Looking for a festive Christmas cocktail? This 5-minute bubbly Cranberry Orange Mimosa features winter holiday flavors and is topped with candied rosemary, a twist of lemon zest, fresh cranberries, and a zesty sugar rim.
christmas morning mimosa
This winter cocktail will elevate your Christmas morning brunch and pairs beautifully with breakfast classics like Sweet Potato Frittata, our wildly popular Blueberry Lemon Bread with Lemon Glaze, and our fan-favorite Ham and Broccoli Frittata. It also pairs perfectly with our new savory breakfast puff pastry egg tart with prosciutto and asparagus. And – drumroll – I’ll soon be sharing a full Christmas breakfast that’s incredibly easy to put together. The best part? These Christmas cranberry mimosas can be made in bulk ahead of time. Whisk together the cranberry juice, Cointreau, and bitters, chill, and top with the whipped mixture just before serving, then garnish with any festive additions.
Why we love Christmas Cranberry Mimosa
Naturally bright and balanced, no heavy syrups needed. Enjoy winter flavors with every sip. Tart 100% cranberry, zesty orange (Cointreau + bitters), and refreshing bubbles. Easy to make: Batch the cranberry and Cointreau base, chill, and serve topped with Champagne or Prosecco. Perfect for entertaining and entertaining. Festive garnishes (sugar rosemary, orange twist, fresh cranberries) with minimal effort and restaurant quality. The perfect holiday cocktail for Christmas morning brunch or New Year’s Eve toasts – light, colorful, sparkly and a crowd-pleaser.
Main ingredients needed and why
Cointreau. You can use any orange liqueur such as triple sec, but I love Cointreau because of its higher quality. orange bitters. I also experimented with adding orange bitters. This took this mimosa to a whole other level. The aromatic aroma enhances cocktails and adds to the holiday spirit. Added with bitters, this cocktail leans more decidedly toward a sparkling aperitif than a brunch mimosa. If you don’t have it, please skip. Or express a small strip of orange peel on the glass. Champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine. If you want the best mimosa experience, use champagne. The dry flavor balances the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of Cointreau for a clean and elegant finish. You can use prosecco instead, but it will make the mimosa softer and more fruit-forward. Or use your favorite dry sparkling wine. 100% cranberry juice is a must, not cocktail blends or juice mixes with too many sweeteners or other concoctions. Pure cranberries give this cocktail a deep color and refreshing acidity. You can also change the base juice. Try pomegranate juice or blood orange juice instead.
How to make Christmas mimosas
Start by preparing garnishes like candied rosemary, a twist of orange, and fresh cranberries for easy assembly. Make the tangy sugar rim: In a small dish, mix together the granulated sugar and some fresh orange zest. Place an orange wedge on the rim of the glass. Then dip the edges in the tangy sugar and gently twist to coat evenly. Lift, remove excess, and let stand for 1 minute while preparing the cocktail. To make the cocktail, add Cointreau, 100% cranberry juice, and a few dashes of orange bitters to a prepared rimmed glass. Stir briefly with a cocktail spoon and top with chilled Champagne or Prosecco (pour over the side to preserve foam). Add decorations. Cranberry Mimosa is topped with candied rosemary, orange twists, and cranberries. Serve immediately. cheers!
Orange liqueur perfect for cranberry mimosa
I used Cointreau (1/2 oz). I like the bright orange flavor of Cointreau. You can sub in Triple Sec (sweeter), Grand Marnier (richer, Cognac-based), or Orange Curacao. For zero proof: Use non-alcoholic orange aperitif or 1/2 ounce orange syrup.
The perfect foam for mimosas
Dry sparkling wines such as Champagne or Prosecco are recommended. I prefer Brut Champagne for its cleanest, most elegant flavors. Its dryness balances the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of Cointreau. Prosecco makes mimosas softer and more fruit-forward, so I like it for brunch, but I don’t like the overly sweet style. Kava is a budget-friendly option. For mocktails, we recommend chilled sparkling cider or non-alcoholic prosecco.
tips for success
Chill everything well. Delicious Christmas mimosas are supposed to be ice cold, so chill your champagne and juices beforehand. For a crisper finish, chill the glass as well. If you’re drinking with a group, mix cranberry juice and Cointreau in a pitcher and pour individual glasses of chilled champagne.
Other cocktails
If you’re like me and have already planned your holiday cocktail menu, this colorful Christmas cranberry mimosa will become your new winter go-to cocktail. It’s sparkly, simple, and packed with winter flavor and color. If you like creative drinks, you might also like my other cocktails.
Blood Orange Margarita Passion Fruit Margarita Cucumber Gimlet Strawberry Mocktail
christmas cranberry mimosa
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material
For cocktails
1/2 ounce Cointreau or triple sec3 ounce cranberry juice3 dash orange bitters option3 ounce Champagne Or top up with proseccofresh cranberries decorate
For candied rosemary
1/2 cup water1 cup Granulated sugar (garnish)sprig of rosemary
About the orange twist
thin strips of orange peel
On the edges of the candied
small orange wedgehalf a small orange peel1/4 cup Granulated sugar (garnish)
Instructions
Make candied rosemary.
Add an orange twist.
Create a sugar-dusted edge.
Make a cocktail:
Precautions
If your cranberry juice is unsweetened, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon simple syrup per glass. If it’s too sweet, skip it. Scrape the outside of the rim of the glass with an orange wedge so that the sugar sticks to the drink instead of falling into it. Can I make it in large quantities? yes. Combine cranberry juice, Cointreau, and bitters in a pitcher and chill for up to 24 hours. When ready, pour 3 to 4 ounces of base into each glass and top with 2 to 3 ounces of chilled foam to keep it effervescent. Can I omit the orange bitters? absolutely. They add complexity, but the drink works without them. The fresh orange twist presented throughout the glass is a great alternative. Note: Calorie calculations do not include garnishes or sugar rims.
nutrition
Christmas Morning What is Christmas morning without mimosas? With its bright, tart fruitiness and gorgeous ruby red color, this very festive cocktail is the perfect start to your special day. Please give this recipe a try and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I wish you a happy holiday and a Merry Christmas. Julia.
