I love making this white Christmas mimosa for Christmas brunch every year! Why? It’s an easy drink to make, with just 2 simple ingredients plus garnishes to make it look super festive. Plus, it tastes delicious! All the adults love it (though you can make it with sparkling cider for the kids too)!
What is a White Christmas Mimosa?
A white Christmas mimosa is a festive twist on the classic mimosa cocktail, made with prosecco or champagne on a white cranberry base, which is perfect for winter and the holiday season.
This holiday mimosa recipe is garnished with holiday-themed accents like cranberries and rosemary sprigs for a wintry touch. You can even get creative and use sugared cranberries, or add a little edible glitter for a magical sparkle!
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name “white Christmas mimosa” comes from the drink’s light coloring and its association with festive celebrations, invoking the imagery of a classic white Christmas.
It’s the perfect cocktail for holiday season brunches, parties, or Christmas morning gatherings since it’s light and bubbly, not too strong, festive, and easy to prepare, making it perfect for entertaining!
Quick + Easy Recipes
straight to your inbox
White Christmas Mimosa Ingredients
- 3 ounces white cranberry juice
- 3 ounces chilled champagne or prosecco
- 3 fresh cranberries
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- You could really use any light/white juice you want, but I find the white cranberry is the perfect festive flavor for the holidays. You can also substitute regular cranberry juice, but then the drink will be reddish-pink instead of white
- If you want a sweeter cocktail, use prosecco, and for a less sweet cocktail, use champagne
Variation Options
- Cranberry Orange. Add ½ ounce triple sec (or another clear orange liqueur like Cointreau) and 2 ½ ounces of champagne to create a cranberry orange variation
- Glitter. Add ⅛ tsp food grade white or silver luster dust (mixed in with the juice) to create a sparkly version. I’ve also used gold, but it will dominate the look of the drink (so it will be festive, but no longer “white”)
- Mocktail. Replace the champagne or prosecco with sparkling apple cider to create a non-alcoholic mocktail version
How to Make a White Christmas Mimosa: Instructions
- Add the white cranberry juice (and luster dust, if using) to the bottom of a champagne flute and stir to combine
- Top with chilled champagne or prosecco
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and 3 fresh cranberries. Enjoy!
- White Christmas Mojito
What to Serve With Christmas Mimosas
Christmas mimosas pair well with a variety of festive and brunch-friendly dishes that complement their light and bubbly nature! Here are some of my favorite pairing options:
Sweet Breakfast Treats
Items like cinnamon rolls (try my festive Grinch cinnamon rolls), cranberry orange scones, or a holiday-themed coffee cake work beautifully, balancing the mimosa’s fruity flavors.
Savory Brunch Fare
Serve alongside quiches, frittatas, or smoked salmon bagels to add hearty, flavorful contrast. A ham and cheese Air Fryer Quiche With Crust is a quick and easy option!
Cheese and Charcuterie
A cheese board with brie, gouda, and sharp cheddar, paired with nuts, crackers, and dried fruits, provides a perfect mix of salty and sweet. My cranberry baked Brie with walnuts makes an elegant and complimentary centerpiece to your cheese board!
Seasonal Fruits
A fruit salad featuring pomegranate seeds, orange slices, or sugared cranberries complements the holiday theme.
Desserts
Light desserts such as sugar cookies, macarons, or white chocolate truffles make a festive pairing for later in the day!
Recipe FAQs
What Kind of Champagne Is The Best For Mimosas?
The best champagne for mimosas is typically a dry or extra-dry sparkling wine like Brut Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava.
These options balance the sweetness of the juice and provide a crisp, refreshing flavor. Affordable options like Brut Cava are excellent since the juice masks finer nuances of the champagne flavor.
Is Prosecco The Same As Champagne?
No, Prosecco and Champagne are different. Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine made from Glera grapes, typically lighter and fruitier, while Champagne comes from France and is made using a specific method and blend of grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Prosecco is often more affordable and pairs well in cocktails like mimosas.
What Is The Difference Between Mimosas And Bellinis?
Mimosas are made with sparkling wine and citrus juice, such as orange or white cranberry, while Bellinis are made with Prosecco and peach purée.
The Bellini is sweeter and fruitier, while mimosas often have a tangier, citrusy flavor.
Why Does White Cranberry Juice Taste Different?
White cranberry juice has a milder and less tart flavor compared to red cranberry juice.
This is because it is made from early-harvest cranberries, which are less acidic and slightly sweeter.
Recipe Pro Tips For the Best White Christmas Mimosa
- Champagne flutes range in size from 6 ounces to as much as 12 ounces! This recipe is based on a standard 6 ounce flute. If yours are larger, adjust accordingly while keeping the proportions between juice and champagne 50/50
- If you want a stronger drink, add up to 1 ounce of cranberry flavored vodka (reduce the champagne accordingly)!
Serving Tips For Christmas Mimosas
- If you use edible glitter note that it progressively settles in the bottom of the glass, so you’ll want to periodically re-stir to make it sparkle again
- Feel free to mix a large batch of juice and edible glitter and store in a carafe or pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Stir then place on your mimosa bar, and fill your 6 ounce glasses halfway with juice mixture and then top with champagne to serve!
- If you’d like, you can add a white sugar rim to your glasses by dipping the rim of a champagne flute in a little extra juice and then into a plate with granulated sugar for a festive touch
Final Thoughts
These easy white Christmas mimosas are the perfect festive brunch cocktail for Christmas Day (though you can certainly enjoy them for New Year’s eve and other winter occasions as well)!
With just 2 ingredients plus some garnishes, this easy cocktail is a low stress option for your holiday entertaining needs.
Cranberry mimosas are the perfect choice to add to your assortment of holiday beverages, because they’re simple, festive, and delicious! The beautiful color, fruity sparkle, and fresh rosemary sprigs make them one of my favorite holiday drinks.
So, if you’re hosting the holidays this year (or just want a little mom time in all the chaos), give this white cranberry mimosa recipe a try – you’ll be glad you did!
Easy White Christmas Mimosa
Equipment
- Measuring spoons (for glitter only)
Ingredients
- 3 ounces white cranberry juice
- 3 ounces chilled champagne or prosecco
- 3 fresh cranberries
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- ⅛ tsp food grade luster dust (optional; use white or silver)
Instructions
- Add the white cranberry juice (and luster dust, if using) to the bottom of a champagne flute and stir to combine3 ounces white cranberry juice, ⅛ tsp food grade luster dust
- Top with chilled champagne or prosecco3 ounces chilled champagne or prosecco
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and 3 fresh cranberries. Enjoy!3 fresh cranberries, 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Notes
- You could really use any light/white juice you want, but I find the white cranberry is the perfect festive flavor for the holidays. You can also substitute regular cranberry juice, but then the drink will be reddish-pink instead of white
- If you want a sweeter cocktail, use prosecco, and for a less sweet cocktail, use champagne
- Champagne flutes range in size from 6 ounces to as much as 12 ounces! This recipe is based on a standard 6 ounce flute. If yours are larger, scale accordingly
- If you want a stronger drink, add up to 1 ounce of cranberry flavored vodka (reduce the champagne to compensate)
- If you use the edible glitter note that it progressively settles in the bottom of the glass, so you’ll want to periodically re-stir to make it sparkle again!
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any edible decorations added, size of glasses, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
