Food and Recipes Drinks Cocktails Frosted Cranberry Kir Royale Be the first to rate & review! A sweet sipper for a festive time of year. By Elizabeth Brownfield Elizabeth Brownfield Instagram Website Elizabeth Brownfield is a writer and editor specializing in food and cooking with over 20 years of experience in the print and digital publishing industry. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on December 8, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Active Time: 15 mins Total Time: 15 mins Servings: 4 The classic Kir Royale, an elegant Champagne cocktail made with creme de cassis (a sweet garnet-colored liqueur made from blackcurrants) gets the holiday treatment thanks to a double dose of cranberries. Tart cranberry juice balances the sweetness of the liqueur, and a garnish of fresh cranberries rolled in sugar gives each Champagne flute or coupe a frosted, festive look. Ingredients 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided 12 fresh cranberries, rinsed 2 ounces creme de cassis, chilled 2 ounces cranberry juice, chilled 1 750-ml bottle Champagne, chilled Directions Make a simple syrup by combining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Simmer, stirring, until sugar has dissolved and syrup turns clear. Remove from the heat, and let cool. Add cranberries to the simple syrup, stir to coat, and transfer berries to a plate using a slotted spoon. Reserve remaining simple syrup for another use. Place remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl. Roll each cranberry in sugar until completely coated, and transfer to a clean plate to set. Thread 3 cranberries each onto 4 cocktail picks, small skewers, or toothpicks, and reserve for garnish. Add 1/2 ounce creme de cassis and 1/2 ounce cranberry juice each to 4 Champagne flutes or coupes. Divide the Champagne among the 4 glasses, garnish each glass with a cranberry cocktail pick, and serve. Rate it Print