by Holly
This Easy Mimosa Recipe is the ideal cocktail to serve with a holiday brunch or at any time of the year. Champagne and orange juice blend perfectly to create this chilly sparkling beverage that everyone loves!
Mimosas are a nice light cocktail to enjoy earlier in the day or for special occasions. There’s nothing like a bottomless pitcher of Mimosas on a lunch bar! They can easily be adapted, like this Raspberry Mimosa. Or try making apple cider mimosas, pomegranate, or grapefruit juice mimosas with Prosecco. The possibilities for ingredients are endless!
What Is A Mimosa?
What exactly is a mimosa anyway? Named for the yellow flower of the mimosa plant, it’s thought that this drink originated in Spain, where valencia oranges and cava sparkling wines have been enjoyed together for centuries.
A traditional mimosa recipe is made with equal parts orange juice and champagne. Similar drinks include the “Buck’s Fizz” and the “Bellini” which are just have different ratios of juice to wine… and sometimes an added ingredient or two.
What’s in a Mimosa?
Just two ingredients in a mimosa recipe; champagne or sparkling wine and orange juice.
1. Champagne For Mimosas
Besides a mimosa recipe to tell you the perfect proportions, it’s important to have good ingredients. Because it’s mixed with juice, you won’t have to spend a fortune, though. That’s one of the great things about mimosas! Use a good sparkling wine instead of Dom Perignon!
You can definitely use Prosecco for mimosas. It tends to be sweeter than French champagne, but it still blends well with juices, and it’s a lot less expensive, in general.
2. Orange Juice
Use any kind of oj you’d like. Since this will be the main flavor of your cocktail, it’s best to choose one that is fresh and a good quality. I prefer no pulp in my mimosas, of course if you have only juice with pulp it will work too!
Variations
Orange Juice Swap it out for any type of juice; cranberry, pineapple, grapefruit or pomegranate juices are great.
Champagne Use champagne if you’d like or a less expensive sparkling wine. Try to choose something that’s not too sweet.
Fruit Add frozen fruit to keep your mimosa chilled and add extra flavor. Cranberries, peaches or berries are great.
Garnish Garnish with fresh orange slices or herbs (like thyme) for a pretty presentation.
How To Make Mimosas
By the Glass
There are just a few tips and tricks to making the perfect mimosa! If time allows, I like to start by putting the champagne flutes in the freezer. (Trust me, this makes all the difference!)
- Pour champagne or sparkling wine into the chilled glass.
- Add juice to the glasses. Do not add ice, this will melt and make your cocktail watery.
A true mimosa has a 50/50 ratio of champagne and orange juice. I personally prefer 2/3 champagne and 1/3 orange juice so play around with the ratios until you find it to your liking.
To Make a Pitcher of Mimosas
Combine 3 cups of orange juice with 1 bottle of champagne or sparkling wine.
More Easy Brunch Cocktails
- Raspberry Mimosa – or mocktails
- Easy White Sangria – deliciously refreshing!
- Mango Margaritas – tart, sweet, & easy to customize
- Fresh Watermelon Mojitos – sweet and juicy with a little bit of tang!
- Sunny Orange Margarita– tart and refreshing!
Mimosas
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail
Course Beverage
Cuisine AmericanIngredients
- 2 ounces juice
- 2 ounces champagne or sparkling wine
Instructions
- Combine juice and champagne in a chilled champagne flute.
- Garnish as desired and serve.
