In just 5 minutes, and with only three ingredients, you can craft Cranberry Mimosas, also referred to as a Poinsettia cocktail or Christmas Mimosa. It’s the perfect drink for the holiday season.
A “mimosa” is a sparkling cocktail classically served during a holiday brunch. But, honestly, this cocktail would be lovely anytime; it’s the perfect holiday cocktail. It is going on my menu for Christmas breakfast this year! Make sure you pour them at your next holiday gathering.
Who doesn’t love a fun drink for holidays? Be sure to try my pomegranate mule, we love this Pomegranate cocktail recipe and this spiced holiday sangria.
For those who crave something warm; try my Christmas morning chai latte, our Starbucks White Hot Chocolate, this Irish Coffee, and of course Wassail (non-alcoholic).
Why You Will Love This Recipe for Cranberry Mimosa Cocktail
- Get in the Holiday Spirit – Bring Christmas flavor to a traditional mimosa with tangy cranberry juice.
- Signature Cocktail – This bubbly festive drink brings joy to any special occasion, like Christmas morning brunch, Thanksgiving dinner, or a New Year’s Eve celebration.
- Mocktail too – Cranberry mimosas are also delicious with sparkling grape juice, an alcohol-free sparkling wine, or another substitute.
- Skinny Cocktail – Coming iin a little over 100 calories for this beauty!in
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Simple Ingredients for Poinsettia Cocktail
- Cranberry Juice | I prefer 100% pure cranberry juice with no sugar added. The tartness of pure cranberry juice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so you can also try a cranberry cocktail blend if desired. Try making the tart cranberry juice milder with this cranberry simple syrup.
- Orange Juice – Fresh squeezed is best in cocktails, but purchase a quality orange juice if you can’t do fresh squeezed.
- Champagne | I like Brut or Brut extra dry champagne. This recipe also works with sparkling wine or a non-alcoholic substitute.
- Garnishes | Dress the rim of the glass with rosemary sprig, fresh or sugared cranberries, and an orange twist, if desired. Or even try a sugared rim and an orange slice.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make This Cocktail with Cranberry Juice
First, pour the cranberry juice into the champagne glass. Follow with the orange juice.
Then top it off with the bubbling champagne to make this easy holiday mimosa.
Fresh Tips for the Best Poinsettia Cocktail
- Champagne flutes usually hold 6 to 10 ounces, and mimosa glasses hold 10. This recipe was written for a 10-ounce flute, so adjust accordingly if your glasses are smaller.
- While you can use any glass, remember that tall and thin glasses preserve the effervescence of champagne for this cranberry juice cocktail.
- Slowly pour the champagne to avoid overflowing the glass with the bubbly drink.
Make the season special with festive holiday drinks, like this Pomegranate Cocktail, Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail, Cranberry Bourbon Sour, and Christmas Margaritas with hibiscus and pomegranate.
Variations for Cranberry Orange Mimosa
Add a splash of orange liqueur or two; such as triple sec or Grand Marnier for a little extract kick.
Virgin Cranberry Mimosa Recipe
With a simple adjustment, a virgin mimosa version is easy to create. Substitute the champagne with sparkling water, ginger ale, sparkling cider, an alcohol-free sparkling wine, or this sweet Sanpellegrino. It’s a fantastic brunch drink when you’re also serving kids, and it’s delicious with a holiday meal!
Mimosa Cocktails Vartiations
- Cranberry Pomegranate Mimosa | Replace half or all of the cranberry juice with tart and deep red pomegranate juice.
- Grapefruit Cranberry Mimosa | Swap the orange juice for refreshing grapefruit juice.
- Cranberry Pineapple Mimosa | Mix a tropical holiday beverage with pineapple and cranberry juice.
- Raspberry Cranberry Mimosa | Bring delicious berry flavor with raspberry liqueur or muddled raspberries.
- Apple Cider Mimosas | Trade the champagne for sparkling apple cider for a fall beverage the whole family can enjoy.
- Cranberry Ginger Mimosa | Replace the champagne with spicy ginger beer for a kick and a nonalcoholic twist.
- Herbal Cranberry Mimosa | Add fresh herbs, like a sprig of rosemary, refreshing mint, or thyme.
- Cranberry Lemonade Mimosa | Combine cranberry juice with sweet lemonade.
