Mother's Day Menus
Honor Mom on her special day with a home-cooked meal she's sure to remember using some of our favorite recipes. Build your own Mother's Day menu with a mix of these wow-worth brunch recipes or follow one from our menu collections below.
Caramel Apple French Toast Skillets
Caramel Apple French Toast Skillets Recipe
Say hello to apple season with the perfect breakfast or brunch option served up in miniature skillets! The warm and creamy brioche custard paired with baked apples and cinnamon makes for a marvelous flavor combination that is sure to delight everyone at the table. The cinnamon cream on top acts as a neutral cool topping to temper the sweetness of the dish. Comforting and homey, this french toast is also elegant with a spiral look that originates from the perfectly placed apples on top!
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Grapefruit-Pistachio Cinnamon Rolls
Grapefruit-Pistachio Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
These gooey and gorgeous homemade cinnamon rolls are a vibrant uptake on those classic canned orange rolls Mom would break out for special occasion breakfasts. Never made sweet rolls from scratch before? Trust us, the dough is far easier to make and work with than you might think. And with a soft pink colored grapefruit-cream cheese glaze and a decadent filling featuring pistachios, dark brown sugar, fresh ginger, cardamon, and cinnamon, these morning glories are sure to steal the show at any brunch gathering. If you want to prep them ahead, simply follow the recipe through step 6 the night before and pop your rolls into the fridge; just be sure to bring them to room temperature the following day before baking and glazing.
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Kale and Mushroom Frittata
Kale and Mushroom Frittata Recipe
Half the pleasure of a frittata is just saying it. Go ahead. Free-tah-tah. For molto fun, say it Italian-style: Stress the first syllable and roll the r. Fr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-ee-tah-tah. Brava, bella. A cast-iron or carbon-steel pan is best here because it goes under the broiler, and high heat could damage nonstick skillets. Handy advice: If you set out to make an omelet but your pan won’t release the eggs and they stick to the bottom, just spread out the fillings, pop it under the broiler, and presto! Frittata. You can easily make this dish for 2 or 4 people using a larger pan and multiplying ingredients accordingly.
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Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs
Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs Recipe
Fresh, hard-cooked eggs can be a nuisance to peel, but steaming them makes it easy. You can cook the eggs and prepare the filling two days in advance, but wait to fill the whites until the day you plan to serve them.
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Sweet Potato Pancakes
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Giant Bacon-Green Chile Dutch Baby
Giant Bacon-Green Chile Dutch Baby Recipe
Serving brunch to large group has never looked so easy or delicious as with our XL Dutch baby (I guess you could call it a Dutch adult). You can have this large, savory pancake—boasting gloriously crisp, golden brown edges, fluffy pockets dispersed through the center, and plenty of bacon goodness—for 8 on the table in under 40 minutes. Dutch babies are typically made in a preheated cast-iron skillet (and these are great for a smaller group, but less convenient if you’re trying to serve more than 4 people); first, you melt butter in the pan, and then pour in the batter. The problem we encountered when trying to convert this cooking method to a sheet pan is that once you add butter to the preheated pan, the pan warps—making it impossible to evenly distribute the Dutch baby batter. But, unsurprisingly, bacon fixes this (and all) problem(s). The bacon cooking on the pan tempers it, which keeps it from warping with the heat, it also provides enough flavorful grease so that no butter is needed. That said, you’ll still want to use your heaviest, flat sheet pan for this recipe, just to further minimize any risk of warping. If your oven has racks on smooth rolling casters, pull the rack out slightly to pour your batter into the pan, rather than removing the pan from the oven completely, to avoid any spills. We love the southwestern flair this fluffy pancake offers, but feel free to change up the flavor profile to suit your taste. And, of course, no one is going to complain if you decide to top it off with a few frizzled fried eggs as well. Serve with mimosas for an easily executed, utterly impressive brunch spread.
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Grapefruit Poppy Seed Muffins
Grapefruit Poppy Seed Muffins Recipe
These delightfully tender, not-too-sweet muffins are a delicious twist on the classic lemon poppy seed combo. Grapefruit works exceptionally well in this context, as the flavor comes through delicately, without any of the citrus fruit’s signature bitterness. And the flavors of both the star ingredients of the grapefruit-Champagne glaze shine through deliciously, truly setting these beauties apart, especially in terms of brunch-worthiness. After you’ve set aside a tablespoon for the muffins, simply use the rest of your bottle of Champagne (or you can also use Prosseco) to whip up a round of mimosas.
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Roasted Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins with Pistachio Streusel
Roasted Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins with Pistachio Streusel Recipe
Featuring roasted strawberries and rhubarb, a delicate hint of cardamom, and a crisp pistachio streusel, these tender muffins say “spring” like no other. You can use frozen rhubarb when making these brunch-worthy muffins, just be sure to thaw fully and press out excess water with paper towels before roasting. Starting the oven at a higher temperature helps the muffins to brown and rise into a nice dome, and lowering it after 8 to 10 minutes allows them to finish cooking through.
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Asparagus with Bacon and Shallots
Asparagus with Bacon and Shallots Recipe
A quick hit with crispy bacon and shallots under the broiler, and voila! An instant side dish favorite, ready in minutes.
