Apple Cider Mimosa Recipe: How to Make Apple Cider Mimosas

An Apple Cider Mimosa (sometimes called a Vermosa) is a Champagne drink featuring unfiltered apple juice in place of the orange juice usually found in the classic brunch cocktail. (Learn how to make a Mimosa with orange juice.) This apple cider cocktail contains chilled Champagne (or another sparkling wine like cava or prosecco), apple cider, and a bit of sugar to sweeten it up.

In the United States, “apple cider” typically refers to freshly pressed, unfiltered apple juice, while “hard cider” is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice. Learn more about the differences between apple cider vs. apple juice.

For such a simple drink, the payoff is tenfold. Here are some tips to consider before crafting your cocktails:

1. 1. Pour the sparkling wine first. Mimosas are all about the fizz (also called carbonation), so you want to make sure you lose as few precious bubbles as possible while you’re making them. If you pour the wine first—especially if you do it slowly and at an angle—you’ll avoid overflowing the glass and losing half of the fizz to the floor.
2. 2. Avoid stirring. Mimosas should be bubbly, so you want to avoid agitating them too much before you drink them—any agitation will cause bubbles to pop. Pouring the apple cider into the wine will mix the drinks plenty, so don’t do any extra stirring afterward.
3. 3. Add other flavors. Beyond garnishes and rim options, you can incorporate different flavors such as grenadine, citrus juices, fruit extracts, orange liqueur, or fresh fruit like pomegranate arils or cranberries.
4. 4. Make a mocktail. Combine nonalcoholic sparkling cider or seltzer with fresh apple cider to make an alcohol-free version of this Mimosa. Gussy up the drink with additional flavorings, sweeteners, or garnishes.

There are many ways to serve this cocktail. Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Try different rims. It’s easy to customize the rims and garnishes for your Apple Cider Mimosa. Add honey, agave, or maple syrup to a shallow dish, dip the Champagne glasses into it, and dot the rim of each glass with cinnamon sugar for a sweet take on a salt rim.
• Experiment with a playful garnish. Add a fresh apple garnish by slicing an apple ultra-thin on a mandoline. Cut a slit into the fruit slice, slide it onto the edge of the glass, then serve.
• Make a garnish bar. For celebrations and gatherings, make a tabletop “bar” where your guests can decorate their Champagne glasses with different rim and garnish combinations.