Christmas brunch calls for a special kind of mimosa, and my Christmas Mimosa is made with mandarin orange juice, which has a more fruity, concentrated flavor than oranges. Easy to make and stunning to look at, these fizzy Christmas cocktails can be made by the glass or the pitcher. Serve something stunning at your next Christmas brunch and wow everyone!
Mimosas and brunch go hand-in-hand, and these Christmas Mimosas are totally sippable and oh-so-delicious. They’re made with mandarin orange juice, which is fuller flavored than orange juice; you can make your own mandarin orange juice from mandarin oranges, or buy it from a larger grocery store. Grand Marnier and Champagne or Prosecco round out these Christmas cocktails, making them a wee bit boozier than a typical mimosa.
What You’ll Love About Christmas Mimosas
- Christmas Mimosas can be made by the glass or in a pitcher. They’re easy to make but deliciously different.
- The unique combination of mandarin juice and Grand Marnier adds a delightful citrusy zing.
- These mimosas can easily be adapted for non-alcoholic versions, making them enjoyable for everyone.
- You can prep the juice – if making it from scratch – a few days in advance, so all you need to do is mix and serve.
Ingredients
- Mandarin juice – Freshly squeezed for the best flavor; chilled.
- Grand Marnier
- Prosecco – Or Champagne; chilled.
- Mandarin slices – Optional garnish.
- Sugared cranberries – Optional garnish.
How to Make Christmas Mimosas
In a pitcher
- Chill the Prosecco and mandarin juice at least 3 hours ahead of time.
- Combine the mandarin juice and Grand Marnier in the pitcher. Stir well to blend the flavors.
- Slowly pour the chilled Prosecco into the pitcher. Do this gently to keep the bubbly fizz.
- Pour the mimosa into champagne flutes and garnish with a slice of mandarin orange or sugared cranberries.
By the glass
- Add 1 ounce of Grand Marnier to the bottom of a chilled Champagne flute.
- Add 1 ounce of chilled mandarin orange juice to the glass and gently swirl to mix.
- Top up your glass with chilled Champagne or Prosecco.
- Garnish and enjoy!
How to Make Sugared Cranberries
Mix equal parts of white granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook this over medium heat until it just boils. Cool for 20 minutes, then add your cranberries to the simple syrup, transfer them to a drying rack and let them sit until tacky; about 20 minutes. Roll the cranberries in superfine sugar (or regular white sugar) and let dry for about an hour. Make a batch of Christmas potpourri while you’re at it and really get in the festive spirit!
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you can’t find mandarin juice, freshly squeezed orange juice is a great substitute.
- For a low-alcohol version, replace the Prosecco with sparkling water or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
- Always pour the Prosecco last to keep the cocktail bubbly and fresh.
Recommended
What to Serve with Your Christmas Mimosa
In my house, we enjoy a leisurely Christmas morning brunch after the presents are opened, and these Christmas Mimosas are a favorite. I’ll serve them with other brunch favorites like my Christmas Morning Casserole, or another easy breakfast brunch bake. Or, go with amazing pancakes and dress them up with Smoked Candied Bacon.
Christmas Mimosa
Ingredients
By the pitcher
- 1 cup mandarin juice
- 1 cup Grand Marnier
- 1 bottle (750 mL) Prosecco or Champagne chilled
By the glass
- 1 ounce mandarin juice
- 1 ounce Grand Marnier
- 2-3 ounces Champage or Prosecco to top off the glass
Instructions
In a pitcher
- Chill the Prosecco and mandarin juice at least 3 hours ahead of time.
- Combine the mandarin juice and Grand Marnier. Stir well to blend the flavors.
- Slowly pour the chilled Prosecco into the pitcher. Do this gently to keep the bubbly fizz.
- Pour the mimosa into champagne flutes and garnish with a slice of mandarin orange or sugared cranberries.
By the glass
- Add 1 ounce of Grand Marnier to the bottom of a chilled Champagne flute.
- Add 1 ounce of chilled mandarin orange juice to the glass and gently swirl to mix.
- Top up your glass with chilled Champagne or Prosecco.
- Garnish and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- If you can’t find mandarin juice, freshly squeezed orange juice is a great substitute.
- For a low-alcohol version, replace the Prosecco with sparkling water or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
- Always pour the Prosecco last to keep the cocktail bubbly and fresh.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
Can’t wait to make these again for Christmas! I did a trial run with friends the other day and was thrilled with both the taste and the vibe they gave. I’d never thought to try sugared cranberries before this, but they make so much sense for the holidays! I think I’ll be adding them to just about everything sweet around Christmas from now on!
I tried this yesterday and it was perfectly delicious! I don’t care if Christmas has already passed, I’m going to make these all the time! I love the twist of mandarin juice and Grand Marnier – it’s a flavor combination that I absolutely adore.
Added more juice to this mimosa because I wanted it to have a lower alcohol content. And it tasted more like fruit punch than a cocktail which is what I prefer. I also tried it with sparkling wine and it was still delicious and refreshing even.