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Meet your newest brunch bestie: a Citrus Mimosa recipe featuring fresh Cara Cara and Blood oranges paired with your favorite sparkling wine, champagne or prosecco. Whether you’re making it for a few close friends or looking to impress a crowd, freshly juiced oranges are definitely the way to go.
The mimosa is an essential brunch drink and one of the easiest to enjoy. She loves patio season and a pool day, and also makes appearances year-round at wedding showers, baby showers, engagement parties, Mother’s Day brunch, holiday parties, birthday parties and celebrations of all sorts. Simply put, if there’s a celebration, the mimosa is there. That’s why this elevated mimosa recipe is perfect for your big plans.
Why juice fresh oranges when you can buy it at the store? It’s a good question, especially because, well, life is busy. The best reason I can give you is quality and taste. You’re going to notice a considerable difference between freshly juiced oranges and pasteurized, store-bought versions. Consider it a little bit of extra effort that goes a long way if you want to make next-level mimosas for a crowd.
Citrus Mimosa Tips and Tricks
Mimosas may be the easiest mixed drinks on the planet, but there’s a lot to consider when you’re making mimosas for a group. Tap into these tips and tricks before you get started.
Juice your oranges in advance. Whether you’re serving mimosas for a baby shower or Mother’s Day brunch or hosting brunch at home, juicing your oranges in advance is going to save you time and energy. Juice the oranges 24-48 hours before you plan to serve these mimosas.
Consider whether to peel the oranges before juicing. This is totally up to you. If you get your citrus from a local organic farm or farmers market, a good scrub may be all it takes. If you’re hitting up the grocery store you may consider peeling the oranges to remove any toxins lingering in the peels.
Find the ratio that’s right for you and your guests. Everyone’s preferences are different, so a good rule of thumb is a 1-to-1 ratio – half juice, half sparkling beverage. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to making mimosas, so go with what feels right for you and your crowd.
Tame the tang. Blood oranges, or raspberry oranges, can pack a tart and tangy punch. A great way to scale back the strong taste of Blood orange juice is to mix it with a little of the Cara Cara orange juice. You can also try adding a little mineral water for a less potent juice.
Make it a mocktail. No one wants to be excluded because they aren’t drinking alcohol. When serving a crowd, it’s considerate to offer an alternative to your alcohol-free guests. A great way to ensure there’s something for everyone is to have sparkling water on hand. Use the same ratios and principles in this recipe to make a Citrus Mimosa Mocktail. Trust me, your guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Get creative with a garnish. The vibrant pink and orange hues in these mimosas are begging for a cute garnish! From fresh herbs and fruit to edible flowers, the possibilities are truly endless. Decorative straws are always a fun option, too. If you’re hosting a theme party, such as a wedding shower or birthday party, look for ways to incorporate the color scheme into your mimosa cocktails.
Interested in learning more about Blood oranges? Check out our Raspberry Orange / Blood Orange FAQ in our Fresh Raspberry Orange Juice recipe.
What are the Health Benefits of Oranges?
A healthier mimosa? It’s not an impossible idea. Citrus fruits are a vital source of vitamins and nutrients, the most common of which is Vitamin C. The Vitamin C in one orange of any variety can be as high as 50mg, or 100% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C for adults. Oranges are also an essential source of water-soluble antioxidants. Potassium, fiber and folate are also a some of the nutrients you’ll get from oranges.
How to Make Citrus Mimosas
Making Citrus Mimosas at home is easy. All you need is a little patience and a quality juicer. Any juicer can work. This method calls for a cold press or slow juicer. We have a Hurom slow juicer and absolutely love it.
Prepare the oranges. Peel or thoroughly scrub your blood oranges and Cara Cara oranges. Three pounds of oranges yields approximately 24 ounces of fresh juice. That’s equal to about 10-12 medium oranges. This recipe calls for 3 pounds of Cara Cara oranges and 3 pounds of Blood oranges. Remember: you can juice the oranges 24-48 hours in advance.
Juice the oranges. Send your oranges through the juicer. Because Blood oranges produce a beautiful pink-red hue, it’s a good idea to juice the Cara Cara oranges first to maintain its bright tangerine color. Then, juice the Blood oranges and store in a separate pitcher.
Strain the juice (optional). Your juicer will catch most of the pulp, but some pulp is inevitable. We enjoy the orange pulp at our house. However, you can use a mesh strainer if you prefer pulp-free orange juice.
Serve the Citrus Mimosas. This recipe makes 16 mimosa cocktails. Tilt the champagne flutes or glasses and pour the sparkling wine, champagne or prosecco to your preferred ratio. Follow with the orange juice. Note that mimosas are best served without ice. Simply pour, garnish, serve and enjoy!
Cheers!
Citrus Mimosas for a Crowd
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds 10-12 medium Cara Cara oranges
- 3 pounds 10-12 medium Blood oranges/raspberry oranges
- 2 750- ml bottles of chilled sparkling wine champagne or prosecco
Instructions
- Peel or thoroughly scrub your oranges. Run the Cara Cara oranges through a juicer, then run the Blood oranges through the juice. Store the juice in separate pitchers. Strain the pulp using a mesh strainer (optional).
- Tilt the champagne flutes or glasses and pour the sparkling beverage to your preferred ratio. Top with the orange juice. Garnish, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Supporting local citrus farmers is our first choice for the freshest ingredients, but we recognize it’s not always possible. If you can, please support local farmers during citrus season, which typically runs November through March.
- Blood oranges and Cara Cara oranges are naturally smaller than navel oranges. Keep this in mind when picking out your oranges. A medium Blood orange or Cara Cara orange is going to look more like a large clementine or a small navel orange.
- You can substitute any type of orange you prefer for the Cara Cara oranges. The point is to balance out the tartness of the Blood orange with a sweeter variety. My favorite substitutions for Cara-Cara oranges include clementines, which yield a much sweeter juice. Navel oranges are a little more tart and more acidic than Cara Cara oranges but also taste great in this orange juice recipe.
*Medical Disclaimer: All content and information on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Sweet New Roots, LLC. is not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this website.
