Items no household should be without: a functioning fire extinguisher; extra toilet paper; a bottle of bubbly. After all, no one wants to be caught in an emergency! We need an Apple Cider Mimosa, and we need it now.
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This apple cider mimosa is unique in the best way, effervescent, and has nuanced, nostalgic flavor.
I love the way the champagne cuts the apple cider’s sweetness, and a cinnamon sugar rim makes it feel festive.
This apple cider champagne cocktail is part warm spices, part bubbly goodness, and 100% what I want to sip while sitting cozy by the fire.
It’s fancy without being fussy and incredibly easy to make.
While I love a party-ready bowl of Christmas Punch, Champagne Punch, or Mulled Wine, this cocktail is ideal for a small gathering or intimate night at home, which perfectly suits my holiday plans this year.
The recipe makes two cocktails as written (like this Kir Royale), but you can easily scale it up to serve a larger group (or if you want to have seconds).
Break out the bubbly, grab your champagne flutes, and let’s toast to this fabulous and delicious apple cider mimosa!
5 Star Review
“I served it at Thanksgiving, and it was a huge hit. The rimmed glasses were so popular! Thanks for the great recipe!”
— Ann —
How to Make an Apple Cider Mimosa
The Ingredients
- Apple Cider. Apple cider goes well with alcohol and especially champagne and brandy (and bourbon in this Apple Cider Cocktail). Its signature flavor makes this the perfect easy fall cocktail. You could even use my homemade Apple Cider recipe!
- Champagne. The kind of champagne you use for mimosas is up to you. I recommend choosing something dry (look for “Brut” which is actually drier than even “dry” or “extra dry”) that you enjoy but save the top-shelf choices for drinking by themselves. Prosecco, cava, or another sparkling wine would also be great here (and in my Peach Bellini recipe).
- Brandy. In addition to apple cider and champagne, I added a bit of brandy to the recipe. It balances the apple cider’s light, juicy flavor and gives the cocktail the heft it needs to transition from mid-morning spritzer to evening cocktail sipper.
The Directions
- Rim the glasses with sugar and cinnamon.
- Pour brandy, apple cider, then champagne into each glass. Garnish as desired and ENJOY!
How to Serve Apple Cider Mimosas
While these mimosas are scrumptious on their own, a fun garnish or coated rim can take your cocktail game to the next level. Here are a few of my favorite ideas:
- Apple Slices. My favorite garnish option.
- Cinnamon + Sugar. A delicious, fun, and festive way to rim your glasses!
- Caramel. A caramel apple cider mimosa would be sweet and delicious for a dessert drink. Use caramel vodka in place of the brandy. For something extra sweet, drizzle in inside of the glasses with a little caramel.
- Cinnamon Sticks. Place a cinnamon stick in each glass for a flavorful garnish.
Storage Tips
This cocktail is best enjoyed the day it is made, as the champagne will go flat. If you’d like to prep it ahead, you can premix the apple cider and brandy, the refrigerate until ready to serve.
What to Serve with Apple Cider Mimosas
These apple cider mimosas are delicious served with a spread of holiday appetizers.
Recommended Tools to Make Apple Cider Cocktails
- Jigger. Precise measurements every time.
- Champagne Flutes. I love this stylish, inexpensive set. Dishwasher safe!
- Apple Corer. If you’re using apple slices as a garnish, this tool will help speed up the process.
More Festive Cocktails
Apple Cider Mimosa
email me the recipe!
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Ingredients
For the Apple Cider Mimosas:
- 2 ounces brandy or dark rum
- 4 ounces apple cider
- 8 ounces chilled champagne Prosecco, or other sparkling wine
- Optional: Apple slices for garnish
To Rim the Glasses:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon pumpkin pie spice is also tasty if you have it on hand
- Additional apple cider
Instructions
- Rim the glasses: In a shallow bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon. In a separate shallow bowl, pour a few tablespoons of apple cider. Wet the edges of the glasses in the apple cider, then tap the wet edges in the cinnamon and sugar mixture to rim.
- Pour 1 ounce of brandy or rum and 2 ounces apple cider in each glass. Top with 4 ounces champagne. Enjoy immediately, garnished with apple slices as desired.
Notes
- I recommend a dry sparkling wine for mimosas. Look for a bottle labeled “brut” (which is actually drier than “dry” or even “extra dry.” Cava, prosecco, champagne, or another sparkling wine of your choice all work well.
Nutrition
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Perfect!! I would love it if you would link it up to Tipsy Tuesday at Grey is the New Black!
oh yummy! This sounds good!
Love how you rimmed the glasses- too cute! What a fun and festive NYE drink!
nice site thank you..
I’ve got all of these items in abundance!! I usually just make hot toddies with everything (except the bubbles) – but it looks like I”m making it cold now!! I am with you – a no-plans NYE for us, and that is okay with me. So long as I get one of these and a kiss at midnight from Ben or Huck haha
We do not own a fire extinguisher (should we?! whoops!!), we are just about to run out of toilet paper, but happily I do have some bubbly chilling in the fridge. Like you, my NYE plans are “low key” so I will deffo be giving this one a try. Also, I just saw your video intro for the first time, you are so fabulous Erin! xx
I’m kicking it on the couch in my PJs for NYE this year (husband’s working, womp womp) and I’m now v v excited to have this cocktail to keep me company all night — with brandy AND rum, of course. ;)
Honestly, relaxing on the couch with one of these beautiful bubbly drinks sounds just perfect to me! Happy new year! :D
I had no plans for NYE until I saw this cocktail. This is my big plan :)
One of my favorite cocktails! So yum.
nice set of ingredients here, love that you’re cutting the apple and sugar sweetness with rum, this looks great! thank you for sharing this!
Thanks, Sabrina!
when you say apple cider, do you mean sparkling apple juice or alcoholic cider?
Hi Andy! Actually, I don’t mean either of those. This is non-alcoholic, non-sparkling apple cider. I usually find it in a bottle in the juice aisle by the regular apple juice.
I was looking for a little something something to shooz up my bubbly tonight. I can’t wait to try this for my gathering. Thank you for inspiring me!
Cheers Laure! I hope you love it!
Excellent Cider Apple
I served it at Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit. One tip: the cider I had was quite tart and so at the tasting before serving I added some apple juice to get the flavor just right. The rimmed glasses were so popular! Thanks for the great recipe!!!
Ann, YAY I am SO happy you loved how this turned out. Thanks for sharing this wonderful review and for the tip too!
When you think of apple cider, you probably think of fall. A warm sweet glass full of apples and spice that warms the body on a cool fall day and this delicious drink is where this miracle tonic gets its start. It begins life as apples that are pulverized to make cider.
I hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it, Leone!
I want to make this drink for an autumn gathering I will be having in October 2021 I was wondering if I can set them up before quests arrive or maybe make this into a punch
I can’t wait to try this!!! 🍂🤗
Hi Matilda! I recommend enjoying these immediately. Leaving it out for to long could result in your champagne going flat. Hope you enjoy them!
Could you use Amaretto instead of Brandy?
Hi Cynthia! I haven’t tried it, but you likely could, although the flavor might slightly be different! Let me know how it turns out!
Exceptional cocktail my family loved. Easy to make and perfect for Thanksgiving.
Hi Stephanie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I only have white rum and not a dry champagne. Will that still be OK?
Hi Mary! It just depends on what you like. Note that it will be sweeter and missing some of the spices from the spiced rum.