It isn’t a celebration without champagne, and though drinking it all on its own is classic, we’re always fans of mixing things up (literally!) during the holidays in the form of champagne cocktails. One of our favorites? The mimosa. If you’ve never made one from scratch before, a classic mimosa is simply 4 parts champagne and 1 part fresh orange juice. It’s straightforward perfection, which means you’ve got to take care with your ingredients (no one wants a cheap champagne headache on Christmas) AND that they're ripe for improvisation. Check out these 10 spins on the classic that are perfect for toasting with all season long.
Though we’re happy to drink a mimosa any time of day, we do think some recipes lend themselves more to a light and flirty brunch vibe than to a sultry, evening soirée. That said, serve any of these cocktails from morning to night—they’ll turn any occasion into a festive celebration. For the mornings (or early afternoons, who are we kidding?), we like to swap the orange juice for thick pear nectar, bitter grapefruit juice, or sweet-tart pomegranate or cranberry juice. The latter are particularly festive thanks to their bright red hue, so garnish with something green (like rosemary or thyme), and you’ll be good to go. For a cocktail party, we like to take our mimosas over the top with even more elaborate garnishes—though not wholly traditional, a sweetened rim like the one in our peppermint bark mimosa or our apple cider mimosa is always fun. Mimosas are also wonderful for making in batches so you can spend more time enjoying the holiday festivities. Take inspiration from the proportions in our Christmosas, and turn any of these recipes into a punch fit for a crowd.
Not a big champagne fan? We got you too. Check out our top winter and Christmas cocktails for even more boozy holiday fun.
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1
Peppermint Bark Mimosas
These mimosas are just the thing to get you in the holiday spirit! Wanna double up on holiday cheer? Serve with our classic gingerbread for full-on holiday vibes.
Get the Peppermint Bark Mimosas recipe.
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2
Christmosas
So easy. So fruity. So festive! These are THE drink to have in hand all Christmas morning long. Bonus: This recipe makes 8 servings so you can share them with your whole family.
Get the Christmosas recipe.
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3
Cranberry Mimosas
While the classic combo of 4 parts champagne and 1 part fresh orange juice can certainly hold its own, this recipe adds in a fun holiday twist by swapping the orange juice with fresh cranberries, cranberry juice, rosemary, and a hint of lime. Yum!
Get the Cranberry Mimosas recipe.
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4
Classic Mimosa
Mimosas are a classic year-round, but they're extra delightful in winter when citrus is at its peak (you are using fresh juice, right?!). Try making them with aromatic navel oranges, sweet cara cara, or crimson blood oranges for a variety of subtly different flavors and colors.
Get the Classic Mimosa recipe.
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5
Pomegranate Mimosas
A few splashes of sweet-tart pomegranate juice goes a long way with champagne. Complete the look with plenty of pomegranate seeds to make these extra-holiday worthy.
Get the Pomegranate Mimosas recipe.
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6
Cherry Bomb Mimosas
These hot pink stunners are guaranteed to get your holiday party started. Pineapple juice gives them a bit of a tropical vibe, and maraschino cherry juice will remind you of a Shirley Temple (in the best way possible).
Get the Cherry Bomb Mimosas recipe.
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7
Apple Cider Mimosas
This is the perfect, cold weather twist on the classic and gives you another reason to celebrate the season. We especially love the cinnamon-sugar rim!
Get the Apple Cider Mimosas recipe.
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8
Pear Mimosas
On its own, pear nectar can be a little, well, thick. But cut it with 2 parts dry champagne and you're in business.
Get the Pear Mimosas recipe.
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9
Grapefruit Mimosas
If regular orange juice mimosas are a bit too sweet for you, try swapping in the OJ for grapefruit juice. The bitter winter citrus pairs perfectly with bubbly. Make these extra special for the holidays with a light pink sanding sugar rim too!
Get the Grapefruit Mimosas recipe.
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10
Orange Creamsicle Mimosas
You know peaches 'n' cream are a delicious pair, but have you tried orange juice and cream? Together they taste just like a creamsicle. We recommend using fresh squeezed, but bottled will work in a pinch too.
Get the Orange Creamsicle Mimosas recipe.
