Mimosa Recipe (Classic + Popular Variations)

Brunch just feels incomplete without a sparkling mimosa in hand. The classic orange juice version is timeless, but this simple cocktail is endlessly flexible. Try it with apple cider, cranberry, or pineapple juice for an equally delicious champagne cocktail. With only two ingredients and a quick pour, you can create a bright, bubbly drink that feels festive enough for brunch and holidays yet effortless enough for a slow Sunday morning. Whether you’re hosting friends or setting up a DIY mimosa bar, this easy mimosa recipe with flavor variations makes it simple to serve something that feels both classic and a little unexpected.

As I write this post, it is February. The weather is cool and often wet here in the Pacific Northwest, but today is bright and sunny🌞! It is a reminder that spring is just around the corner, and with spring comes Brunch Season. I am busy in my kitchen cooking up all my favorite brunch dishes to share with you. But I can’t leave you hanging on food alone, I have to throw in a few great brunch cocktails as well. Enter the mimosa. And if you are looking for other cocktails that are right at home on the brunch menu, you have my Paloma Cocktail, Limoncello Spritz, and Bloody Mary too.

What is the best champagne for Mimosas?

The best champagne for mimosas is a dry sparkling wine labeled Brut or Extra Brut. Since orange juice adds sweetness, a dry wine keeps the drink balanced. You don’t need an expensive bottle, a mid-range Champagne or Prosecco works perfectly for a mimosa recipe.

But, if this is last minute, the best one is the one you have chilling in your fridge right now.

What’s the Difference between Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines?

Sparkling Wine is the general category for wines that contain bubbles. In order to be called champagne the grapes need to be grown and the wine made in the Champagne region of France. It is also fermented twice (which many sparkling wines aren’t), and it has a minimum time frame for maturation after the 2nd fermentation (which is much longer than most other sparkling wines). This attention is thought to produce finer bubbles and develop better character in champagne over other sparkling wines. If you want to learn more about the process of making champagne you can read about it on the Champagne France website.

I have chosen to use prosecco in this recipe. Prosecco is sparkling wine from Italy. Many countries have their own versions: Spain – cava, Germany/Austria – sekt, South Africa – cap classique, Portugal – espumante, USA – sparkling wine etc. Pick your favorite. If you are doing a mimosa bar, you could choose a few different sparkling wines from different countries to taste and compare.

How To Set Up a Mimosa Bar

If you are thinking of hosting an Easter Brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch, Bridal Shower, or just having friends over, mimosas are sure to be a hit. Orange juice is the classic flavor, but you could set up a mimosa bar for your guests to help themselves. Start by having a few cold carafes of different juices. Keep them in the fridge until guests arrive. It’s a good idea to label your juices, so there is no confusion for your guests.

Set out one bottle of sparkling wine at at time, in a wine bucket with ice when guests arrive (keep the rest in the fridge so they stay cold until needed).

On the table next to the juices have a few bowls of garnishes ready to go for your guests, orange, apple, pineapple wedges, and fresh cranberries. Cut a small slit in your fruit wedges ahead of time so your guests can slip them on to the edge of their glass. If doing apple cider mimosas with rimmed glasses you could pre-rim a few glasses for your guests.

Why You Will Love This Mimosa Recipe

• Perfectly balanced and bubbly. The classic orange juice mimosa has the ideal ratio of juice to sparkling wine – light, crisp, and never overly sweet.
• Four easy flavor variations. Switch things up with apple cider, cranberry, or pineapple for a seasonal twist without changing the base recipe.
• Only two ingredients. No fancy tools or complicated steps – just pour, and serve.
• Ideal for brunch or holidays. This mimosa recipe works beautifully for Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas morning, or any relaxed weekend gathering.
• Easy to scale for a crowd. Hosting? Turn it into a simple mimosa bar and let guests choose their favorite flavor.
• Beginner-friendly cocktail. If you’re new to making drinks at home, this is one of the easiest cocktails to master.
• Light and refreshing. Crisp citrus and sparkling wine create a drink that feels festive but not heavy.

Equipment Needed For This Mimosa Recipe

Disclosure: as an Amazon affiliate, I receive a small amount of compensation from qualifying purchases at no expense to you. This helps support my work and allows me to bring more yummy recipes your way.

• Champagne flutes or coupes
• Citrus Juicer – for making freshly squeezed orange juice (optional)

Ingredients in a Mimosa Cocktail

• Juice of your choice
• Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine – as discussed earlier, a clean dry sparkling wine is perfect. It adds the fizz and fuzzy feelings.

