Any Apple Cider Mimosa Recipe just screams the perfect cocktail in the fall. From autumn brunches to the holiday season, this apple cider cocktail is one of our favorite drinks to enjoy. Make this kid friendly with a sparkling water float.
Living in the country, our farm is surrounded by apple orchards and apple season here are harvested October through November. And when we drive throughout the area, we love to pick up some freshly made apple cider from our local farm stores for this perfect drink. But you can find fresh apple cider throughout the season at grocery stores across the nation.
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Apple Cider versus Apple Juice
If you haven’t been out to a local apple orchard, apple cider is a mash up of apples pressed into a liquid. While somewhat filtered, it contains all the freshly pressed juice and pulp versus the refined and pasteurized apple juice (the later also has a longer shelf life). The Kitchn has a great summary of the two.
This flavor of actual fresh apple cider is a great choice for our apple cider mimosa recipe because of the natural sugar and fresh bold flavors.
A Twist on a Mimosa
A classic mimosa is a sparkling wine cocktail combing any number of juices with sparkling wine or Champagne. Most commonly it’s orange juice. You get a fruity and bubbly flavor and is great with brunch or as festive cocktails for your holiday dinner.
You can see our mimosa bar ideas for more fun combinations.
Apple Cider Mimosa Ingredients
It couldn’t be easier.
- Apple Cider (the real fresh stuff).
- Dry Sparkling Wine, like Cava or Prosecco (or Champagne if you have the budget).
- Sugar and Cinnamon, for the rim.
- Garnish with thin apple slices. Add cinnamon sticks as well.
If you are looking for amazing sparkling wine shop our own Vindulge Wine Marketplace with various sparkling wine options at different price points from small amazing producers.
How to Make an Apple Cider Mimosa
First, start with the cinnamon sugar rim. I like the coarse turbinado sugar and cinnamon but you can use cane sugar as well. We use a traditional champagne flute.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
- Spread the mix on a small plate evenly.
- Take a lemon wedge (or thin apple slice) and gently run around the rim of a sparkling wine glass.
- Place the flute, rim side down, on the dish with the sugar/cinnamon mix and make ¼ turns so the mix sticks to the lemon juice on the edge of the glass.
Then we mix the drink. The ratio we use is 1 part apple cider to 3 parts of the sparkling wine, depending on the glass size. That means for 2 ounces apple cider we add 6 ounces of sparkling wine.
The last step is to place a small slice of apple right on the edge of the glass as garnish.
Scaling Up Recipe
The reality is that no two flutes are the same size. So the ratio of cider will change based on the glass.
- If you have a special occasion you can expect 4 to 5 servings per bottle of champagne or sparkling wine.
- Mini bottles are typically 6-ounces and will be good for no more than two servings of sparkling wine.
Other Fall Cocktail Ideas
Other Mimosa Ideas
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The recipe for Apple Cider Mimosa was originally published in November 2012, and updated in November 2020 with new photos. The recipe remains the same.
Apple Cider Mimosa Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces fresh apple cider
- 6 ounces dry sparkling wine
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 small lemon wedge
- 1 thin apple slice
- 1 small cinnamon stick (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Do this step first! In a small flat dish mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Take the lemon wedge and run around the rim of the glass. Place the rim of the glass on the flat plate and make 2 quarter turns to coat the entire rim with the sugar and cinnamon mix.
- Pour one part fresh apple cider into the glass (or approximately 2 oz), then fill the remainder of the glass with sparkling wine.
- Stir with your cinnamon stick and let it sit and infuse with the mimosa. (optional)
- Garnish with the apple slice and sip away!
- If you make a second (and who wouldn’t?!) go ahead and use the same cinnamon stick. It will still have a fair amount of spice.
Timothy Nishimoto says
Wow, those pancakes sound amazing!! The whipping of the eggs for the batter I’m makes a big difference in the texture…yum!