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Potato-Bacon Hash
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Chicken in Waffles
This decadent brunch recipe is just like chicken-n-waffles, except we literally put the chicken in the waffle—thus, making it easier to eat. Also, incorporating the chopped fried chicken into the delightfully toothy cornmeal waffle batter allows evenly distributed, full-on fried chicken flavor to come through in every bite. While this is an excellent morning-after use for leftovers following a fried chicken dinner, this savory-sweet dish is fabulous enough to merit going out and buying a box of fried chicken specifically for the cause. Top these waffles off with a pat of softened butter, a generous pour of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of leftover crispy fried chicken crumbles for a legendary brunch feast.
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Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake
Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake Recipe
This incredibly tender, delicious spice cake has a secret… Aunt Jemima pancake mix. That’s right, this brunch-worthy cake starts with boxed pancake mix (but no one would guess it). The added bonus of brown sugary caramelized bananas, toasted pecans, and a hit of rum only makes the idea of cake-for-breakfast all the more appealing.
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Chicken and Chile Hash
Ground chicken has a touch more fat than ground chicken breast, key for a more flavorful hash. Let cooked potatoes dry out so they'll be extra crisp in the hash. Leftover potatoes would be even better. While the potatoes cook, make sure to cook the chicken mixture. As the hash crisps, start poaching the eggs to save on time while cooking. The dish is perfect for dinner, lunch or a weekend savory brunch option. You can easily make this a vegetarian hash but omitting the chicken and adding other vegetables such as zucchini or sweet potatoes.
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Fine Herb Crêpes
A slightly thicker crêpe with a few extra eggs makes this recipe easy to handle but just as impressive and luxurious.
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Beer Can Brunch Cocktails
Beer Can Brunch Cocktails Recipe
You know what's boring? The same old classic drink choices at brunch. Even if you love a good bellini, you're probably on the hunt for something different, so give these beer can brunch cocktails a chance. Occupying the space somewhere between a shandy and a frankendrink, beer can cocktails are a refreshing alternative to the Champagne fluted drinks typically seen on a brunch table.
A beer can mimosa pairs hoppy IPA with fresh orange juice. A pale Hefeweizen wheat ale joins with peach nectar to make a beer can bellini. Finally, the spicy beer can bloody mary comes to life with a cold lager, tomato juice, and plenty of horseradish (just trust us). While those who prefer to drink from cups can of course pour these cocktails into a glass, we think the best part about drinks served in a can is that they’re practically begging to be sipped outside—perfect for the beach or park-picnic bartender inside each of us.
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PB&J Stuffed Multigrain Pancakes
PB&J Stuffed Multigrain Pancakes Recipe
Peanut butter powder is the secret to adding intense nutty flavor (without a lot of fat) to these jam-stuffed pancakes.
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Tomato and Black-eyed Pea Relish Crostini
Tomato and Black-eyed Pea Relish Crostini Recipe
Feature fresh summer tomatoes in this bright, butter-brushed crostini for a party starter that is made in less than 20 minutes. Complemented by a cream cheese spread, vinegar, and chives, the cherry tomatoes star in this refreshing snack.
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Breakfast Gathering
Egg casserole paired with flavored grits is a Southern brunch favorite. Serve with a fresh argula salad topped with citrus slices, avocado, and celery for a sweet, creamy, and peppery side. Finish the meal with Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls stuffed with a buttery cinnamon and pecan mixture and slathered in warm brown sugar icing.
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Mother's Day Off
Who says the celebration is relegated to brunch? Even moms who love to cook welcome an escape from the hot kitchen every once in a while. Choose from these four main dishes for a memorable Sunday supper.
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Bed and Breakfast
Give a special treat on Mother's Day: Let Mom sleep in while you cook breakfast with these easy recipes.
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Alfresco Brunch Menu
Classic brunch dishes go elegant in this outdoor menu. Lemon-Buttermilk Scones are topped with blackberry jam, Grits Casserole is smeared with a decadent pesto butter, and champagne turns into Sparkling Fruit Gelées. Your Mom will feel like a queen and your family will happily gather around the table.
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Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole Menu
Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole Menu Menu
This easy casserole can be made the night before and then baked in the morning before Mom is out of bed. The best part, she can eat it without feeling guilty since each serving has less than 300 calories.
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Mother's Day Brunch
Whether you're honoring Mom or seeking respite from a hectic week, plot a lazy weekend getaway at home with these breezy brunch recipes. Assemble the Spinach and Tomato Strata the night before, leaving you time in the morning to relax over a round of Raspberry-Orange Sunrises.
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Mother's Day Breakfast Buffet
Mother's Day Breakfast Buffet Menu
This menu, originally designed for mornings on family vacation, works great for entertaining overnight guests as well. Serve your Mother's Day crowd Pigs in a Blanket, Southern-style Bacon-and-Egg Casserole, and Quick Double-Cheese Grits.
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Mother's Day Brunch Menu
Gather the family in the kitchen to prepare a meal that Mom is sure to love. Start the 3-course brunch with creamy tomato soup and stuffed dates followed by strata and salads and then round out the meal with sweet meringue cookies and strawberries.