Our Best Easter Brunch Recipes

A quick hit with crispy bacon and shallots under the broiler, and voila! An instant side dish favorite, ready in minutes.

Crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside, these golden, savory fritters are the perfect starter or brunch dish. With a delicate eggplant flavor, deliciously balanced by smoky ham, this is the perfect gateway recipe for anyone who claims to “hate” eggplant. Try not to over-mix the batter as this will make your fritters chewy, and be sure to work in small batches while frying so you don’t overcrowd the pan. If you have trouble finding crème frâiche, you can easily substitute full-fat sour cream. 

You’d never believe these crispy little croquettes with veggie relish were whipped up exclusively from pantry and refrigerator/freezer staples. It’s the perfect satisfying supper for those occasions when you’re next grocery shopping trip isn’t gonna happen for a few more days. 

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.

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.

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.

Our sheet pan take on “egg-in-a-hole” is such a perfect play for a fun, and totally photogenic, weekend brunch.

When blueberries are in season, you find a reason to tuck them into just about anything and everything. Why? Because a burst of blueberry has a way of making almost everything better; that’s certainly the case with these corn muffins. Plump summer blueberries and corn are simply meant for one another. The fresh berries bring a fresh sweetness to the muffins, as well as moisture that makes for an insanely tender muffin. The buttermilk in this recipe is also key to achieving an exceptionally soft, rich muffin. The muffins bake at a high temperature in order to to get the golden color and crispy edges that you expect from classic cornbread. These hearty and delightful muffins are ideal both for a relaxed weekend brunch with friends, as well as an on-the-go breakfast while running out the door in the morning. 

A touch of chocolatey decadence paired with nutrient-dense fruits and veggies—you get it all with this silky smooth Black Forest Smoothie. Inspired by the classic cake combo of chocolate and cherry, this simple smoothie utilizes sweet-tart frozen cherries (which provide chilled body for the smoothie when blended, without watering the beverage down as ice would), cocoa powder for chocolaty richness, and vanilla almond milk for a touch of sweetness.

If you're looking for an over-the-top brunch dish for a celebration, this is just the ticket.

This gutsy North African dish of eggs poached in a super-flavorful tomato-based sauce gets even better with the addition of a mountain of greens. It makes a great brunch or dinner for a crowd of holiday guests.

These individual savory bread puddings are an amazing addition to any spring brunch menu. Bread pudding’s rich, comfort food quality is balanced here with vibrant spring flavors contributed by fresh mint, fresh dill, green peas, and baby spinach. We love the savory-salty goodness that pancetta delivers to this delicious side dish, but if you would prefer to keep these bread pudding muffins vegetarian-friendly, you can leave this ingredient out and cook the spinach and peas in olive oil. Preparing the bread pudding in muffin tins allows for easily-served individual portions, as well as loads of potential for creating a really pretty display. You can prepare these bread pudding muffins up to a day in advance—simply keep the muffins in the pan and wrap the pan in plastic wrap once it’s completely cool. Store them in the fridge until you’re ready to reheat and serve. 

Spread cheese to the edge of the warm, bacony grits "crust" to prevent any custard from seeping out while the quiche bakes.

This dish is a bit of a project, but once you have the pastry rolled and pressed into the tart pan, most of the work is done, and you can do that well in advance. Keep the dough in the freezer, ready to bake when you need it. (The crust is a lightened adaptation of Tanis' original crust. We reduced the amount of butter by 5 tablespoons and the cream cheese by 2 ounces, and doubled the amount of yogurt.)

A tomato pie is a delicious creation--almost as good as the first tomato sandwich of the season. Every summer, I look forward to it. If you've never heard of a tomato pie, think of it as an eggless quiche. Trust me, it will become your new favorite.

Buttermilk adds a subtle, creamy tang to the grits.

Split baked biscuits, and top with ham and mustard for the World's Best Ham Sandwich! We promise.

For an elevated spin on classic ham sandwich, top your next crostini with thinly sliced prosciutto (or ham), cream cheese spread, your favorite mustard-mayonnaise sauce, and chive sprigs for a fresh, open-faced toast that are perfect for entertaining.