Christmas Mimosas With Cranberry Rosemary Ice Cubes (Hostess With the Mimostest)

Be the hostess with the mimostest. I said it first, and honestly? I better trademark that while I can. 🥂

This Christmas mimosa is a big cranberry rosemary ice cube made with apple juice and cranberry juice, dropped in a coupe glass and topped with champagne. It’s super easy yet super cute. Everybody’s going to be like, “Oh, you’re such a good bartender.” When in reality, it’s just three steps.

We made these on a whim one Christmas and they have been a tradition ever since. The best part is, you can use them for anything, including sparkling cider, which kids, pregnant mamas, and our sober friends LOVE.

An easy way to keep these cold is to fill a sink or bowl in the sink with regular ice and have these randomly throughout so they stay cold. We put anything frozen to keep it cold in there (and sometimes we just pull the ice chest out, we don’t have to always have it fancy).

It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it works if you’re hosting or if you’re the guest. Make the cubes earlier in the day and it’s the last minute hostess moment that makes you look like you planned this.

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Christmas Mimosa at a Glance

• What it is: champagne poured over a big ice cube of cranberries, apple juice, cranberry juice and rosemary
• Steps: three. Fill the tray, freeze it, pour.
• Time: about 10 minutes of work, plus about 5 hours in the freezer
• Makes: 8 big cubes, so 8 drinks
• Not drinking? The cubes work for kids and anyone skipping the alcohol too
• Great for: hosting Christmas, or showing up to someone else’s party as the guest

These are great at all Christmas parties, and if you do a regular mimosa, you can do these in the morning!

What You Need for a Christmas Mimosa

• Fresh cranberries, about 10 per cube. Shop the cranberries
• Apple juice. Yes, apple juice. It’s half the cube.
• Cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail, whatever your preference is. Shop the cranberry juice
• Rosemary, just to make it real pretty. Shop the rosemary
• Champagne or prosecco, chilled. Shop the La Marca Prosecco
• A big 8 square ice cube tray. I got mine off Amazon, and sometimes HomeGoods has them. Shop the tray I used or get one with a lid
• Coupe glasses. Shop the coupes or these martini glasses

Everything I used is in one place on my ShopMy. (Amazon and Target links)

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How to Make a Christmas Mimosa With Cranberry Ice Cubes

Step 1: Fill the tray

Put about 10 cranberries in each square. It’s easy to guesstimate: you want it about halfway full.

Next, the juice. We use apple and cranberry juice mixed (trust the process). It actually takes up about half of the cube, which is usually the opposite of what people think. Then come back in with a splash of cranberry juice or cranberry cocktail until it’s almost filled all the way to the top.

Overfilled one? Pour a little into another square. That one will just be a little weak, and it’s okay.

Last, the rosemary. Cut it into little pieces first, because a full sprig is way too big. Stuff a piece into each square and leave your little sprig sticking out.

Step 2: Freeze

Stick the tray in the freezer. Ours froze for a good 5 hours. Peep our frozen items prepping to keep everything cold on the counter!

Step 3: Cube in, champagne on top

Pop one cube out and set it right in a coupe glass. Then pour the champagne over it. Go slow, because it foams up fast. Let it settle and top it off.

And there you go. A cute, festive holiday drink.

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A Christmas Mimosa Mocktail for Kids and Non-Drinkers

These cubes are something you can do for kids or for people who are not drinking too. Same tray, same cranberries and rosemary. Just skip the champagne.

Sparkling cider or apple juice can be used for individuals not drinking.

Tips for Your Christmas Mimosa

1. Halfway is the magic number. About 10 cranberries fills a big cube about halfway.
2. More apple than you’d think. Apple juice is half the cube. The cranberry just tops it off.
3. Trim the rosemary. A little piece with the tip sticking out is all you need.
4. Too full? Share it. Pour the extra into another square instead of spilling it on the way to the freezer.
5. Give it time. Ours had about 5 hours in the freezer, so make the cubes earlier in the day.
6. Pour slowly. Champagne over a big cube foams up fast.

Can You Make the Cubes Ahead?

Yes. Make them earlier in the day or a few days before, and keep them in the freezer until people show up. Then all that’s left is a cube in a glass and a pour.

Can I use prosecco instead of champagne?

Yes. Any bubbly you like. La Marca Prosecco is the one on my list.

Here’s Your Sign to be the Hostess with the Mostest

Here’s your sign to make a tray of these before your next Christmas party. Honestly, nobody needs to know it was three steps. 🤍

Having a toddler means a little change in hosting. It takes a little longer to get things done, but he loves to help make these, and it is a cheap project that you can not feel bad about if a spill happens.

Want to see us make it? Watch the reel on Instagram, or watch the whole thing in our Vlogmas Day 2 vlog on YouTube. And if you make them, tag me on Instagram. Tell me if you want more Christmas drinks!

Need a snack to go with it? Our reindeer food is the easiest Christmas treat on the table. And our sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies belong on the cookie plate too.

Pin this Christmas mimosa so it’s ready for your next party!

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