Cranberry Mimosa Recipe (3 Ingredients!)

This cranberry mimosa is the perfect festive champagne cocktail for the holidays! Made with just 3 ingredients—cranberry juice, triple sec, and bubbly champagne—this elegant drink comes together in minutes. The tart cranberry pairs beautifully with orange liqueur and sparkling wine for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing cocktail that’s perfect for Christmas morning, New Year’s brunch, or any holiday celebration.

Garnished with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary, this cranberry champagne cocktail is as beautiful as it is delicious. It’s the ultimate easy holiday drink that looks impressive but requires virtually no effort!

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Mimosa

Super Simple: Just 3 ingredients and 2 minutes to make. No cocktail shaker or special skills required!

Festive Colors: The deep red cranberry juice creates a gorgeous holiday cocktail perfect for photos.

Perfectly Balanced: Tart cranberry, sweet triple sec, and dry champagne create harmonious flavor.

Crowd-Pleaser: Everyone loves mimosas! This holiday twist is always a hit at parties.

Elegant Presentation: Fresh cranberry and rosemary garnish makes it look restaurant-quality.

Easy to Scale: Make one or make twenty—the recipe multiplies easily for any size gathering.

Ingredients for Cranberry Mimosa

You only need 3 ingredients plus optional garnishes:

• 3 oz cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 1/2 oz triple sec (or Cointreau for premium version)
• 3 oz champagne (or prosecco, cava, or sparkling wine), chilled
• Fresh cranberries for garnish (optional)
• Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish (optional)

Ingredient Notes:

Cranberry Juice: Use cranberry juice cocktail (which is sweetened) rather than 100% cranberry juice which is extremely tart. Simply Cranberry brand is highly recommended for rich flavor.

Triple Sec: This orange-flavored liqueur adds sweetness and complexity. Cointreau is a premium option. Grand Marnier works too for a brandy base.

Champagne: Use any sparkling wine you enjoy! Prosecco, cava, or champagne all work. Look for dry or brut varieties (not sweet) to balance the sweet cranberry juice.

How to Make a Cranberry Mimosa

Step 1: Chill Everything Make sure both champagne and cranberry juice are well-chilled before mixing. Cold ingredients are essential for a refreshing mimosa.

Step 2: Add Cranberry Juice Pour 3 ounces of chilled cranberry juice into a champagne flute.

Step 3: Add Triple Sec Add 1/2 ounce of triple sec to the glass.

Step 4: Top with Champagne Slowly pour 3 ounces of chilled champagne over the cranberry mixture. Pour slowly to prevent overflow as the bubbles activate.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve Drop a few fresh cranberries into the glass and add a sprig of fresh rosemary. Serve immediately while bubbly!

Ratio: This recipe uses a 1:1 ratio of cranberry juice to champagne, with a splash of triple sec. Adjust to taste!

Expert Tips for Perfect Cranberry Mimosas

Chill Everything First: Cold ingredients are crucial. Warm champagne or juice results in flat, disappointing mimosas.

Pour Champagne Last: Always add champagne last and pour slowly down the side of the glass to preserve bubbles.

Use Quality Cranberry Juice: Not all cranberry juices are equal. Simply Cranberry or other premium brands have better, richer flavor.

Don’t Skip the Triple Sec: The orange liqueur adds depth and complexity that makes this more than just cranberry juice and champagne.

Serve Immediately: Mimosas are best fresh. The bubbles dissipate quickly, so make them right before serving.

Adjust the Ratio: Prefer stronger champagne flavor? Use less cranberry juice. Want more fruit flavor? Add more juice and less champagne.

Dry Champagne is Best: Sweet champagne plus sweet cranberry juice is too cloying. Stick with brut or extra dry varieties.

Make Garnishes Pretty: Fresh cranberries and rosemary make this cocktail Instagram-worthy and add a lovely aromatic element.

Recipe Variations

Virgin Cranberry Mimosa: Replace champagne with sparkling water, club soda, or ginger ale. Omit triple sec or use orange juice instead.

Cranberry Orange Mimosa: Replace triple sec with fresh orange juice for a more classic mimosa twist.

Vodka Cranberry Champagne: Add 1/2 oz vodka for extra kick. Keep in mind this increases alcohol content.

Spiced Cranberry Mimosa: Add a cinnamon stick as garnish and a pinch of ground cinnamon to the glass.

Pomegranate Cranberry Mimosa: Use half cranberry, half pomegranate juice for deeper flavor.

Frozen Cranberry Mimosa: Blend cranberry juice with ice, then top with champagne for a slushy version.