- Holiday Spiced Mimosa | Add warm holiday spices, like cinnamon and allspice, for a cozy cocktail, perfect for Christmas brunch.
- Cranberry Tea Mimosa | Pour equal parts cranberry juice and hibiscus or herbal tea for a unique combination.
Recommended Tools
- How about these beautiful champagne flutes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh orange juice is traditional, but there are other favorites, like peach puree, citrus juice, mango juice, cranberry cocktail juice, watermelon juice, pomegranate juice, and pineapple juice.
Use traditional champagne or choose a budget-friendly option with sparkling wine or Italian Prosecco.
One of the most common ratios for a standard mimosa is 1 part cranberry juice, 1 part orange juice, and 2 parts champagne. However, the recipe can be easily adjusted to fit your taste.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate – It’s best to store these festive cranberry mimosas by keeping the components separate. Ensure the champagne or sparkling wine is tightly sealed to preserve the bubbles. If the beverage is mixed, the champagne bubbles won’t last long in the fruit juices, so it’s best enjoyed freshly made. But don’t throw any away if you have some leftovers; refresh it with a splash of champagne.
What’s the difference between a Bellini vs. Mimosa
Bellinis and mimosas are both simple cocktails with similar ingredients. Each is typically combined with champagne or sparkling wine. While a classic mimosa is made with orange juice, bellinis typically have peach puree instead.
Bellini vs. Mimosa
- Ingredients: A classic Mimosa is made with equal parts of champagne and chilled citrus juice, typically orange juice and a Bellini is made with Prosecco (an Italian Sparkling wine) and white purée or nectar
- Flavor: Bellini has a sweeter and more fruity taste due to the peach puree, giving it a slight peachy flavor. And mimosas has a refreshing and bubbly character with a citrusy and slightly tart taste, primarily from the orange juice.
- Origin: The Mimosa is believed to have originated in France and is a simple yet elegant cocktail and the Bellini hails from Venice, Italy, and was created at Harry’s Bar in Venice in the 1930s.
In summary, the key difference lies in the choice of fruit and the type of sparkling wine used. While Mimosa uses citrus juice and any sparkling wine, the Bellini features white peach puree or nectar combined with Prosecco. Each has its unique flavor profile, making them ideal for different preferences and occasions.
What to Serve with Your Christmas Mimosa Recipe
Best Breakfast to Serve with this Poinsettia Cocktail
Because mimosas are typically served for brunch, go all out with our favorite brunch recipes, like Christmas morning Cinnamon Rolls, or this Crock pot Cinnamon Roll roll casserole. We love these grab-and-go Breakfast Sliders too.
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole | Breakfast Casserole
Biscuits and Gravy Egg Bake is an easy breakfast casserole, easily made overnight or the morning of for a delicious feed-a-crowd breakfast. Filled with flaky biscuits, light eggs with a layer of delicious green chile sausage gravy
Easy Vegetarian Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
This vegetarian tater tot breakfast casserole takes just 20 minutes to assemble but also feeds a crowd and makes meal prep a breeze. Loaded with veggies, eggs and cheese over a tater tot base.
Easy Breakfast Egg Sandwich Recipe (Breakfast Sliders)
This easy Breakfast Egg Sandwich recipe is like no other—feed a crowd with amazing Hawaiian roll breakfast sliders! Soft scrambled eggs, sausage and cheese with an amazing sauce! The BEST Breakfast Sliders Recipe!
Best Crock Pot Cinnamon Roll Casserole Recipe
If you are looking for an easy and delicious breakfast casserole recipe, look no further than this easy crock pot cinnamon roll casserole. Using organic canned cinnamon rolls for the win.
Best Gooey Cinnamon Rolls
Tender, better than Cinnabon ooey and gooey Cinnamon Rolls dripping with brown sugary cinnamon insides and topped with this luscious cream cheese buttercream.
Best Appetizers to Serve with Cranberry Cocktails
Pair your holiday cocktails with these holiday appetizers at your next cocktail party.
Be sure to print off my free Christmas Cocktail Party e-book to help you with your planning.
Best Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
This Cranberry Cream Cheese dip is not only easy, is perfect for the holiday season. 4-ingredients to this cheesy, sweet-tart, salty and savory hot dip. Using homemade or leftover cranberry sauce, this cream cheese cranberry dip will be raved about at your next party.
Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates
With tangy whipped goat cheese, savory bacon, and sweet dates, this is one goat cheese appetizer that absolutely can’t be beat. And with so much room to customize, you can make it entirely your own. Dip into this tantalizing first course with warm toasted bread and say hello to your go-to holiday appetizer from here on out!
Easy Turkey Cranberry Sliders Recipe (Baked)
These turkey sliders are ready in 45 minutes! With 15 minutes of prep, these leftover turkey sliders on sweet Hawaiian rolls, with cheese and cranberry sauce are great after Thanksgiving!
Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)
Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs are tender and slow cooked in a tangy cranberry and barbecue sauce. Just dump the ingredients into your crockpot and heat!
Our favorite recipes with champagne
- Easy Elderflower French 75 Cocktail with St Germain – a beautiful cocktail!
- Try these rich, easy Champagne Truffles!
- Easy Creamy Bow Tie Pasta Recipe (Farfalle Pasta) – Believe it or not, a little Prosecco or champagne makes this recipe!
Best desserts to serve with this Christmas Cocktail
Sure the appetizers are great, but let’s get serious, Christmas is about a little indulgence. Try some of our favorite desserts below.
Cranberry Christmas Cake Recipe with Butter Sauce
I can’t imagine the holidays without this easy Cranberry Christmas Cake! It’s a doubly good dessert or breakfast treat with tangy cranberries and a rich, warm vanilla butter sauce. This cranberry cake is sweet enough to tantalize a smile out of any grinch. Plus for those baking a high altitude cake, I've got the perfect adjustments for you!
Nantucket Cranberry Pie {Easy Cranberry Dessert Recipe}
I am a pie lover, and I love variations on the classics. This Nantucket Cranberry Pie isn't technically a pie, more of a cake really. It has a juicy layer of sweet-tart fresh cranberries on the bottom and that crispy, buttery, cakey-cookie topping! Easiest holiday pie ever!
Easy No Bake Eggnog Pie Recipe
A lighter than air, creamy no bake eggnog pie is for serious eggnog lovers and cream pie eaters alike! With a simple graham cracker pie crust and a few simple ingredients, it will become a family favorite no bake pie recipe too! Loaded with holiday flavor, the perfect dessert for the holiday season.
Easy Gingerbread Bundt Cake Recipe with Rum Glaze
A showstopper but easy, Gingerbread Bundt Cake Recipe with a rum glaze that takes it over the top! It’s easy to make and full of warm, seasonal spices like ginger, cinnamon, and allspice.
Perfect Christmas bundt cake, ready for the oven in just 15 minutes.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and make this cranberry mimosa recipe your own!
I hope you loved this Christmas Mimosa Cocktail with Cranberry Juice — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces orange juice chilled, fresh squeezed is best
- 2 ounces pure cranberry juice chilled (see notes)
- 4 ounces Champagne or Sparkling wine, or non-alcoholic substitute chilled
- Garnish fresh cranberries, fresh rosemary and/or orange peel, optional garnish
Instructions
- Pour the orange juice in the champagne flute, followed by the cranberry juice, and top it off by slowly pouring the Champagne, sparkling wine or non-alcoholic sparkling beverage. Enjoy.
Notes
Tall slender glasses help retain the effervescence of the drink. Champagne is named for its location as it comes from the Champagne region of France. Sparkling wine can be used in place of it. I prefer Brut or Brut Extra Dry.
For an even fresher tasting mimosa, freshly squeeze your orange juice.
Add champagne slowly as it bubbles up quickly and can overflow. Virgin Mimosa Recipe | A virgin mimosa recipe is easy to make! Replace the champagne with your favorite sparkling water, sparkling cider or use an alcohol-free sparkling wine. **See the post for loads of ideas on variations on this beautiful Christmas cocktail.
Nutrition
Brandi
These are so festive and delicious! I made them for a girls night in and everyone loved them.
I love it!! So glad to hear!
Gina
Had to give this a try and it was amazing. I can’t wait to serve this to my guest over the holidays. I know it will be a big hit!
Thank you so much, Gina!
Dina and Bruce
Guess what the girls are having at the cabin next weekend? Yep!
Perfect!!
dana
These are so nice! Had them with brunch over the weekend and will definitely be our Christmas morning mimosas!
Yay!!
Renee
This is such a simple, festive holiday cocktail! Cranberry juice is one of my favorite mixers – it has that perfect balance of sweet and tart.
It really does!!