Learn how to make the BEST Cranberry Mimosas!
This delicious, easy Champagne Cocktail recipe is super festive and only takes five minutes to make ... perfect for a holiday brunch, winter get together, or a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's party!
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I love fancy cocktails, especially around the holidays. But sometimes when you're hosting a party and juggling lots of details, what you really need is a basic drink.
And that's why you're going to love this Cranberry Mimosa recipe ... it's the best of both worlds!
You only need two ingredients and five minutes to make this tasty drink, yet it's bubbly, vibrant, and feels special. This simple Cranberry Cocktail is the perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors that will have you going back for seconds (or thirds).
It's easy to customize, too! You can turn it into a sweeter (or less sweet) drink without any tricky calculations, or even a mocktail. Perfect for serving any guest, no matter how picky (ha).
Ready to start sipping? Keep reading for all the fun details!
Ingredients
This colorful Holiday Mimosa couldn't be simpler to make. Here's what you'll need:
- Champagne or Sparkling Wine - Make sure to choose a dry champagne for this recipe (look for "Brut" or "Extra-Dry" on the label), otherwise it will be too sweet. And because you're mixing it with another ingredient, don't waste an expensive bottle. More affordable sparkling wines, such as Prosecco, Crémant, or Cava will work just as well. I used Domaine Ste. Michele Brut, a sparkling wine, and it was great.
- Cranberry Juice - You'll want to use sweetened juice for this recipe, otherwise it will be way too tart. I prefer to use Ocean Spray 100% Juice Cranberry Juice. If you do happen to buy unsweetened juice by mistake, all is not lost. Just add a splash or two of simple syrup.
Tip: Make sure to chill your juice and wine ahead of time for this Christmas Mimosa ... there's nothing worse than a warm cocktail!
You'll Also Need
To make the drink, you'll also need a jigger to measure the ingredients, as well as champagne flutes. These inexpensive flutes, which I used here, are great for parties ... they're sturdy, affordable, and you won't be too heartbroken if one breaks!
How to Make Cranberry Mimosas
This is pretty much the easiest Cranberry Cocktail you'll ever make! You'll find a printable recipe at the end of this article with all the correct proportions, but here's a quick overview:
- Add chilled cranberry juice to glass.
- Top off with cold champagne.
- Add a simple garnish. (More tips on that below.)
Et voilà ... that's all there is to it! Of course there are many ways to add your personal twist to this Champagne and Cranberry Juice Cocktail, and you'll find some easy recipe variations below.
Tip: I recommend using a jigger to measure the ingredients for your first few drinks. Once you get a hang of the proportions though, feel free to eyeball it!
Garnish
This drink is beautiful and sparkling all on its own, but a simple garnish adds the perfect finishing touch!
- Drop in a few fresh cranberries. You could even freeze some cranberries ahead of time, if you wish (they'll keep the drink cool for slow sippers). Tip: Raw cranberries are very bitter, so advise your guests not eat them!
- Garnish with sugared cranberries. To make these sparkly treats, mix 12-ounces fresh cranberries with hot simple syrup (cut the recipe in half) to coat. Transfer to a wire rack and let dry for one hour. Then roll in one cup sugar. Thread a few of these shimmery berries on a toothpick, then balance on the drink rim.
- Add an orange twist. Cranberries and oranges are a match made in heaven! To make this garnish, slice a thin piece of peel from an orange (remove the white pith), then twist over your drink to express the oil and drop into the flute.
- Make a cranberry-rosemary garnish. So pretty and festive! Take a small rosemary sprig and remove the leaves from the lower half. Cut a tiny "x" on the stem end of the cranberries, then carefully push onto the rosemary stem. One caveat if you plan to do this: buy LOTS of rosemary (or inspect closely at the store)! I wasn't able to use most of the rosemary I bought because the stems were too thick.
