Kyle Oliver
Honey, Raspberry & Champagne, 3 things I always say yes to, especially champagne. Say yes(3x) to this Raspberry Champagne Brunch cocktail.
Sometimes when I make brunch I want to go all out with a fancy cocktail. Sometimes when I make brunch I want to feel fancy but keep it simple. So when making the Easy Gluten Free and Matcha Waffles, I felt keeping it asy would be better. Plus, when I ate these I had places to be so I wanted a little bubbles but needed to still be productive. So this easy Honey Raspberry Champagne Brunch Cocktail was created.
If you want to take more inspiration from a cocktail add some gin for a twist on a French 75. It will be amazing! I used honey in the cocktail to bring out some amazing flavors in the sparkling wine. It should work with whatever sparkling wine you choose. The raspberry adds sweetness but is counterbalanced with tartness. Raspberry is the perfect berry for this because of that. Other berries will bring more sugar than I wanted. Raspberry brought beautiful balance. Lemon helps add a bit more tartness and liven up the cocktail even more. Make sure to try this easy Honey Raspberry Champagne Cocktail! To keep it vegan when serving with the Easy Gluten Free and Matcha Waffles, use Maple Syrup or Vegan Honey in the Honey Raspberry Syrup.
Honey Raspberry Champagne Brunch Cocktail Recipe Notes & Substitutions
Raspberry– I use frozen raspberry in this partly because they are cheaper than store bought raspberries and partly to make sure they don’t go bad before I use them. However, mostly I use frozen because the freezing process helps break the berries when warmed up. This creates a nice and quick jam/syrup. Feel free to use fresh if you’d prefer, it will still be great.
Honey– I chose this cocktail to work with the Easy Gluten Free and Matcha Waffles. If you want to keep this cocktail vegan use maple syrup it will still be amazing. I just like the flavor the honey brings to the matcha. I like honey in this cocktail, and think the honey helps pair with the Easy Gluten Free and Matcha Waffles. However, to keep this vegan use maple syrup, it will still be great! You will have to cook it down a bit more with maple syrup. Conversely use vegan honey.
Champagne– Use Prosecco, Cava, Champagne or any other sparkling wine you enjoy. Just make sure it isn’t too sweet. If you have a sweet sparkling wine reduce the honey amount in the syrup. It will still work but won’t be as balanced. Conversely, if you have a very dry sparkling wine or like a sweet drink add a little extra honey into the syrup. Get the sparkling wine you like best or that you would use with mimosas and it will work well. If you want to learn a little more about sparkling wine styles, check out this page by Wine Folly, or this one by Tasting Tables.
Why this Pairing Works
This pairing works so well in a few different ways. First off, the syrup made for the pancakes is used in the syrup for the cocktail. Win-Win. Make one syrup for both the drink and the food? Makes everything so much easier. I will say, if you do this make extra syrup. It is delicious and some people like a lot of syrup in their cocktails.
Next, the syrup adds raspberry flavor and sugar that sweetens the champagne. This is necessary so that the drink can compete with the sweet waffles. Without the added sugar the champagne will likely be a little dry for the pairing. The raspberry syrup also acts as a bridge ingredient to the food, essentially making sure the two pair well together. The raspberry tartness also helps remove some of the earthiness to the matcha. it helps balance off and even cut through bitter; akin to lemon juice on broccoli.
Next the champagne works so well with this for a couple reasons. One, the carbonation ensures that the waffles stay light. The carbonation helps cleanse the palate and remove food build up so nothing lingers too long on the tongue. The acidity in the champagne further helps lighten and lift the pairing. The acidity in champagne blends with the lemon juice and helps cut through the sweetness for balance. Plus champagne and brunch are perfect combination.
Give the Easy Gluten Free and Matcha Waffles a try with this delicious Honey Raspberry Brunch Champagne Cocktail.
Honey Raspberry Champagne Brunch Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 oz Champagne
- 1/2 oz Honey-Raspberry Syrup
Honey-Raspberry Syrup
- 1 cup Frozen Raspberries
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Honey or Maple Syrup
- 1 inch Lemon Peel
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
Honey Raspberry Syrup
- Add the raspberries, water, honey or maple syrup and lemon peel to a pot. Bring to a simmer and then mash the raspberries. Cook for about 5 minutes and then remove from heat.
- If desired, strain with a wire mesh strainer to remove the seeds, making sure to press the raspberries with the back of a spoon to get all the delicious pulp through. Set syrup aside to cool.
Making the Cocktail
- Add the Honey Raspberry Syrup to a champagne glass and top with champagne or sparkling wine. Serve with a lemon twist.
