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Easy Crowd-Pleasing Apple Cider Mimosa Bar for Brunch

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This apple cider mimosa bar is a time machine, a party starter, and a way to make your friends and family feel like you’ve been planning this brunch for months. It’s the recipe I keep coming back to, not because it’s fancy, but because it works every single time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups (1.5 liters) apple cider
  • 3 cups (750 ml) sparkling wine or champagne (e.g., Prosecco or Cava)
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 2 apples (mix of red and green), thinly sliced
  • 12 cinnamon sticks
  • 12 fresh rosemary sprigs
  • 12 star anise pods (optional)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • Maple syrup (optional, for sweeter drinks)
  • Pomegranate seeds (optional)
  • Orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Rim: In a shallow dish, mix together 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. In a separate small bowl, pour 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Dip the rim of each champagne flute into the maple syrup, then immediately dip into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Gently twist to coat the entire rim. Set glasses aside on a clean tray to let the rim dry and harden for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Prep Your Garnishes: Wash and dry cranberries. Slice apples into thin rounds (about 1/4 inch thick), cutting a small slit in each slice so they can sit on the rim of the glass. Toss apple slices in a little lemon juice to prevent browning. Rinse rosemary sprigs and pat dry. Arrange all garnishes in small bowls or ramekins and place on the serving table.
  3. Chill Your Ingredients: Put apple cider and sparkling wine in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Everything should be ice cold.
  4. Set Up the Bar: Fill carafes or pitchers with apple cider and sparkling wine separately. If offering a non-alcoholic option, pour that into a third carafe. Place carafes on the table next to the rimmed glasses. Arrange garnish bowls nearby. Put out a small pitcher of maple syrup if offering.
  5. Show Your Guests How It’s Done: Fill a glass about 2/3 full with apple cider, then top off with sparkling wine. Add a few cranberries, an apple slice, a cinnamon stick, and a rosemary sprig. Give it a gentle stir with the cinnamon stick.

Notes

Don’t pre-mix the drinks in a large punch bowl; the bubbles will dissipate too quickly. Keep everything cold for best results. The cinnamon-sugar rim is delicate; store glasses upright if prepping ahead. For a non-alcoholic version, use sparkling apple cider or ginger ale. Leftover sparkling wine can be frozen into ice cubes for future drinks.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider mimosa, brunch, fall, mimosa bar, easy, crowd-pleasing, cinnamon-sugar rim

Find it online: https://milacook.com/easy-crowd-pleasing-apple-cider-mimosa-bar-for-brunch/