Caramel Apple Mimosas

Fall calls for cocktails you can share with friends and these incredible Caramel Apple Mimosas answer that call. Made with caramel vodka, apple cider and your favorite sparkling wine, enjoy this bubbly libation anytime this season, from fall afternoons to Christmas morning.

Caramel Apple Mimosa recipe

Brunch in the fall is such a treat. Pancakes are great, but cinnamon pancakes and pumpkin waffles? So special and so wonderful.

Fall brunch cocktails should reflect all those fall flavors, too.

From pomegranate mimosas to bourbon Bloody Marys, there is so much to love about brunch drinks.

These caramel apple mimosas really steal the show. Made with caramel vodka, apple cider and your favorite bubbly, these knockout cocktails are sweet, glamorous and perfect for special occasions.

Why you’ll love this recipe

These fall cocktails are going to wow everyone at the table, and here’s why:

• Caramel mimosas require just 4 ingredients, plus a rim of caramel sauce or cinnamon sugar and an apple garnish.
• They’re a mouthwatering drink with all the flavor of caramel apples.
• These mimosas are super easy to make but that caramel drizzle makes for a powerful presentation on the table.

You can serve these apple cider cocktails any time you have brunch this season, for tailgating, on Christmas morning or even for Thanksgiving brunch.

A fun way to enjoy mimosas is to set up a mimosa bar at a party and let people build their own drinks.

What is a mimosa?

Traditional mimosas are cocktails made with orange juice and champagne. Mimosas are similar to bellinis, which are made with peach puree and prosecco.

Mimosas are easy to customize, because you can switch up the type of juice mixer, or you can add more alcohol.

Sometimes mimosas have an additional ingredient to make them a little more top-shelf and to balance the flavors: Orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau.

While traditionally served at breakfast or brunch, mimosas can be served any time. This autumnal caramel mimosa is simply a twist on the classic that’s bubbly, sweet and delicious.

You can mix up the OJ part of mimosas with other fruit juices and purees throughout all the seasons. For example, these summery watermelon mimosas are made with the juice of strawberry puree whereas these wintry cranberry mimosas are made from cranberry juice.

Ingredients

These caramel apple mimosas are a twist on candy apples and apple cider mimosas. It’s an easy recipe that incorporates caramel vodka and a caramel rim along with apple cider.

Caramel vodka

One of the boozy elements is caramel vodka. Many vodka brands offer a caramel or salted caramel version. Caramel vodka is actually pretty easy to make at home, too.

I have used Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka for these before, but another one to try is Pinnacle Salted Caramel Vodka or Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka.

If you like, you can use caramel apple vodka or caramel whiskey instead.

For a non-alcoholic mimosa, use a bit of caramel simple syrup instead, or go for caramel-flavored apple cider if you can find it.

Apple cider

Apple cider brings the apple flavor to this cocktail.

Any store-bought apple cider will work in this recipe. Bonus points if you get it from the farmers market or from a local apple orchard!

Most grocery stores sell fresh apple cider in the fall, but you are also free to make your own homemade apple cider.

If you can’t find apple cider, feel free to use apple juice instead. Martinelli’s is my go-to brand, or you can make your own green apple juice.

Champagne

Champagne can be expensive, so any kind of sparkling wine, such as cava or prosecco, will work.

Since apple cider and caramel are pretty sweet, you can get away with sparkling wine that’s drier. Look for “brut” on the label.

My guide to sparkling wine can help you pick out a bottle, but if it helps, my go-to bottle is Freixenet which is in the $12-15 range. It’s a good quality yet doesn’t break the bank.

If you want to make non-alcoholic mimosas, you can substitute something clear and bubbly:

• ginger ale
• ginger beer
• lemon-lime soda
• sparkling lemonade
• sparkling cider
• club soda

Caramel sauce

For the rim, dip champagne flutes in caramel sauce to create a gorgeous look. It’s what makes these delicious cocktails stand out!

You can buy caramel topping near the ice cream toppings at the grocery store, but you can also make it yourself.

Trust me when I say it is worth the effort! This homemade Bourbon Caramel Sauce is a simple recipe with tons of flavor. You’re going to want to spoon it on everything.

Make sure you use room-temperature caramel sauce — if it’s too cold, it won’t adhere or drip well. If it is too hot, it will drip too fast and be messy.

Variations and substitutions

Non-alcoholic mimosas: Use your favorite non-alcoholic bubbly in lieu of champagne. Instead of vodka, use caramel syrup. Or omit it and use caramel apple cider.

Salted caramel mimosas: Use salted caramel sauce and salted caramel vodka. Or add a small pinch of salt to each cocktail.

Bourbon caramel mimosas: Use caramel whiskey and bourbon caramel sauce on the rim.

How to make Caramel Apple Mimosas

Making this caramel apple cocktail is super easy!

First, rim your champagne flutes. Spoon some room-temperature caramel sauce on a plate. Roll the rim of the glass (or part of the rim) in the caramel to coat the rim.

Place the rimmed glasses upright immediately so the caramel drips straight down and not at an angle.

Then pour the apple cider and caramel vodka into the champagne glass. Top with champagne.

Top it off with a garnish of apple slices on a cocktail pick to really add that “wow” factor.

Tips and tricks

Make sure to chill your champagne and apple cider ahead of time. Champagne is fizzier when it’s cold.

Use room-temperature caramel sauce for the rim — if it’s too cold, it won’t adhere or drip well. If it is too hot, it will drip too fast and be messy.

Don’t overload the rim. Too much caramel will drip too much and will make the outside of the glass sticky.

What to serve with Caramel Apple Mimosas

These mimosas are the ideal fall brunch drink. They go with anything apple, like a beautiful apple danish or succulent gluten-free coffee cake to share.

They’d also go well with anything spiced, like chai muffins or succulent pumpkin bread.

More holiday mimosa recipes

• Cranberry Mimosas
• Poinsettia Cocktail
• Blood Orange Mimosas
• Green Mimosas

More fall cocktail recipes

• Maple Old-Fashioned Cocktail
• Apple Cider Margaritas
• Seelbach Bourbon Champagne Cocktail
• Apple Cider Moscow Mule