A Cranberry Mimosa is the perfect holiday cocktail, featuring sweet/tart cranberry syrup topped with sparkling wine and sugared cranberries for peak festive.
During my 10+ year career as a personal chef, I loved serving a fun cocktail at a holiday celebration, engagement party, or bridal shower. The key was that it needed to be an entirely make-ahead pitcher drink (like my White Wine Sangria) or a cocktail so easy that guests could serve themselves.
This Cranberry Mimosa fits the bill. While making the cranberry syrup is time-intensive, it can be done in the background and very much in advance. The sugared cranberry garnish can also be made ahead of time. So when it’s party time, all you need to do is pop the champagne and put it all together. Welcome guests with a glass, and let the celebration begin.
Cranberry Mimosa Ingredients
- Cranberry Juice: Pure cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail will both work in this recipe. Cranberry juice cocktail is higher in sugar content though, so just note that your final cranberry syrup will be a little bit sweeter.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar is all you need.
- Fresh Cranberries: Choose fresh cranberries rather than dried cranberries for this recipe. You can also use frozen cranberries to make the syrup, though those will not work very well as a garnish.
- Sparkling Wine: I’d recommend a lower-cost sparkling wine for this recipe (though always get something that you would drink on its own as well). Prosecco or Cava work well, or any reasonably priced sparkling wine. A super expensive Champagne is not necessary!
How to Make Cranberry Mimosa
To make this cranberry mimosa recipe, start by rinsing and draining 1 cup of fresh cranberries. To make cranberry syrup, combine cranberry juice, ½ cup sugar, and the rinsed cranberries in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 45 minutes, until syrup has thickened.
Strain, and discard cranberries. You should have a little more than 1 cup of cranberry syrup. For the garnish, rinse and drain 1 cup cranberries and toss in ½ cup sugar until coated. Leave on parchment paper to dry.
To assemble, pour a small amount of cranberry syrup into each Champagne flute. You can add as little or as much as you like. Top with Champagne or Prosecco. Garnish each flute with 5 sugared cranberries.
Cranberry Mimosa Recipe FAQs
While in the United States, people often use the term “Champagne” to describe any sparkling wine, Champagne is an AOC-protected term. Technically, only Champagne produced by wine makers in the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne. But I’m going to use U.S. convention here and use the term “Champagne” to encompass other sparkling wines as well. Because you are going to mix your Champagne with something else, you don’t need to buy a top-quality bottle. That said, you always want to buy something you would drink on its own. The quality will nearly always come through in the finished cocktail. Look for a Champagne that is dry or extra-dry (brut or extra-brut) with this cocktail. You can often find better deals on Prosecco or other sparkling wines that are still delicious but don’t have the Champagne designation.
As mentioned above, Champagne does go flat quickly once the bottle is opened. If you do find you drink Champagne often without finishing the bottle, invest in a resealable Champagne cork. This version from Amazon is top-rated by America's Test Kitchen for keeping your sparkling wine sparkling for at least a few days.
Cranberries are native to North American and are now grown in Chile, Canada, and in the northern United States. Harvest time is typically in the fall, so buying cranberries in late fall assures the freshest berries. You can refrigerate cranberries for up to 2 months or freeze them for up to 6 months. When you store berries, remove any that are wrinkled or soft, as they can cause the berries next to them to spoil as well.
Expert Tips
Got extra cranberry juice or extra cranberries? Fresh cranberries have lots of other uses than your holiday cranberry sauce. They are great in baked goods like clafoutis, crisps, pies, and muffins. You can also add fresh cranberries to your morning smoothie or cook some down into jam or chutney. Cranberries also freeze well, so you can toss half a bag in the freezer for your next cranberry mimosa. Extra cranberry juice or cranberry juice syrup are also delicious when added to sparkling water.
Want to make your cranberry mimosas in advance? This holiday champagne cocktail doesn’t lend itself to being made in full ahead of time. Champagne becomes flat if it sits after being poured out of the bottle. However, you can prepare the cranberry syrup in advance and refrigerate. Sugared cranberries can be left out at room temperature. Pop your Champagne when guests arrive, and you’re ready to go.
Serving Suggestions for Cranberry Mimosa
Cranberry Mimosas are perfect for an aperitif at the start of a dinner party. I particularly like to serve these in winter, when cranberries are plentiful. They’re sparkly and not too high in alcohol content, especially if you go heavy on the cranberry syrup.
To keep things simple, you can’t go wrong serving this cranberry champagne cocktail along with roasted nuts and a cheese plate. But if you’d like to make some easy appetizers to go with your cocktail, I’d recommend:
You might also check out the list of recipes in this post on What to Serve with Baked Brie—many of these are perfect for a holiday celebration.
This cranberry mimosa also works with dessert, perhaps alongside this festive Chocolate Bark with Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds or these Snickerdoodles?
If it's summertime where you are, and cranberries aren't available, try my version of a Strawberry Mimosa instead!
Or, if you're craving another delicious winter cocktail, check out this Smoked Gin Cocktail from our friends at Pass The Sushi! This RumChata White Russian is another festive holiday favorite!
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Cranberry Mimosas (Christmas Cocktail Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberries divided
- 2 cups cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail
- 1 cup sugar divided
- 1 bottle Champagne, Prosecco, or other sparkling wine
Instructions
- Rinse and drain 1 cup of fresh cranberries.
- To make cranberry syrup, combine cranberry juice, ½ cup sugar, and the rinsed cranberries in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Simmer for 45 minutes, until syrup has thickened. Strain, and discard cranberries. You should have a little more than 1 cup of cranberry syrup.
- For the garnish, rinse and drain 1 cup cranberries and toss in ½ cup sugar until coated. Leave on parchment paper to dry.
- To assemble, pour ½ to 1 ounce of cranberry syrup into each Champagne flute. Top with Champagne.
- Garnish each flute with 5 sugared cranberries.
Notes
Nutrition
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
Chef Mimi says
I have cranberry juice, and I have lots of prosecco! Great idea!
Chef Molly says
Perfect! I see cranberry mimosas in your future! 🙂
Jeff the Chef says
I've never had a cranberry mimosa before, but I bet it's fantastic!
Chef Molly says
They sure are! 🙂