Brunch is the absolute best – I am a big fan of sleeping in on a weekend, but I still want to have an amazing breakfast/brunch when I am up and at ‘em. I’m sure you have your hot spots for a fabulous brunch but what if you don’t feel like braving the brunch crowds? How about hosting a brunch at your own house complete with all your favorite dishes and drinks! Brunch doesn’t have to be a scary feat – there are so many recipes that you can make ahead of time to save yourself the morning of. I’ve compiled some great recipes and tips for a stress free brunch. You need to make sure you’re enjoying the brunch and your company and not slaving away at the stove the whole time, stressing that the eggs are getting cold and your sausage is drying out. Make ahead brunch recipes to the rescue!
Things to avoid
I really try not to make anything that requires cooking to order or in large batches, but only at the last minute for freshness – things like pancakes, fried eggs, omelets. There are so many other wonderful brunch items that you can make without this stress/chaos so I prefer to stick with the make ahead brunch recipes below.
Breads/pastries
The great thing about brunch breads and muffins is that you can make them a day or two in advance of the brunch and they’re perfectly delicious. Scones on the other hand are really best the day you bake them (otherwise they dry out) BUT you can make them ahead of time, freeze them while they’re raw, and bake them that morning (just allow a few more minutes of bake time). Here are some of my favorites:
- Maple bourbon banana bread
- Whole wheat apple muffins
- Strawberry cream biscuits
- Apple cheddar scones
- Strawberry scones
Brunch cocktails
Mimosas are a breeze! Just put out some chilled champagne and a variety of fruit juices – orange, grapefruit, raspberry lemonade, pomegranate juice, etc. – and some fresh fruit to pop in (raspberries, lemon wedges, strawberries). You can easily create a Bloody Mary bar, too. We have some great suggestions for rimmers and garnishes as well as variations using vodka as well as bacon-infused bourbon.
Sweets
Every brunch needs something sweet – here are some great ideas:
- Strawberry rhubarb crumble
- Peach & plum breakfast crumble
- Overnight buttery streusel coffee cake
- Monkey bread
Eggs
If you have to have eggs, I highly recommend this recipe for baked eggs with spinach and mushrooms – you can feed multiple people with one recipe and you can even prepare the veggie portion the day before so you just have to assemble it in the pot, crack in the eggs, and bake! You can also make a quiche ahead of time and pop it in the oven to warm it that morning.
Other options are these frittata cups, these adorable breakfast muffins that have a whole egg baked inside, or this slow cooker spinach and ham frittata.
Fruit & yogurt
The morning of, put together fresh fruit in a bowl (can be as easy as berries – no cutting up involved) and if you’re feeling up for it, set up a yogurt bar with small bowls of nuts, granola, shredded coconut, dried fruit, honey, chocolate chips, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
French toast
I know, this seems like an “on demand” kind of dish, but not when you soak it overnight in the fridge and pop it in the oven that morning! Here are a few such recipes to try:
Savory dishes
Stratas and savory bread puddings/casseroles can be assembled the night before and baked that morning. Here are some excellent recipes to try:
- Sausage & kale strata
- Ham & cheese breakfast casserole
- Spinach & pancetta strata
- Breakfast slab pie
- Cheese & spinach strata
- Christmas morning casserole – trust me, this is not something that you should just save for Christmas 🙂
Other tips
- Set out everything you can the night before – even little things like plates, silverware, mugs, etc. You’ll thank yourself in the morning. Plus this way you’ll know if you’re missing anything so you can run to the grocery store the night before instead of scrambling 5 minutes before people arrive.
- Make sure you enjoy the day, remember to chat with friends and try not to stress.
- If you want to do bacon and sausage, you can cook it in the oven, or even the night before and reheat them in the oven.
- Make a list so you don’t forget tasks and mark which to do on which days.
- Consider a buffet setup to make it easier on you and your guests.
- Keep the coffee flowing!
Hope these make ahead brunch recipes help ease the stress of your brunch planning! Remember to enjoy yourself 🙂