When we think of boozy brunch beverages, there’s one cocktail that leaps to mind ahead of the rest: the mimosa. Made with sparkling wine and orange juice, mimosas are deliciously fresh with the perfect level of zest and zing to make them stellar pairings with the best brunch recipes. Plus, the classic mimosa recipes can be customized in many different ways, so the drink never grows boring. Experiment with various fruit juices and liqueurs, or say nay to the booze and mix up mocktails. There are plenty of options to help make brunch a resounding success.
What sparkling wine should you use for mimosas?
Just about any sparkling wine works for mimosas. But, here’s a pro tip: Save your good champagne for special occasions, and reach for a decent cheap champagne because the OJ will stifle the nuances of the bottled bubbles. Beyond that, the best sparkling wine for mimosas depends on your taste preferences. If you like them not so sweet, look for bubbles labeled brut nature, brut or semi-dry (which has a touch of sweetness). For a sweet mimosa, try prosecco or look for traditional method sparkling wine like Champagne, Cava and Cremant with the labels dry, demi-sec or doux (the sweetest level).
Mimosa Ingredients
- Sparkling wine: Bubbles serve as the base for your mimosas. Whether you opt for champagne or sparkling wine, sweet or not-so-sweet, this is the starting point.
- Orange juice: The sweet zesty flavor from freshly squeezed orange juice beats store-bought any day of the week, but a few orange juice brands come pretty close. Choose one with pulp or without—it’s all about what you like best!
- Triple Sec: Whether it’s Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier, orange liqueur is used in everything from margaritas to orange desserts. Although it’s not required to make mimosas, a splash of Triple Sec brings a sweet, citrusy flavor that complements and enhances the orange juice.
- Orange slice: A slice of orange or an orange twist is also optional, but serves as a simple garnish to jazz up your mimosas.
Directions
Step 1: Pour the champagne
Slowly pour the sparkling wine into a champagne flute or wine glass.
Step 2: Add the Triple Sec and orange juice
Gently pour the Triple Sec and orange juice into the glass. Garnish with an orange slice if desired.
Mimosa Variations
- Make mimosas without Triple Sec: Leave out the Triple Sec altogether, or substitute it for another orange liqueur like Grand Marnier, which has a richer, more intense orange flavor.
- Try other liqueurs: Liqueurs like Chambord (raspberry), Licor 43 (vanilla), St. Germain (elderflower) or Chinola (passion fruit) can play the same role as Triple Sec while adding another dimension to your mimosas.
- Use different juices: Ruby red grapefruit, cranberry, pomegranate, grape, blood orange or mango juice can be used instead of orange juice. Combining juices yields fantastic results too, like you’ll find in this cranberry orange mimosa recipe.
- Add more alcohol: Pour in a splash of vodka, tequila, gin or white rum to your mimosas. About 1/2 ounce will do the trick.
- Change up the garnishes: Fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries make attractive (and delicious) garnishes. Stalks of fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or leaves of lemon balm or basil make unusual but elegant garnishes that lend a hint of their flavor to your mimosas.
- Make nonalcoholic mimosas: For a booze-free option, make your mimosas into a mocktail recipe. Swap out the champagne for a sparkling juice like apple or grape and omit the Triple Sec.
Can you make mimosas ahead of time?
You can technically mix up your mimosas in advance, but the fizz will fade—and along with the taste, the bubbles that are part of the appeal of mimosas. If you want to serve the fizziest, most bubbly mimosas, they should be made right before serving. Thankfully, mixing mimosas is a breeze. If you’re hosting a crowd, you can set up a mimosa bar so folks can make and customize their own mimosas.
If there’s no escaping the need to batch mimosas, grab a large pitcher and slowly fill it with one standard 750ml bottle of sparkling wine. Gently stir in 3 cups of orange juice and 3/4 cup Triple Sec, then pop the pitcher in the fridge until you’re ready to start pouring.
Mimosa Tips
How do you make mimosas for a crowd?
Batch cocktails take the hassle out of entertaining a group, but you can also set up a mimosa bar. If you want everything ready to go as soon as your first guests walk through your door, prepare as many pitchers as you need. If you’re wondering, how much champagne do you need for mimosas? The general rule is one bottle of champagne per every three people, figuring folks will probably want a refill or two.
What else can you serve with mimosas?
As the ultimate brunch cocktail, mimosas go beautifully with all your favorite brunch and mid-morning fare. Richer brunch dishes like Monte Cristos or quiche Lorraine go brilliantly with mimosas. The bright orange flavor and vibrant acidity from both the OJ and sparkling wine cut through the fattier ingredients like ham, cheese and cream, refreshing your palate between each bite.
But the flavor in this classic champagne cocktail is delicate enough for dishes like smoked salmon and eggs. Mimosas that skew towards the sweet side of the spectrum are stellar with salt and spice. The sweetness tempers the heat and salt in recipes like prosciutto frittatas, spicy chorizo and eggs ranchero or a spicy egg bake.