Juice – mimosas can be made with pretty much any juice you love. Freshly squeezed is best, but a good quality store bought juice will also work. The classic is freshly squeezed orange juice, but I show you how to also use, apple cider, pineapple, and cranberry juice as well.

How To Make a Mimosa

exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom

Classic Orange Mimosa Recipe

Gently pour the champagne/sparkling wine into the champagne flute. Gently top up with freshly squeezed orange juice (pulp removed if you want). Garnish with an orange wedge if you desire and serve.

You can give it a gentle stir, but the act of pouring often mixes the cocktail up enough. Don’t stir too hard or you will lose some of your bubbles.

Cider Mimosa Recipe

Apple cider mimosas are often rimmed with sugar and cinnamon. This is the only mimosa in this post that rims the glass. As a note, in North America apple cider is an unfiltered apple juice, not the alcoholic version that Europeans are used to.

Add a couple tablespoons of coarse sugar to a plate and about 1/8th of a teaspoon of cinnamon. You just want a hint of cinnamon as it is a very strong spice.

Moisten a champagne flute with a lemon or lime wedge then dip the cup into the cinnamon sugar. You might need to wiggle it around a bit to help the sugar attach to the rim.

Pour the sparkling wine gently into the champagne flute being careful to not disturb the sugar rim. Top up gently with the apple cider. You can garnish with an apple slice if you want. Serve and enjoy.

Pineapple Mimosa Recipe

Pour the sparkling wine gently into the champagne flute. Top up with pineapple juice – go slow as pineapple juice tends to fizz up more than orange juice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge if you desire and serve.

You can give it a gentle stir, but the act of pouring often mixes the cocktail up enough. Don’t stir too hard or you will lose some of your bubbles.

Cranberry Mimosa aka Poinsettia Cocktail

Pour the sparkling wine gently into the champagne flute. Top up with cranberry cocktail (don’t use pure 100% cranberry juice – it will be too tart) into the champagne flute. Garnish with a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary if you desire and serve.

You can give it a gentle stir, but the act of pouring often mixes the cocktail up enough. Don’t stir too hard or you will lose some of your bubbles.

What to Serve with Mimosas

Mimosas are most at home with dishes served at brunch. Think savory dishes like eggs benedict, and Quiche, or sweeter fare like buttermilk pancakes, Brioche French Toast Casserole, crepes, fruit salad, or a Peach Burrata Salad.

Other cocktails you might want to try are: Blue Margarita, Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita, and Limoncello Spritz.

Pro Tips with this Mimosa Recipe

1. Pour the sparkling wine first into the champagne flute while tilting the flute, then add the juice. This allows the least amount of carbon dioxide release (keeps it fizzy). If you add sparkling wine to a thick sweet juice it can lead to excessive foaming which in turn leads to your drink going flatter sooner. In my photos I added the sparkling wine 2nd only because it makes for a nicer photo.
2. Freshly squeezed juices almost always make the best drinks. But a good quality store bought juice works great too.
3. In the cranberry mimosa some people like to add a splash of orange juice. Up to you. I didn’t add any to mine.
4. In North America apple cider more often refers to an unfiltered apple juice, not the alcoholic version that Europeans call apple cider.

FAQs

What is the best ratio for a mimosa?

The classic mimosa ratio is 1:1 – equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice. For a fizzer mimosa, use two parts sparkling wine to one part juice. If you prefer a slightly sweeter drink, increase the juice slightly.

What is the best champagne for a mimosa?

The best champagne for mimosas is a dry sparkling wine labeled Brut or Extra Brut. Since orange juice adds sweetness, a dry wine keeps the drink balanced. You don’t need an expensive bottle, a mid-range Champagne or Prosecco works perfectly for a mimosa recipe.

How many mimosas can you make with one bottle?

A standard 750ml bottle of sparkling wine makes about 6 to 8 mimosas, depending on the pour size and ratio. Using a classic 1:1 mimosa recipe, you can expect about 7 servings per bottle.

Can I make mimosas ahead of time?

It’s best to mix mimosas just before serving. If made too far in advance, the sparkling wine will lose its carbonation.

Follow Me On Social Media

• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• YouTube

If You Liked This Mimosa Recipe…

If you liked this recipe, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below – I love to hear how people get on with my recipes and I truly make an effort to respond to everyone who takes the time to comment. For other great cocktail ideas check out my

Paloma Cocktail	Limoncello Spritz	Blue Margarita	Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita