15 Best Brunch Cocktail Recipes Using Fresh Seasonal Flavors

Did someone say brunch cocktails? We sure did, because if we’re being honest, brunch is more than just a meal—it’s a social event that deserves the perfect cocktail pairing. And, nothing compliments a savory brunch quite like a fresh fruit cocktail. The real question is: can you make your favorite brunch beverages at home?! 

In this Crew Home edition, we’re sharing industry secrets, and giving you the best brunch cocktail recipes. Keep reading to discover easy brunch drinks featuring seasonal ingredients that will impress your palate. Host a successful gathering and pour yourself another of your favorite seasonal cocktails for brunch. You’ve earned it.  

How to Craft Seasonal Cocktails for Brunch

Everyone has a go-to brunch drink order from mimosas and spritzes to sangrias and margaritas. Regardless of your favorite brunch beverage, using fresh and seasonal ingredients ensures bright, flavorful, and refreshing libations. Make the most of your weekend and shake up the classics with exciting seasonal cocktails for brunch!

This curated list features 15 best brunch cocktail recipes focused on fresh fruit, herbs, and natural flavors from spring, summer, and fall. Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast searching for new recipes, hosting a brunch at home, or a foodie who loves incorporating seasonal ingredients…these easy brunch drink recipes are dazzling and surprisingly simple.  

The Best Brunch Cocktail Recipes

Sip your way through Sunday morning with a drink that’s so good it’ll have you reaching for a refill! Oftentimes the best brunch cocktail recipes are creative twists on classic recipes. A simple substitution can brighten a cocktail, offering an inventive twist. You only need a few simple tools and seasonal ingredients to create a little liquid magic. Let’s stir up fresh fruit cocktails and bring exciting flavors to traditional drinks. 

#1. Strawberry Basil Mimosa (Spring) 🍓

Brunch and mimosas go hand in hand. This sweet, tart, and aromatic recipe will elevate your mimosa game; it’s bright and bubbly with a tantalizing twist. There are only three ingredients, so simply pour and stir for a touch of heaven in a glass. 

• Why it works: Sweet strawberries + fragrant basil = a refreshing twist on a classic mimosa.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree

• 1 tbsp basil simple syrup

• 4 oz chilled Prosecco

• Instructions: Mix strawberry puree and syrup in a flute, then top with Prosecco.

#2. Cherry Thyme Spritz (Spring/Summer) 🍒

Impress your guests with this tart and herbaceous spritz that’s as easy to drink as it is to make. It’s a great spring and summer cocktail recipe to enjoy on warmer days so add it to your carousel of seasonal cocktails for brunch!  

• Why it works: Fresh cherries and herbs add a sophisticated touch.

• Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup fresh cherries, muddled

• 1/2 oz thyme simple syrup

• 2 oz Aperol

• 3 oz Prosecco

• Instructions: Muddle cherries, add other ingredients over ice, and stir.

#3. Raspberry Lemon Gin Fizz (Spring) 🍋

A few fresh raspberries can go a long way, especially in this zesty gin fizz that’s both refreshing and well-balanced. Garnish the glass with a ripe raspberry and a slice of lemon and you’ve got an easy brunch drink that’s a great way to begin the brunch festivities! 

• Why it works: Bright, tangy flavors make this perfect for brunch.

• Ingredients:

• 4 fresh raspberries

• 1 oz lemon juice

• 1/2 oz simple syrup

• 2 oz gin

• 2 oz soda water

• Instructions: Muddle raspberries, add other ingredients, shake with ice, and top with soda.

#4. Blood Orange Bellini (Winter/Spring) 🍊

If you like Mimosas, you’ll love Bellinis. Originating from Venice, Italy, this classic cocktail traditionally calls for peach or nectar puree. In the theme of fresh fruit cocktails, this rendition uses blood oranges. With only two ingredients, it comes together in a flash and makes the freshly squeezed juice worth the effort. The vibrant hue and flavor will have your eyes and hands reaching for another sip. 

• Why it works: Seasonal citrus gives Bellinis a winter twist.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh blood orange juice

• 4 oz Prosecco

• Instructions: Pour blood orange juice into a flute, then top with Prosecco.

Simple Spring and Summer Cocktail Recipes

When planning a brunch, celebration, or leisurely weekend morning consider incorporating easy brunch drinks with seasonal ingredients. The spring and summer are abundant with fresh produce boasting bright flavors and refreshing aromas. Head to your local farmer’s market and put your cocktail kit to good use! In celebration of warmer weather here are spring and summer cocktail recipes to brighten your day!

#5. Lemon Basil Collins (Spring) 🌿

The best brunch cocktail recipes are simple, quick to assemble, and won’t drag you down for the rest of the day. Garnish with a slice of lemon, smack a basil leaf, and enjoy this easy brunch drink! Put a little pep in your step with this fragrant and citrusy collins. 

• Why it works: Light, herbaceous, and slightly tart—great for spring.

• Ingredients:

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 oz basil simple syrup

• 2 oz gin

• 3 oz soda water

• Instructions: Shake lemon juice, syrup, and gin with ice, then top with soda.

#6. Cucumber Elderflower Cooler (Spring/Summer) 🥒

This refreshing and hydrating cocktail has floral, slightly sweet, and citrusy notes. It’s the perfect drink for those who aren’t fans of fresh fruit cocktails. It’s still an easy brunch drink and a light way to start the day.

• Why it works: Cool and floral pairs well with light brunch dishes.

• Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin

• 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur

• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

• 3 cucumber slices

• 3 oz soda water

• Instructions: Muddle cucumber, add other ingredients over ice, and stir.

#7. Pineapple Coconut Mimosa (Summer) 🍍

In the heat of summer reach for this fruit-forward thirst quencher. The pineapple provides a touch of acidity and the coconut enhances the tropical notes. This refreshing libation makes a great seasonal cocktail for brunch in the summertime.  Sip on paradise in a glass!

• Why it works: A tropical twist on a brunch classic.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple juice

• 1 oz coconut water

• 4 oz Prosecco

• Instructions: Pour pineapple juice and coconut water into a flute, then top with Prosecco.

#8. Cantaloupe Bellini (Late Summer) 🍈

The best brunch cocktail recipes are the ones that are as easy to make as they are to drink. This recipe is simple and delicate but most importantly, it’s delicious. Call on refreshing cantaloupe and savor summer in a glass. 

• Why it works: Subtle melon sweetness makes for a great alternative to peach Bellinis.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh cantaloupe puree

• 4 oz Prosecco

• Instructions: Pour cantaloupe puree into a flute, then top with Prosecco.

Tasty Fresh Fruit Cocktails

The best spring and summer cocktail recipes source fresh local ingredients so incorporate juicy watermelon, rich blueberries, and tender peaches into your brunch beverages. All while putting your bar tools to good use by muddling fresh berries, shaking up concoctions, and straining delicacies into your glassware. Below are a few fresh fruit cocktail recipes highlighting seasonal ingredients. 

#9. Blueberry Lavender Collins (Spring/Summer) 🫐

Nothing says summer like a bushel of blueberries.  If you like blueberry pancakes and muffins you’ll love this blueberry cocktail! This recipe balances blueberry’s sweet and tart notes with lavender’s aromatic and floral flavor profile. It’s refreshing, delicate, and a creative addition to any brunch menu.

• Why it works: Light and aromatic, perfect for brunch gatherings.

• Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries

• 1/2 oz lavender syrup

• 2 oz gin

• 3 oz soda water

• Instructions: Muddle blueberries, add gin and syrup, shake, and top with soda.

#10. Watermelon Mint Fizz (Summer) 🍉

Biting into a slice of juicy and bright watermelon is a quintessential summer day. Watermelon is light, thirst-quenching, and makes a refreshingly easy brunch drink that perfectly complements the summer heat.  

• Why it works: Hydrating, light, and perfect for hot brunch days.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh watermelon juice

• 1/4 cup lime juice

• 3 mint leaves

• 2 oz vodka

• Splash of soda water

• Instructions: Shake all ingredients except soda with ice, strain, and top with soda.

#11. Honey Peach Whiskey Smash (Summer) 🍑

This fresh fruit cocktail balances the tartness and sweetness of a peach with the warm bourbon notes. Whip out your smash kit and get your muddle on for a brunch drink that packs a little punch. It’ll stand up to freshly made French toast and pancakes drizzled with maple syrup for an energizing morning feast. 

• Why it works: Fresh peaches and honey balance whiskey for a smooth drink.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 peach, muddled

• 1 oz honey syrup

• 2 oz bourbon

• 1/2 oz lemon juice

• Instructions: Muddle peach with honey, add bourbon and lemon juice, and shake with ice.

Seasonal Cocktails for Brunch

A mixology kit allows you to tailor your favorite drinks for seasonal festivities. Above, we shared several spring and summer cocktail recipes, but what about drinks for each season?!  These last recipes are the best brunch cocktail recipes with one for each season. So, no matter the time of year, you can plan your menu with these seasonal cocktails for brunch. Cheers!

#12. Grapefruit Rosemary Spritz (Spring) 🍊

This punchy and herbaceous drink will enliven your senses. The winning combination bursts with flavors and is a great way to start the morning. Garnish with a spring of rosemary and a slice of pink grapefruit, and it’ll look as pretty as it tastes.

• Why it works: Citrus and herbs make a balanced, lightly bitter brunch sipper.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice

• 1 sprig rosemary

• 3 oz sparkling wine

• Splash of soda water

• Instructions: Muddle rosemary, add juice and wine over ice, then top with soda.

#13. Blackberry Sage Margarita (Late Summer) 🍇

If you’re not a fan of spicy margaritas in the morning but love tequila, 

switching out jalapenos for blackberries and sage is a game changer. This delicious combination is an easy brunch drink and a crowd-pleaser. You can make it to order, but consider crafting a batch because you’ll surely want a refill. 

• Why it works: Earthy sage + juicy blackberries = complex and delicious.

• Ingredients:

• 4 blackberries

• 1 sprig sage

• 2 oz tequila

• 1 oz lime juice

• 1/2 oz agave

• Instructions: Muddle sage and blackberries, add other ingredients, shake, and strain over ice.

#14. Spiced Apple Cider Sangria (Fall) 🍏

Warm up with seasonal cocktails for brunch and dare to deviate from the classic sangria. Embrace the flavors and aromas of fall with this apple cider sangria recipe. It’s sure to be a hit.  

• Why it works: Cozy and full of fall flavors.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup apple cider

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 1 oz brandy

• Sliced apples and cinnamon stick

• Instructions: Stir all ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

#15. Pomegranate Ginger Mule (Winter) ❄️

On cooler days, the best brunch cocktail recipes will warm you from the inside out. This festive ginger mule boasts invigorating notes that will awaken the senses without overpowering your morning meal. 

• Why it works: Warming ginger + tart pomegranate = festive and refreshing.

• Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice

• 2 oz vodka

• 1/2 oz lime juice

• 1/4 cup ginger beer

• Instructions: Stir all ingredients and serve in a copper mug with ice.

Hosting the Perfect Seasonal Brunch

There are many reasons to brunch from birthday celebrations and catching up with friends to slow Sunday morning meals. Whatever the motivation, a great cocktail elevates brunch, and being able to whip up a craft brunch cocktail is a great trick to have up your sleeve. You don’t need complicated ingredients or fancy barware because fresh seasonal ingredients will make cocktails taste better and more refreshing. 

While sticking to the seasons and their own unique flavors—you’ve got a headstart on what type of cocktail to build. In the winter reach for citrus, go for berries in spring, think of melons in summer, and pick those apples in fall. As always, we’re here to help you make easy brunch drinks so stock up on fresh ingredients and stylish glassware to make your brunch unforgettable!