Cranberry Rosé Mimosa: Use sparkling rosé instead of champagne for extra prettiness.

Serving Suggestions for Large Gatherings

Self-Serve Mimosa Bar: Set up a station with chilled champagne, cranberry juice, triple sec, and garnishes. Let guests make their own!

Pre-Mixed Pitcher: Mix cranberry juice and triple sec in a pitcher ahead. Add champagne just before serving to preserve bubbles.

Individual Prep: Pre-measure cranberry juice and triple sec into flutes. Keep chilled. Top with champagne when guests arrive.

Beverage Dispenser: Use a drink dispenser for larger parties, but add champagne last and expect less carbonation.

Quantities for Parties:

• 10 guests: 2 bottles champagne, 3 cups cranberry juice
• 20 guests: 4 bottles champagne, 6 cups cranberry juice
• 30 guests: 6 bottles champagne, 9 cups cranberry juice

Best Glassware for Cranberry Mimosas

Champagne Flutes: Classic choice that shows off the bubbles and beautiful color.

Stemless Flutes: Modern alternative that’s more stable and casual.

Wine Glasses: Work in a pinch and hold more liquid for guests who want larger servings.

Plastic Flutes: For outdoor parties or large gatherings where breakage is a concern. Look for shatterproof options.

When to Serve Cranberry Mimosas

Perfect Occasions:

• Christmas morning or brunch
• New Year’s Day brunch
• Thanksgiving morning
• Holiday parties and gatherings
• Baby or bridal showers (during holidays)
• Friendsgiving celebrations
• Office holiday parties
• Winter birthday celebrations

Time of Day: While mimosas are traditionally brunch drinks, these festive cranberry mimosas work any time during holiday gatherings!

What Food to Serve with Cranberry Mimosas

Brunch Foods:

• Eggs Benedict
• French toast or pancakes
• Quiche or frittata
• Breakfast casseroles
• Fresh fruit platters
• Pastries and croissants

Holiday Appetizers:

• Cheese and charcuterie boards
• Deviled eggs
• Smoked salmon
• Spinach artichoke dip
• Baked brie

Light Snacks:

• Mixed nuts
• Cheese straws
• Crackers with spreads
• Veggie platters

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Can’t Make Ahead: Mimosas must be made fresh to maintain carbonation. Don’t pre-mix completely.

Pre-Measure Juice: Pour cranberry juice and triple sec into flutes, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 hours before party. Top with champagne when ready to serve.

Keep Ingredients Cold: Refrigerate champagne and cranberry juice until moment of serving.

Leftover Champagne: If you have leftover flat champagne, it won’t work for mimosas but can be used in cooking.

Garnishes: Wash and prep cranberries and rosemary up to 1 day ahead. Store in refrigerator.

Choosing the Best Champagne

Budget-Friendly Options:

• Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
• Cava (Spanish sparkling wine)
• Domestic sparkling wines

Mid-Range:

• French champagne ($25-40)
• Premium prosecco
• California sparkling wine

Splurge Options:

• Vintage champagne
• Prestige cuvées

For Mimosas: Honestly, save your money! Mid-range sparkling wines work beautifully since you’re mixing them. Save expensive champagne for drinking straight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best ratio for a cranberry mimosa? This recipe uses equal parts (3 oz each) cranberry juice and champagne with a splash of triple sec. Adjust to taste—some prefer more champagne, others more juice.

Can I make cranberry mimosas ahead of time? Not fully. You can pre-measure juice and triple sec, but add champagne just before serving to maintain bubbles.

What’s the difference between champagne and prosecco? Champagne comes from France’s Champagne region. Prosecco is Italian sparkling wine. Both work great! Prosecco is usually less expensive and slightly sweeter.

Can I make this non-alcoholic? Yes! Replace champagne with sparkling water or ginger ale and omit triple sec (or replace with orange juice).

How many mimosas does one bottle of champagne make? A standard 750ml bottle makes about 4-5 mimosas using this recipe’s proportions.

Can I use 100% cranberry juice? It’s too tart. Use cranberry juice cocktail which is sweetened for better balance.

What if I don’t have triple sec? Use Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or omit it. You can add a splash of orange juice instead.

How do I keep mimosas cold at a party? Keep champagne and juice bottles on ice. Make drinks in small batches to ensure they’re always cold and bubbly.

This cranberry mimosa recipe proves that the best holiday cocktails are often the simplest. With just 3 ingredients and 2 minutes, you’ll have a festive, delicious drink that elevates any celebration!