks,

I keep Chandon Garden Spritz in our beverage fridge ready to be poured into a chilled glass.

Garnish with orange peel and, if you’re feeling adventurous, a sprig of rosemary.

I get asked about these French Champagne glasses all the time.

They’re from Crate & Barrel and very affordable.

So there you have it.

Cara Cara Winter Spritz and a few other holiday cocktail ideas.

I hope it inspires some ideas for your holiday celebrations.

While we’re on the subject of the holiday’s and oranges, don’t miss this Orange Cranberry Bread recipe in last week’s Weekend Meanderings’s.

Need more fun drink ideas for holiday gatherings …

try my Raspberry Kir Royale Bar and Cranberry Tequila Punch.

As always, I appreciate your visit and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.

Earlier this week, niece Shelby came over to make Cara Cara Winter Spritz.

Look for our video on Friday.

Until then, cheers from Snowberry!