Looking for a holiday cocktail with a little sparkle?

Scripps News food and wellness contributor Jessica DeLuise has crafted a sweet, tart, and bubbly drink featuring muddled dark cherries, rich Amaretto, and champagne.

The Nutcracker

Ingredients

• 2 frozen dark cherries, pitted
• 3 oz sparkling wine or champagne
• 1 oz amaretto
• ½ oz tart cherry juice
• 1 tbsp pomegranate arils
• Ice cubes:
  Per cube: 1 frozen dark cherry, 1 tbsp pomegranate seeds, 1 tbsp water

Instructions:

• About 1 day prior to making your cocktails, prepare the ice cubes. · I use these silicone, spherical trays.
• In your favorite, stemless glass, muddle 2 cherries.
• Add the cherry juice and amaretto to the glass.
• Drop in an ice cube.
• Top with champagne or sparkling wine.

For a mocktail, swap out champagne for sparkling cider and amaretto for an almond syrup or omit.

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