Autumn Apple Cider Mimosa

Serve this seasonal autumn apple cider mimosa for brunch, as a way to kick off Thanksgiving morning or for a simple dinner cocktail made with just a few fall ingredients. One of the appeals of a mimosa is that it’s made with simple ingredients. I add a cinnamon sugar and caramel rim for an added garnish and flavor. Because its combined with the added juice, I recommend using a middle of the road champagne brand rather than an expensive bottle. Save that for drinking on its own. Once you open a bottle of champagne it’s hard to save it without it going flat, so I provide instructions for a pitcher for serving a group as well. It’s perfect for this time of year—especially paired with fried apple cider donuts or apple cinnamon rolls.

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

Caramel – Warming the caramel either on the stove or in the microwave makes it thinner and easier to rim the glasses. You can make your own caramel using my recipe from this caramel apple dip.
Champagne – I fill the glass with champagne, then top off with just a bit of apple cider so the juice enhances the flavor of the bubbles rather than covering it. Champagne is only Champagne if it comes from the specific region of France, otherwise it is sparkling wine.
Apple cider – Apple cider is a raw, unfiltered apple juice that has not gone through a filtration process (like apple juice). This makes the seasonal fall beverage slightly darker than apple juice and cloudy. I recommend looking for cider from a local orchard but you can also make your own spiced apple cider.

pro tip

Try including a splash of brandy, bourbon, or triple sec for extra depth of flavor.

How to Make Apple Cider Mimosas (Step-by-step)

cinnamon sugar mix for cocktail glass rim. — **Step 1: Make the cinnamon sugar.**
In a small shallow bowl combine the sugar and the ground cinnamon.

cinnamon sugar cocktail rim glass. — **Step 2: Make the caramel sugar rim.**
Add the caramel to another small bowl. Dip the rim of a champagne or coupe glass in the caramel then dip in the cinnamon sugar.

Apple cider mimosa autumn cocktail garnished with apple slices. — **Step 3: Assemble the mimosa.**
Fill the glass with champagne and top with about 2 ounces of the apple cider. Garnish with a slice of apple and serve.

Swaps and substitutions

The champagne can easily be swapped with prosecco or cava.
If you don’t have caramel, dip the edge of the glass in a little water or lemon juice, then dip in the cinnamon sugar.

Champagne glasses vs. coupes

Champagne glasses are tall and skinny while coupe glasses have a wide mouth. Champagne is better served in the tall skinny glasses since the bubbles evaporate faster in the wide mouth glasses and the drink goes flat.

How to make a pitcher

Chill champagne and open just before serving. Add the champagne and apple cider to a pitcher and stir to combine. Rim individual glasses then simply pour and serve immediately (so the sparkling wine doesn’t go flat!).

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What is an apple cider mimosa made of?

An apple cider mimosa is a fall twist on the classic mimosa, made with sparkling wine (like Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava) and fresh apple cider.

How can I make apple cider mimosas non-alcoholic?

Simply swap the sparkling wine for sparkling apple cider or club soda for a festive, kid-friendly version.

Can I make a pitcher of apple cider mimosas?

Yes! Chill champagne and open just before serving. Add the champagne and apple cider to a pitcher and stir to combine. Rim individual glasses then simply pour and serve immediately (so the sparkling wine doesn’t go flat!).

What occasions are apple cider mimosas good for?

Apple cider mimosas are perfect for fall brunches, Thanksgiving, holiday gatherings, or weekend brunch cocktails.

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this mimosa recipe, give these a try: