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12 fancy brunch cocktails that are actually easy

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 20 Nov 2025

By
Amelia Ball

Low effort, big reward – these are our favourite kind of cocktails to serve with brunch.

How good is brunch? This breakfast-lunch mash-up is one of our favourite ways to catch up with mates and settle in for the afternoon (because brunch is even better after a big sleep-in). It’s an excellent excuse to go all out on the food, both savoury and sweet, and mix up some cracking drinks to go with it. Whether you’re into fresh and fruity cocktails or others that lean savoury with a spicy kick, the best picks for brunch should be easy to make, super batch-friendly and able to keep your whole crew happy.

To set you up for next-level brunching, here are 12 easy cocktails that do all that and more. They pair beautifully with everything from waffles and pancakes to bacon and eggs, so find a date, lock in some friends and get ready to impress.

4 MINS READ

1. Mimosa cocktail recipe

There’s no rule that states bubbles mixed with OJ must be served at brunch, but, somehow, that’s when the Mimosa shines brightest. Fizzy and sweet, this simple cocktail is made for just about every brunch staple – pair it with a fruit platter and it’s a dreamy match but sip it between bites of a hefty bacon and egg roll, and there’s no better palate cleanser. We also love that the OJ stretches the sparkling further for a deceivingly affordable pick.

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2. Bellini cocktail recipe

Following a similar idea to the Mimosa, the Bellini is another two-ingredient classic that mixes prosecco with peach puree. You can make your own puree by blitzing fresh peaches and a splash of sugar syrup or instead blend up a tin of peaches and their juice. Of course, you can buy peach puree ready to go, too, but whichever way you go, this fresh, minimal-effort, maximum-impact cocktail feels a little fancier than it really is.

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3. Bloody Mary

The Bloody Mary is a true brunch icon, and it can be upgraded in so many ways. But if you’re hosting a lot of Mary fans, we recommend pre-batching a big mix of tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and sugar syrup (yep, that’s the secret sauce), and then everyone can choose if they want it with or without vodka (or another spirit – we love it with tequila) and add their own Tabasco for a customised spicy hit.

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4. Marmalade Martini

Cocktail guru Salvadore Calabrese knows his stuff (they don’t call him the Maestro for nothing), so when he makes a drink with marmalade, we follow. Otherwise known as the Breakfast Martini, this cocktail combines gin, triple sec, lemon juice and marmalade, and the toast garnish might just be our favourite bit. We’re pairing this tangy cocktail with toasted crumpets slathered in butter and marmalade, but it would also work a treat with sausages and bacon.

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5. Cosmo Bellini

Smooshing two of our favourite cocktails together, the Cosmo Bellini is a beautiful thing. It takes the original Bellini’s peach puree and prosecco, throws in some peach schnapps and cranberry juice, and it creates a whole new fresh, fizzy and citrusy crowd-pleaser. It’s made for brunching in the sunshine and this is another great hack for hosting on a budget – homemade peach puree and one bottle of each of the other ingredients will go a long way.

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6. Non-alc Berry Spritz cocktail recipe

Spritzes go hand in hand with brunch, but who says they have to be alcoholic? When they taste as good as this Non-Alc Berry Spritz, the whole table can enjoy a classy cocktail. Just be sure to prep ahead of time – the berry cocktail gets mixed and refrigerated for three days prior. Beyond that, simply top the homemade cordial with a non-alc sparkling (they’ve come a long way) and go the whole hog on the garnishes for a very tasty Spritz.

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7. Satay Mary cocktail recipe

If you want to impress with a cocktail that’s a little different to the usual brunch picks, check out the Satay Mary. One for the fans of peanut butter, this Thai-inspired Bloody Mary is nutty, spicy, salty and very moreish. Maggi seasoning, sriracha and peanut butter make some savoury magic with the traditional Bloody Mary ingredients, and we can’t think of a better match with baked eggs in a spiced sauce or a big breakfast burger.

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8. Cranberry Limoncello Spritz Jug cocktail recipe

If your idea of hosting involves easy wins, then allow us to introduce you to your new favourite batched cocktail. The Cranberry Limoncello Spritz is zippy, bright and tangy, and it all gets thrown into a jug for guests to help themselves. If you really want to convince everyone you have your life together, freeze some fruit in big ice blocks ahead of time and show them off in the jug.

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9. Elderflower Lemon Sour

If this is a brunch where everyone’s cleared their schedules so they can settle in, the Elderflower Lemon Sour is a must-serve. Coming in under one standard drink, this is a bright, refreshing cocktail that’s super easy to make with just elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and sparkling water. It’s delicate and zingy but not overly sweet. Hot tip: freezing cubes of lemon juice to serve in each glass is a total pro move.

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11. Garibaldi

Another lower-alc cocktail, this time with just two ingredients, the Garibaldi combines Campari and OJ, but the juice should be frothed to really nail this fruity, bittersweet blend. You can use an electric juicer or put fresh OJ in a blender or milk frother, but if all else fails, you can even use a whisk the old-fashioned way. Served in a tall glass with ice, this is a brilliant all-rounder alongside salty, meaty dishes.

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11. Ranch Water cocktail recipe

Tequila might not be your first pick for brunch, but when it’s mixed simply with soda, lime juice, a pinch of salt and served long, it’s fizzy, fresh and restrained. This makes it an easy pairing that won’t get in the way of whatever dishes you’re serving, whether that’s waffles and fruit, avocado and feta on toast, barbecued bacon and eggs or something else. It’s light, citrusy and a surprisingly great match.

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12. Amaretto Fizz cocktail recipe

Finishing with one last sparkling wine cocktail, the Amaretto Fizz is a simple twist on the Mimosa that delivers delicate nutty notes to the fruity mix. If your friends tend to keep bartenders busy with rounds of Amaretto Sours, this is a no-brainer to serve with brunch. With 60mL of amaretto added to the Mimosa base, it’s easy to offer guests a choice of the two cocktails when serving up one or the other. True host-with-the-most kind of stuff.

Want more cocktail ideas? Check out our growing collection of cocktail recipes, which you can filter with a keyword search or by key ingredient, flavour profile and more.