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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 Mimosa in a martini glass garnished with a slice of orange on the rim
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Should Make a Grand Mimosa
2 Frequently Asked Questions
3 What's in a Mimosa?
4 Howto Make Mimosas?
5 Where Did the Mimosa Drink Originate?
6 What's the Difference Between Grand Marnier and Cointreau?
7 What to Serve with Mimosas
8 More Mimosas and Other Brunch Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love:
9 Useful Tools
10 Mimosas Recipe

Why You Should Make a Grand Mimosa

  • Freshly squeezed orange juice and a touch of Grand Marnier make this recipe stand out from a regular mimosa.
  • It’s a fun addition to a brunch recipe, especially for holidays, wedding showers or other special occasions.
  • You don’t need to break the bank using high-end champagne! Any sparkling wine like Cava or Prosecco will work well.

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 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.

Grand Marnier Mimosas in a glass pitcher with a glass garnished with an orange slice and orange halves in the foreground

Frequently Asked Questions

What's in a Mimosa?

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.

Mimosa Ingredients include orange juice, champagne or sparkling wine, and Grand Marnier. Some versions contain vodka or Chambord. How simple is that?

Reserve an orange to slice and garnish your glasses. No need for a bottle of high-end champagne, but instead use Cava or Prosecco, and freshly squeezed orange juice if possible. A beautiful presentation is key! Cheers!

Howto Make Mimosas?

  1. Fill glass 1/3-1/2 of the way with freshly squeezed orange juice.
  2. Add champagne almost to the top of the glass, leaving room for the optional Grand Marnier.
  3. Add one tablespoon of Grand Marnier to each glass if desired.

Where Did the Mimosa Drink 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.

What's the Difference Between Grand Marnier and Cointreau?

They are both orange liqueurs and both would be a tasty addition to a classic Mimosa, but a Grand Mimosa is typically made with Grand Marnier.

Grand Marnier is a blend of cognac and triple sec, is sweeter, and has a darker, oaky more developed flavor. It’s made in the curaçao tradition and is more expensive than Cointreau.

Cointreau is smoother, lighter, brighter, with a strong citrus aroma. It’s also and less expensive. It is made of pure triple sec.

What to Serve with Mimosas

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. Is 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 ever-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:

Useful Tools

Mimosas Recipe
The Recipe:

Mimosas Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield 1 serving

The Classic Mimosa with an optional shot of Grand Marnier

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice, I recommend Valencia oranges
  • 4 ounces champagne, or another sparkling wine chilled, does not need to be a high-end brand
  • 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier, optional

Instructions

  1. Fill glass ¼-1/3 of the way with freshly squeezed orange juice.
  2. Add champagne almost to the top of the glass, leaving room for the optional Grand Marnier.
  3. 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.

There's no need to buy expensiive champagne. Any sparkling wine like Cava or Prosecco will be fine.

Use freshly squeeed orange juice for the tasiest mimosas. And don't forget some orange slices to garnish.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 193Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 3gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American, French / Category: Cocktails