This Cranberry Orange Mimosa is an ideal cocktail for winter brunch. Made with cranberry and fresh orange juice topped with chilled champagne, it’s a bright, festive drink to serve at holiday gatherings like Christmas or New Year’s Eve — or any weekend celebration.
Happy Friday, friends! I returned from Europe this week and I’m thrilled to be home for the holidays. I spent the last few days of my trip in Paris with my husband — part magical, part challenging — but plenty of delicious food and drinks made the trip memorable. After all, it’s hard to feel too down in the city that popularized the Mimosa.
Mishaps in Paris – scroll past the next photo for the food
The trip started off lovely. It was great to have some uninterrupted time together after months apart. One evening we decided to walk from Trocadéro back to our Airbnb. Dusk had a beautiful glow and strolling through Paris, sampling pastries and stopping for small bites, felt perfectly romantic. Then the weather turned — rain and wind rolled in and our umbrella broke. We found ourselves stranded in the roundabout near La Grande Roue with no shelter. To make matters worse, my hotspot ran out of data and I couldn’t buy more without Wi‑Fi.
We walked the remaining two miles back in a sideways downpour. We protected the camera and the macarons, but our jackets, hats, and gloves ended soaked through. My boots began to leak and Matt’s shoes were ruined. The Airbnb dryer had broken the week before, so we had to air dry everything. Matt also twisted his ankle, so for the rest of the trip we navigated Paris with damp outerwear and a limp. I’m pretty sure locals thought we were either Nordic or eccentric. Next time I should have bought champagne and settled in with a mimosa to warm up.
But enough travel tales — back to the important stuff: this mimosa recipe. This time of year I crave cranberry flavors. Cranberry and orange are a holiday-perfect pairing that works in savory dishes and cocktails alike.
What Is a Mimosa?
A mimosa is a simple, elegant cocktail of equal parts chilled fruit juice and chilled champagne or sparkling wine. Traditionally it’s made with orange juice, gently stirred (not shaken), and served in a champagne flute.
Where did the Mimosa originate?
The mimosa is often linked to the Hotel Ritz in Paris in the 1920s and attributed to bartender Frank Meier.
Can I Make a Mimosa Non-Alcoholic?
Yes — substitute the champagne with a non‑alcoholic sparkling beverage such as sparkling white grape juice or a commercial alcohol‑free sparkling wine for a similar bubbly effect.
What Kind of Champagne Do You Use?
A dry Brut works well, but you can also use Prosecco, Cava, or any preferred sparkling wine to match your taste and budget.
How many can you make out of a bottle of Champagne?
With a roughly 2:1 ratio of champagne to juice, a standard bottle usually yields about 12 to 16 mimosas depending on glass size.
A key tip: use the freshest juice you can. While pressing cranberries at home is unnecessary, freshly squeezed orange juice plus a quick squeeze of lemon brightens the drink and balances the tart cranberry flavors. A fresh‑made mimosa tastes noticeably better than one made from concentrate.
I hope you’ll try this Cranberry Orange Mimosa at your holiday gatherings this season. It’s bubbly, festive, and easy to make — perfect for sharing with friends and toasting the season.
More Delicious Champagne Recipes:
- Champagne Punch
- Champagne Shirley Temple
- Pomegranate Mimosa
- Frozen Champagne Margaritas
- Raspberry Champagne Slushies
Cranberry Orange Mimosa
Rebecca Hubbell
Cocktail, Drink, Drinks
French
2
2
Servings
1
Ingredients
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce fresh‑squeezed orange juice
- 2 ounces champagne or other sparkling wine
- squeeze of fresh lemon juice
- fresh cranberries garnish
- rosemary sprig garnish
- orange wedge garnish
Instructions
-
In a chilled champagne flute, layer the cranberry juice first, then the fresh‑squeezed orange juice. Top gently with chilled champagne and add a quick squeeze of lemon. Garnish with fresh cranberries, a rosemary sprig, and an orange slice.
Nutrition
|
Carbohydrates: 7g
|
Sodium: 4mg
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Potassium: 106mg
|
Sugar: 6g
|
Vitamin A: 55IU
|
Vitamin C: 16.8mg
|
Iron: 0.2mg
Did You Make This Recipe?
If you try it, share a photo and tag the creator on social media — it’s always fun to see variations and serving ideas.
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