
Grand Marnier Mimosas
Mimosas make the perfect brunch cocktail! With freshly squeezed orange juice, sparkly champagne and an optional shot of Grand Marnier, this Grand Marnier Mimosas recipe was the perfect choice when we hosted our dinner club for a Sunday brunch.
If you don’t know How to Make Mimosas, you’ve come to the right spot!
Grand Marnier Mimosas – A Classic Brunch Cocktail with a Twist
The mixture of orange juice and champagne has been served for celebratory breakfasts and brunches for eons. Though you don’t need top of the line champagne, you do need a terrific orange juice to make the best version of this brunch cocktail. Have you ever made freshly squeezed orange juice? Once you do, you’ll know what you’ve been missing.
It is a bit of work unless you own a juicer, but it’s worth it for special occasions. If you can find a bag or two of Valencia oranges, nab them up and reserve them for juicing. And if you don’t have to drive anywhere, you want to spike your mimosas with a tablespoon of Grand Marnier, or your favorite orange liqueur. Totally blissful.
How to Make Mimosas
Mimosas are a super easy cocktail with minimal ingredients making them perfect for entertaining. You need just 2 or 3 quality ingredients mixed together for a stellar cocktail recipe.
Here’s What Is In a Mimosa: orange juice, champagne or sparkling wine and Grand Marnier. How simple is that?
Reserve an orange to slice and garnish your glasses. Pick out decent champagne and use freshly squeezed orange juice if possible. Using the best of the best AND presentation is key! Cheers!
Where Did the Mimosa Originate?
Back in the 1920s, it was a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris who mixed equal parts juice and sparkling wine to create the first mimosa cocktail. Apparently, it’s a twist on an earlier cocktail invented in London, Buck’s Fizz, which contained a larger proportion of champagne.
Tips for Planning the Perfect Brunch
Adding a signature cocktail is fun for a special occasion, holiday brunches included! These Grand Marnier Mimosas are perfect as you’ll typically have orange juice on hand.
- Set your menu with an entree, sides, drinks and something sweet, if desired.
- Think of your guests and their preferences. Someone gluten free? Vegetarian? Children with picky palates?
- Vary your menu with the season. For Mother’s Day or Easter, berry and lemon dishes are perfect. For a fall event, think apples and pumpkin.
- Set up a beverage bar with juices, milk, coffee, tea along with cream, sweeteners, stir sticks, etc.
- Since “brunch” is a combination of lunch and breakfast, almost all dishes are acceptable. Think of what you can load your plate with at a restaurant’s brunch selections. Even a spiral ham works with little buns and condiments!
- Casseroles will feed a crowd. I love a French Toast Casserole, Breakfast Strata, or how about the every popular Funeral Potatoes?
- Too many options to decide what to include? Set a theme! Tex-Mex/fiesta, French with croissants, tarts and bubbly, or even a color, like pink or green!
- Make sure to have some healthy fare like a big fruit salad. If you want to go the extra mile, let folks make parfaits with fruit, vanilla yogurt and granola!!
More Mimosas and Other Brunch Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love:
- Mimosa Margaritas from Wine and Glue
- Pineapple Peach Mimosa from Big Bear’s Wife
- How to Set Up an Easy DIY Mimosa Bar from Garnish with Lemon
- Peach Bellini
- Strawberry Bellinis
- Plus More of the Best Cocktail Recipes
A Couple of Things You May Need to Make Mimosas:
Mimosas
The Classic Mimosa with an optional shot of Grand Marnier
Ingredients
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice, I recommend Valencia oranges
- 4 ounces champagne, chilled, does not need to be a high-end brand
- 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier, optional
Instructions
- Fill glass ¼-1/3 of the way with freshly squeezed orange juice. Add champagne almost to the top of the glass, leaving room for the optional Grand Marnier.
- Add one tablespoon of Grand Marnier to each glass if desired.