- Give the flutes a sugar rim. A sparkly rim will make your drinks feel extra fancy. To make it, dip the rim in small bowl of water (or run a wedge of lemon, lime, or orange around it), then dip in a shallow bowl of sugar.
Variations
Now that you've mastered the basic recipe, have fun experimenting a little with these easy ideas!
- Cranberry Orange Mimosas - A splash of orange adds an extra flavor dimension to this simple drink. To make, combine either 1 ½ ounces each cranberry and orange juice, plus 3 ounces champagne, OR 2 ½ ounces cranberry juice, ½ ounce orange liqueur, (such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau), and 4 ounces champagne.
- White Cranberry Mimosas - This drink, which is clear, is sometimes referred to as a White Christmas. To make it, replace the classic red juice with White Cranberry Juice. Bonus: no need to worry about spills at your party!
- Mocktail - Turning this drink into a mocktail that anyone can enjoy is easy! Simply replace the champagne with sparkling water or club soda.
- Less Sweet - Cut back on the sweetness of this drink, by using 1 to 1 ½-ounces of cranberry juice.
- Sweeter - To make a sweeter cocktail (that also has less alcohol), use equal proportions of juice and champagne (three ounces each).
Mimosas for a Crowd
Cranberry Mimosas are quick and easy to make for a crowd. What you don't want to do is combine the ingredients ahead of time. Your champagne will go flat.
Instead, line up your flutes, then prepare the drinks assembly line style. Add the juice first, then top off each glass with sparkling wine. To make things even easier, measure the ingredients for the first drink, then use that glass as a guide for the other cocktails.
Serving Suggestions
Mimosas are typically considered a brunch drink, however you can enjoy this winter version morning, noon, and night. It's perfect for cocktail parties and holiday get togethers (like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's) where you need an easy, crowd-pleasing cocktail!
Pair this easy Champagne Cocktail with a delicious appetizer, like Cream Cheese Dip, Cheese Truffles, or Baked Brie, and you have a party! Or serve it Christmas morning alongside your favorite breakfast and brunch recipes for a relaxed brunch.
Related Recipes
Looking for more cheery holiday drink ideas? Try one of these recipes next:
- Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Raspberry French 75
- Chambord and Champagne (Kir Impérial)
- French Martini
- Raspberry Bellini
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Curious to learn more? Check out these frequently asked questions!
Sweetened cranberry juice is best for Mimosas ... unsweetened juice will be too tart. I prefer this Ocean Spray 100% Juice Cranberry Juice.
A dry Champagne (look for "brut" or "extra-dry" on the label), or a sparkling wine, such as Prosecco, Crémant, or Cava, is best for Mimosas.
Mimosas are a great lower-alcohol drink when enjoyed in moderation. Most Mimosas are made with a 1:1 proportion of juice to wine, or in this case 1:2, which makes them much less strong than the wine you use to prepare them.
Pair Mimosas with breakfast and brunch food earlier in the day, or with your favorite snacks and appetizers for a cocktail party. Salty foods, such as chips or popcorn, pair well with champagne.
While the typical orange juice Mimosa is best served at brunch, other flavors (such as this Cranberry Mimosa) can be enjoyed at anytime of day.
A Mimosa is a classic cocktail that's traditionally made with equal parts orange juice and champagne (or sparkling wine). However, you can make the drink with other types of juice and vary the proportions to taste.
While both are made with champagne or sparkling wine, Mimosas are prepared with orange juice, and Bellinis are made with peach puree. Because this seasonal drink is made with a different kind of juice, it really doesn't matter whether you call it a Cranberry Bellini or Mimosa.
Cranberry Mimosas
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces dry champagne (or sparkling wine)
- fresh cranberries for garnish (optional)
Equipment
- Champagne Glass
Instructions
- Add cranberry juice to glass, then top off with champagne.
- Garnish with a few cranberries, if desired.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you'd like a quick overview of the steps, this recipe is also available as a web story!
