Whether you're planning a simple gathering for a small group or a holiday menu to wow the crowd, we've got the best brunch recipes. Choose from sweet pancakes, savory breakfast sandwiches, hearty egg casseroles, and other utterly irresistible brunch ideas.
Classic Buttermilk Pancakes
We've developed the ultimate light and fluffy pancake recipe to inspire everyone in your house to leap out of bed in the morning. How can you resist pancakes this enticing, especially topped with melty butter and syrup? Rest assured, this is the best brunch recipe that makes enough for everyone to have a short stack—one batch of batter yields 10 to 12 pancakes.
Egg Baguette Bakes
A baguette filled with breakfast favorites is delicious, creative, and one of the best brunch ideas for morning guests. Italian sausage, bell peppers, eggs, and cheese bake in a hollowed-out loaf in our twist on classic brunch egg recipes. For a tastier touch, serve it with a bowl of warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Chocolate Cake Donuts
Chocolate cake is totally acceptable to eat at breakfast when served in donut form. These cocoa treats are surprisingly healthy when made with low-fat yogurt for a bit of protein, whole wheat flour for fiber, and a baked-instead-of-fried cooking method that cuts the fat. So go ahead and add these healthy-ish donuts to your regular rotation of best brunch ideas. Brunch is meant to be a little indulgent, right?
Coconut-Pecan Coffee Cake
This made-for-morning baked good is dense and delicious thanks to a carton of sour cream in the mix. Layer with cinnamon and pecans, or choose coconut and chocolate, then finish with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and cocoa powder to make this brunch coffee cake recipe even more enticing.
Avocado Egg Bake
Not in the mood to put a lot of effort into entertaining? This quick four-ingredient, gluten-free option is one of the best brunch recipes for those mornings. It's like the classic toad in a hole (aka egg in a frame, aka egg in a hole) made with avocado instead of toast. And it'll come close to satisfying those avocado toast cravings for anyone interested in low-carb brunch ideas.
Potato Cinnamon Rolls
Not much compares to homemade cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. After countless trials, our Test Kitchen declared this their best brunch (or anytime!) variation because of its perfectly flaky dough, thanks to a secret ingredient: mashed potatoes. You can end your search for the most delicious, sweet brunch idea: This is the only recipe you'll ever need.
Mascarpone-Stuffed French Toast with Salted Caramel-Banana Sauce
French toast is one of our favorite brunch recipes, but this dish takes it a step further. Turn a slice of Texas toast into a French toast masterpiece. Start with lush marscapone-pecan filling, then finish with a silky drizzle of caramel-banana sauce for fancy French toast guests will love.
Celery Tonic
Any good morning spread includes a few brunch drinks, too. Think beyond the mimosa and opt for this refreshing cocktail. Drinking celery juice is known for many benefits, such as reducing inflammation, boosting gut health, and antioxidants. Here, we pair it with a splash of gin, lime, and tonic for a delicious morning pick-me-up.
Breakfast Salad
Sneak some veggies onto your plate by serving this brunch recipe that actually has us excited to see salad in the morning. Bagel croutons, crispy bacon, poached eggs, and an everything bagel-seasoned dressing make this salad perfect for brunching. If you prefer, swap in fried or over-hard eggs instead of the poached.
Bread and Butter Pudding with Salted Caramel Whiskey Butter Sauce
Forget the Irish coffee; this is the best brunch bread pudding because it bakes the whiskey right in. And if that isn't enough to sell you, the salted caramel butter sauce certainly will. Fork, please!
Blue Cheese-Bacon Cloud Eggs
Cook an egg yolk in a fluffy cloud of whipped egg whites and serve with a side of toast and fruit for a well-balanced dish. We suggest sprinkling your brunch eggs with bacon, but there's no limit to garnish ideas. Try cooked and crumbled sausage, goat cheese, or hot sauce, depending on your mood.
Orange-Chocolate Chip Muffins
The best brunch menus include a dose of chocolate! These chocolate chip brunch muffins get a nice burst of freshness from both orange peel and juice. The streusel topping adds a bit of crunch and extra buttery sweetness.
Ham-and-Cheese Slab Pies
Brunch recipes don't have to be served up on a fancy plate. Some of our favorites are finger food! Bake these ham-and-cheddar brunch pies the night before and store in the fridge. Warm them up in the oven before brunch for a stress-free, melty, handheld treat.
Bacon-and-Egg Muffins
Corn bread meets bacon-and-egg sandwich in these fast, simple brunch egg muffins featuring crispy bacon and melty cheddar. Serve them warm and drizzled with sweet maple syrup for one of the best brunch ideas ever.
Pumpkin Pancakes
Pumpkin adds irresistible flavor and silky texture to our made-from-scratch pancakes. We envision this sweet brunch recipe taking center stage at autumn gatherings, but it's delicious any day of the year.
Sausage-Mushroom Breakfast Pizza
No need to call for delivery. This scrambled egg and sausage pizza starts with thawed frozen whole wheat bread dough for a fuss-free crust. Rather than adding sauce, pile this brunch recipe high with double the cheese—cheddar and mozzarella.
Hash Brown Quiche
Unique and crowd-pleasing, this cheese quiche brunch recipe substitutes a crisp layer of hash browns for the traditional pastry crust. Add fresh veggies, eggs, cheese, and a generous helping of bacon for a brunch winner.
Hash Brown Potato Cakes
We always want to see brunch potatoes on the table. Use a tablespoon or a mini ice cream scoop to create bite-size hash brown patties. They make a great side to an omelet or use two as a bun for breakfast sausage sliders.
Ham, Asparagus, and Cheese Strata
This flavorful brunch bake can be assembled the night before. Just add the eggs when you wake up and pop it in the oven—it's one of our best brunch recipes. If you don't believe us, check out the dozens of four- and five-star ratings.