Notes
Measurements need not be precise but use the above amounts to start and tweak to your liking.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 193 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 8mg Carbohydrates: 27g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 18g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 2g
Just lovely, and your suggestion to add Grand Marnier is perfect!
Dear Lizzy, what a marvelous drink for the holidays. A perfect mix. xo, Catherine
The shot of Grand Marnier is genius! I’ll try that out this weekend.
I love it, the official drink for the Holidays!
I don’t really care for orange juice, but Mimosa’s are the exception. They’re great, perfect for brunch and I like yours with the GM! Must try!
While I love Mimosas, I tend to save them for brunch out. Why? Because the rest of the bottle of champagne goes to waste. One ot two Mimosas and hubby and I are done. My tightwaddedness will not let me do them very often. But, I love them. Do you have any suggestions for savying the remainder of the champagne?
Hi,Joan,
Check your liquor store to see if they carry mini bottles of champagne. I know Korbel makes them, and I bet other brands do, too. I hate the waste, as well—I’ve used leftovers in sauces for chicken, etc, but that only uses a small amount.
I wouldn’t refuse a glass!
I enjoyed a Mimosa on Thanksgiving Liz! Love the idea of adding the Grand Marnier:@)
Hi Liz:)
Oooooo la la, Mimosas spiked with Grand Marnier, I likey:) Who wants to wait for Brunch. Sure wish I had one in front of me right now!
Thanks for sharing, Liz…oh so pinned!!!
It has been a while since I have had mimosas. Your mimosas look very inviting.
One of my favorite holiday drinks!
What a perfect way to add some cheer to a brunch! Freshly squeezed is definitely the way to go, we’re fortunate to have a green grocer in our hood that squeezes daily, it’s so good!
This is going to make me sound snobby, but the only juice I ever drink is freshly squeezed. I’ll never forget one Florida vacation with amazing oranges and the juice they made!
These mimosas look so vibrant and perfect!
Of COURSE you needed these for a brunchy Sunday–such a classic! Hope you have an equally mimosa-filled Sunday this weekend, Liz!
Liz, what a fabulous color your Mimosa has – I have to admit that I never tasted one but it sounds amazing and perfect for any kind of special celebration!
Love love mimosas and this looks amazing. The color is simply stunning. I am catching on your posts and will pin a bunch to make later.
xoxo
This looks so pretty!
This is such a festive drink, Liz. I love the colour and you have presented it beautifully. Years ago I used to work on a party boat that went around Sydney harbour and as everyone came aboard we would give them a mimosa! Your images have taken me back to a fun job long, long ago! xx
Love Mimosa and yours looks amazing ! So chic!
Hi Liz, these are just awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe. 🙂
Our Christmas breakfast wouldn’t be the same without Mimosas. Maybe I’ll have one of the kids squeeze the oranges for me!
Lizzy,
I just had mimosas yesterday. These look delicious.
Annamaria
Absolutely perfect!! I would love it if you would link it up to Tipsy Tuesday at Grey is the New Black!
Hello! I hope you’re having a good week. These are some beautiful mimosas! They looked so tasty that I’ve linked to them my latest post on BuzzFeed. I’m still waiting to see if it will be promoted, so it would be great if you could stop by and upvote it, and also share it on your social media!
Here’s the link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/annemariewalker/16-delicious-reasons-you-should-drink-somthing-fiz-20ib5
I loved the recipe and I hope share more of your posts in the future. Have great day! 🙂
Thanks so much, Annemarie!
The perfect way to start the day!
We made these for Easter and they were a big hit!
This was such a big hit! I cannot wait to make it again!
I love easy cocktails! The fresh orange juice definitely makes the difference! It’s delicious.
Made these for Easter and they were a huge hit! Will make again.
Made these to go with brunch the other day and we all loved them!
Served these mimosas to my friends and family over Easter weekend and they were such a hit. A great alternative to usual (and somewhat boring) mimosas. This recipe is a keeper!
I really loved it! My new favorite mimosa!!