Apple Cider Mimosas with Caramel Rim

Apple Cider Mimosas are a fall twist on a beloved classic. Made with 2 ingredients and a caramel rim, this apple cider and champagne treat is perfect for a fall brunch, a holiday party or ladies night in!

About these apple cider mimosas

A mimosa, if you’re not familiar, is a beverage consisting of champagne and orange juice often reserved for brunches and bridal parties! We’re going to change the game a bit by switching out the orange juice with the perfect festive and seasonal apple cider. A caramel rim around the champagne flute is an added delight!

This sparkling cider mimosa is refreshing and tart with just the right amount of sweetness. It’s the perfect celebratory drink to welcome the changing of the seasons, the holidays, or for absolutely no reason at all other than it’s just so darn delicious. Who says bubbly needs to be reserved only for special occasions?!

Serve it with delicious pastries or bacon and eggs for a weekend brunch and you need not worry about being an experienced bartender for this one. This simple apple cider mimosa is easy like…well, Sunday morning!

If you’re loving the fall vibe, try them with spooky black pancakes for a halloween brunch or a baked apple cider donut for a slow weekend breakfast.

What’s in an apple cider mimosa?

To Rim the Glass 

• Caramel sauce 

For the Cocktail

• Apple cider, chilled 
• Champagne, chilled

How to make apple cider mimosas

Place the caramel in a shallow bowl.

Dip the rims of the glasses into the caramel, in the same way you would a Margarita glass!

Carefully add the apple cider to the glass.

Top with champagne, sparkling wine, or prosecco and serve immediately.

How to pick the perfect bubbly for a mimosa

When mixing a bubbly in a drink such as a mimosa, it’s important to balance both the flavor and price tag. I typically opt for Prosecco when making mimosas. 

Champagne: True Champagne must originate from the Champagne region in France, although it is often used to describe sparkling wine in general, and especially those from California. Champagne can range in both sweetness and price. When I splurge on true Champagne, I like to drink it straight. 

Prosecco: Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine made from the Prosecco grape. It is often cheaper and more accessible than Champagne, while remaining just as delicious. My preferred brand to use in mimosas is La Marca. 

Brut: While many people refer to Brut as a type of sparkling wine, it is actually a flavor profile, not a type of wine. Brut means dry and is used to describe wines that have between 0 and 12 grams of sugar per liter. Because mimosas contain fruit juice which is naturally sweet, I like to pair them with a bubbly that is dry (contains between 17 and 32 grams of sugar per liter), not brut. Sweet (often called Doux or Dulce) sparkling wines should be avoided in mimosas as they can become overpoweringly sweet.

How do you make a mimosa non-alcoholic?

To make this non-alcoholic, substitute sparkling apple cider for the champagne.

Some people refer to cider (or hard cider) as the alcoholic version of apple cider. So, if it only says cider, chances are it’s been fermented to the point of becoming alcoholic. Keep this in mind when choosing ingredients!

How to make these caramel apple mimosas your own

• Rim the glass with cinnamon sugar instead of caramel for apple pie mimosas.
• Apple cider has a more earthy and robust flavor than apple juice therefore apple juice is not the best substitute in this drink, but it can be used in a pinch.
• If you want an extra tart (and alcoholic) mimosa, add 1/2 ounce of 99 Apples Liquor.
• Can’t get your hands on champagne? Create a twist on the classic screwdriver instead and have yourself an apple cider and vodka screwdriver. Perhaps even a caramel vodka!
• Fireball whiskey has a nice cinnamon flavor which would also be another champagne substitution idea, but you’ll need to adjust the ratios…more cider, less whiskey.
• Once you try the apple cider mimosa start to get creative with all kinds of different juices.
• Spice things up with a little spiced apple cider. A little kick never hurt anyone!
• Of course, you don’t need a champagne flute, no matter how fancy and festive it makes you feel. You can use whatever beautiful glasses you prefer.
• Try it with vegan caramel sauce for your vegan buddies! Might want to pair it with vegan apple pancakes, too!

Serve Immediately

Mimosas should not be made in advance as they will start to flatten (lose their effervescence) immediately. It is highly recommended that you make the drink immediately before serving.