Brunch just got a whole lot bubblier! I’m sharing all of my tips for crafting the perfect mimosa, from choosing the best sparkling wines to freezing your orange juice for an extra refreshing twist. Get ready to elevate your brunch game and impress your guests with every sparkling sip!
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Nothing says “brunch” quite like a classic mimosa. And this sparkling cocktail is as simple as it gets—just champagne and orange juice. While the classic combo is always a crowd-pleaser, there are endless fun and creative ways to put a spin on it. You can use any type of juice you prefer, add festive garnishes, or even freeze the juice into ice cubes for an extra-cold glass of bubbly.
So, grab your Champagne flute and get ready to sip and celebrate in style with all of my tips, tricks, and recommendations for the perfect mimosas!
Classic Mimosa Ingredients
You’ll need just two simple ingredients for this bubbly cocktail:
- Champagne: A mid- to lower-priced option works perfectly well for mimosas since we’re blending it with flavorful fruit juice. Can’t find Champagne? No worries! You can easily substitute it with any dry sparkling wine, cava or prosecco. My favorite is La Marca Prosecco.
- Orange juice: While nothing beats the flavor of freshly squeezed juice, let’s be real—who has the time (or patience) for that? Instead, opt for a pulp-free 100% juice variety, like Florida’s Natural Orange Juice.
Plan Ahead: Want to make your brunch prep a breeze? Pre-measure your ingredients and prep your garnishes beforehand so you can easily assemble your mimosas when it’s time to cheers!
- Grab a bottle of dry Champagne. Sweeter varieties can make the mimosa too sweet, so choose a dry option for the best flavor.
- Skip the pulp! For smooth, bubbly cocktails, choose pulp-free orange juice. If squeezing your own, strain it in advance and chill before mixing.
- Chill everything. I even chill my glasses. Pop your bottle of bubbly into the fridge the night before you plan to indulge, so it’s perfectly chilled when it’s time to pour.
- Aim for a 1:1 ratio of sparkling wine to orange juice. I find this ratio to be the perfect balance of sweetness and bubbly fizziness. Of course, the perfect ratio is up to you! If you prefer less sweetness and more fizz, mix 2 parts sparkling wine with 1 part juice.
- Use a Champagne flute. It’s not just about style, these glasses are designed to preserve carbonation, making your drinks extra bubbly. If you don’t have Champagne flutes, wine glasses are the next best option.
- Pour the sparkling wine into your glass first and tilt it, similar to how you would when pouring beer, to help maintain the carbonation.
How to Make Mimosa Ice Cubes
The most important thing to remember when making this iconic brunch cocktail is to keep it cold. Nobody likes to sip on a warm, flat drink. Enter, fruit juice ice cubes!
Since these fruit juice ice cubes will be the stars of the mimosa show, why not jazz things up with fun and unique ice cube trays? Whether it’s holiday-themed, sports-themed or something completely unexpected, there’s a tray for every occasion. Simply freeze your juice of choice in your mold, then pop a cube into your glass before pouring in the dry sparkling wine.
Kelly’s Note: Steer clear of using regular ol’ ice cubes! They tend to dilute the flavors and can water down your drink. Stick to using juice-infused ice cubes for a burst of fruity flavor that won’t compromise its deliciousness.
- Ombré Mimosas – Up your cocktail game by freezing your juice of choice in a rose ice mold (pictured above). Add a frozen flower to a glass then pop the bubbly and pour! I like making all different flavors for an ombré effect using cranberry juice, orange juice, pink lemonade and regular lemonade.
- Cranberry Mimosa – In this holiday cocktail, you first make cranberry syrup, then add two tablespoons to a flute and finish it off with a healthy amount of bubbly. And don’t forget the sugared cranberry garnish!
- Tropical Mimosa – Substitute pineapple juice for orange juice and garnish with a slice of fresh pineapple for a taste of the tropics.
- Berry-Infused Mimosa – Muddle a few raspberries and blackberries in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 teaspoons sugar syrup and a splash of vanilla vodka. Shake until mixed. Pour into a serving glass and top with sparkling wine.
- Sorbet Mimosa – Add a small scoop of sorbet to your mimosa. Choose flavors such as orange, mango or raspberry for a burst of sweetness.
- Non-Alcoholic Mimosa – Ditch the Champagne and swap in ginger ale or soda water for a refreshing mocktail version.
Sparkling Cocktail Glasses
Before you dash off to the store to grab ingredients for these bubbly drinks, let’s talk about glassware because it truly can elevate your drinking experience. As I mentioned above, champagne flutes are designed for sparkling wine, allowing the bubbles to rise to the surface, keeping your drink fizzy and dry-tasting for longer.
You can go with traditional stemmed glasses or a modern stemless variety. Personally, I love vintage-inspired coupe glasses, which add a touch of timeless charm with their wide, shallow bowls and short stems.
Here are a few of my favorite glasses:
- Traditional Champagne flutes – a timeless choice, perfect for elegant brunches and celebratory toasts.
- Stemless Champagne flutes – their stable base makes them ideal for outdoor gatherings or bustling brunch parties.
- Coupe cocktail glasses – these are ideal when using larger frozen fruit juice cubes.
FAQs
The main thing that sets sparkling wine and Champagne apart is where they come from and how they’re made. Champagne is made only in a special place called the Champagne region in France, using a traditional method called méthode champenoise. On the other hand, sparkling wine is a broader term that includes any bubbly wine made using different methods from all around the world. So, while every Champagne is a type of sparkling wine, not every sparkling wine can be called Champagne.
Mixing the mimosas ahead of time can cause them to lose their effervescence quickly, so it’s best to wait until you’re ready to serve before combining the ingredients.
Feel free to get creative with your sparkling wine cocktail. While pineapple juice and pink lemonade are personal favorites, don’t hesitate to experiment with options like cranberry juice, apple juice, peach nectar, mango juice or even grapefruit juice. The possibilities are endless, so pick your favorite juice and give it a try.
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Ingredients
- 1 (750-ml.) bottle of dry Champagne or sparkling wine (chilled)
- 2 to 4 cups pulp-free orange juice
Instructions
- Before you begin, make sure your sparkling wine and orange juice (or juice of your choice) are well chilled. Place them in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight for the best results.
- Start by pouring the chilled sparkling wine into your Champagne flute or glass of choice. Hold the glass at a slight tilt while pouring to preserve the bubbles. Aim to fill the glass about halfway to leave room for the juice.
- Carefully pour the chilled orange juice into the glass, filling it to the top. You can adjust the ratio of sparkling wine to juice based on your personal preference.
- Serve immediately.
Kelly’s Notes
- A mid- to lower-priced option works perfectly well for mimosas since we’re blending it with flavorful fruit juice. Can’t find Champagne? No worries! You can easily substitute it with any dry sparkling wine, cava or prosecco. My favorite is La Marca Prosecco.
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Looks wonderful! How did you make round balls of juice? Should I use an ice cream scoop, putting the frozen juice on waxed paper till frozen? Can’t wait to try the recipe!
BTW – You look so cute in your blue & white dress! Great photo….
Thanks, Frannie! I linked the basketball ice cube mold in the post.
I made these,and they were delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
This will be perfect for my Halloween party on Saturday!
Enjoy!
Great idea!
l love ur recipes
Thanks so much, Chioma!
Easy there Sandra Lee…