Mimosa Recipe (Classic + Apple Cider, Cranberry, and Pineapple 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, these easy flavor variations make it simple to serve something that feels both classic and a little unexpected.
Equipment
- Champagne Flutes
- Citrus Juicer
Ingredients
Classic Orange Mimosa
- 3 oz Sparkling Wine
- 3 oz Orange Juice, freshly squeezed (pulp removed if you want)
Cider Mimosa
- 3 oz Sparkling Wine
- 3 oz Apple Cider
- 2 tbsp Coarse sugar (for rim) optional
- ⅛ tsp Ground cinnamon (for rim) optional
Pineapple Mimosa
- 3 oz Sparkling wine
- 3 oz Pineapple juice
Cranberry Mimosa aka Poinsettia Cocktail
- 3 oz Sparkling wine
- 3 oz Cranberry cocktail juice
Instructions
Classic Orange Mimosa
- Pour the sparkling wine into the champagne flute. Top up with freshly squeezed orange juice.3 oz Sparkling Wine, 3 oz Orange Juice, freshly squeezed
- Garnish with an orange wedge if you desire and serve.
Apple Cider Mimosa
- Apple cider mimosas are often rimmed with sugar and cinnamon. Add a couple tablespoons of coarse sugar to a plate and about 1/8th of a teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Moisten the rim of a champagne flute with a lemon or lime wedge then dip into the cinnamon sugar.
- Pour the sparkling wine into the flute being careful to not disturb the sugar rim. Top up with the apple cider.3 oz Sparkling Wine, 3 oz Apple Cider
- You can garnish with an apple slice if you want. Serve and enjoy.
Pineapple Mimosa
- Pour the sparkling wine into the champagne flute. Top up with pineapple juice - go slow as pineapple juice tends to fizz up.3 oz Sparkling wine, 3 oz Pineapple juice
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge if you desire and serve.
Cranberry Mimosa (aka Poinsettia Cocktail)
- Pour the sparkling wine 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.3 oz Sparkling wine, 3 oz Cranberry cocktail juice
- Garnish with a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary if you desire and serve.
Notes
- 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.
- Freshly squeezed juices almost always make the best drinks. But a good quality store bought juice works great too.
- In the cranberry mimosa some people like to add a splash of orange juice. Up to you. I didn't add any to mine.
- In North America apple cider more often refers to an unfiltered apple juice, not the alcoholic version that Europeans call apple cider.