How to make the BEST Mimosa (with tips and variations)!

This post was updated on April 22, 2020 by Jesseca

 This classic mimosa recipe is a simple bubbly cocktail that is perfect to serve with breakfast or brunch! Read on for my best tips and recipe variations! 

I had my first mimosa years ago when my husband took me out on a surprise brunch date. We went to a local eatery that served the most incredible breakfast and to our surprise, a mimosa BAR. They had so many ways you could get creative with this easy cocktail, and I immediately fell in LOVE.

We serve mimosas for impromptu breakfast in bed, late brunch with friends, or small parties (think bridal shower). They are only two ingredients, which means they are quick to put together and taste incredible. 

Easy Mimosa Recipe

There are only two ingredients in this recipe; orange juice and champagne. That being said, it is super important to pick quality! 

Mimosa ingredients:

• Orange juice- Fresh squeezed is going to give you the best flavor. That being said, ain’t no body got time for that. We always opt for Simply Orange.
• Champagne- Ok, the nitty gritty… Which champagne is best???? The short answer? It really just depends on what you like. Read below for some more tips on this. 

What kind of champagne is best for mimosas?

A dry champagne is what you will want to reach for if you aren’t sure where to start. Dry champagne is a little less sweet which is ideal when pairing with juices. 

OR you can opt for something a little less expensive and just as delicious like Prosecco. Prosecco is sparkling wine and you can normally pick up a bottle for around $10-$15 dollars. 

How can you make a mimosa without alcohol? 

We have a ten year old who loves brunch. He suggests it on a weekly basis, so when we do decide to whip up something extra special we want him to be included. Here are a few non alcoholic options to replace champagne that we have tried and love:

• Ginger ale 
• Sparkling Cider
• Club Soda
• Sprite
• 7Up

How to make mimosas:

1. Fill a tall glass half full with orange juice. 
2. Fill the remaining way with champagne or sparkling wine. 

Note: Be sure that both ingredients are chilled. Start with a 50/50 ratio and adjust per your taste. 

How to make mimosas for a crowd:

Mixing mimosas for a large group is super simple. You can set up a bar and allow guests to serve themselves or you can prepare a pitcher just before serving. 

1. Fill a pitcher half with orange juice and top with champagne or sparkling wine. 
2. Serve immediately.

Tip: Be sure that the juice and champagne has been chilled. Do not combine the ingredients until you are ready to serve as the carbonation will start to die down the longer the beverage sits. 

Different mimosa variations:

• Swap classic orange juice for orange mango and a dash of grenadine. 
• Use 1 part pineapple juice, dash of coconut milk, and 2 parts sparkling wine for a tropical variation.
• Or 1 part pineapple juice, 2 parts sparkling wine, and sliced strawberries.
• Add fresh fruit to your mimosas like orange slices, strawberries, or raspberries. 
• Cranberry juice is often used in place of orange and is known as a poinsettia cocktail.
• Grapefruit juice can give you a fresh fun flavor. 

Tips for this recipe:

• Use chilled ingredients and serve these cocktails immediately to help keep some of that sparkle from the champagne or sparkling wine. 
• We prefer to pour the juice first, but others swear by pouring the sparkling component in the glass before the juice. Both ways taste good and will work fine. 
• Garnish with your favorite fruit. One of our favorites are sliced oranges or strawberries. 

More cocktail recipes:

• Blackberry Mojito
• Sparkling Holiday Punch
• Strawberry Lemonade Margarita
• Single Serve Sangria

More champagne recipes:

• Champagne Party Punch
• Easy Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
• Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes
• Easy Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette 

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