Classic Mimosas

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 a stellar pairing with the best brunch recipes.

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 this mimosa beverage recipe. But here’s a pro tip: Save your good champagne for special occasions and reach for a decent cheap champagne for this mimosa recipe—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 your mimosas 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 a traditional method sparkling wine like champagne, Cava or Cremant with the label dry, demi-sec or doux (the sweetest level).

Classic Mimosa Ingredients

• Sparkling wine: Bubbles serve as the base for your mimosa. 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!
• Orange slice: A slice of orange or an orange twist is optional but serves as a simple garnish to jazz up your mimosa.

Directions

Step 1: Pour the orange juice

Pour the orange juice into a champagne flute or wine glass.

Step 2: Top with champagne

Gently top it with the champagne. Garnish with an orange slice if desired.

Classic Mimosa Variations

• Use different juices: Ruby red grapefruit, cranberry, pomegranate, grape, pineapple, blood orange or mango juice can be used instead of orange juice. Combining juices yields fantastic results, too, as you’ll find in this cranberry orange mimosa recipe.
• Add more alcohol: Pour a splash of vodka, tequila, gin or white rum into your mimosa. 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 or rosemary, or leaves of lemon balm or basil, make unusual but elegant garnishes that lend a hint of flavor to your mimosas.
• Make nonalcoholic mimosas: For a booze-free option, make your mimosas into a mocktail recipe. Replace the champagne with a sparkling juice like apple or grape juice.

Can you make mimosas ahead of time?

You can technically mix your mimosas in advance, but the fizz will fade—and along with the taste, the bubbles 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 fill it with 3 cups of orange juice. Slowly pour one standard 750ml bottle of sparkling wine on top, gently stir it all together, then pop the pitcher in the fridge until you’re ready to start pouring.

Classic 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, our best mimosa recipe will go beautifully with all your favorite brunch and mid-morning fare. Richer brunch dishes like Monte Cristos or a 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 also delicate enough for dishes like smoked salmon and eggs. Mimosas that skew toward 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.