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Spring Brunch Recipes

Spring Brunch Recipes

Updated February 28, 2008

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Everybody loves brunch, so welcome spring by creating a menu with these stylish offerings such as French toast, crab cakes, stratas, muffins, and coffee cake.

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Eggs in a Garden Breakfast Tart

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Mark Driskill

Eggs in a Garden Breakfast Tart Recipe

Thanks to ever-handy, store-bought puff pastry, this stunning savory tart is shockingly easy to make. The flakey puff pastry crust cradles 8 over easy eggs, surrounded with vibrant spring vegetables (thus, the recipe’s name). What you have here is an incredibly impressive option for your next brunch gathering. Serve with a side of roasted red potatoes or fresh fruit for a complete meal that’s sure to wow.

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Open-Face Matzo Brei Breakfast Sandwiches

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Paige Grandjean

Open-Face Matzo Brei Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe

Matzo brei, a traditional dish made by folding soaked matzo into scrambled eggs, makes the perfect base for a delicious, protein-packed breakfast stack. Just spread with softened cream cheese, then top with smoked salmon, thinly sliced red onion, capers, and fresh dill... you'll be well on your way to brunch happiness.

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Saucy Skillet-Poached Eggs

Credit: Alison Miksch

Saucy Skillet-Poached Eggs Recipe

If you've ever had Italian eggs in purgatory, this recipe makes a similar Israeli breakfast dish called shakshuka. If you need to stretch the meal, simply add another egg to the pan. Top with any herb, such as cilantro, chives, or oregano.

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Fluffiest Multigrain Pancakes with Almond Butter Drizzle

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Fluffiest Multigrain Pancakes with Almond Butter Drizzle Recipe

Get ready; this will become your new Sunday morning staple. These pancakes are wonderfully hearty, thanks to old-fashioned oats and white whole-wheat flour, yet their texture is still fluffy and light, with a beguiling creaminess in the middle. Instead of dousing this short stack with syrup, we opt instead for a nutty sauce of maple-sweetened almond butter--cutting about 27g added sugars from the typical pancake breakfast. (Feel free to sub any nut butter you have on hand.) Soaking the oats first softens them and helps create that creamy interior texture. As they soak, you can make the almond butter sauce and measure out the other ingredients.

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Triple-Berry Muffins

Credit: Photo and Styling: Katelyn Hanley

Triple-Berry Muffins Recipe

Here's a breakfast muffin you don't have to feel bad about. We opted for canola oil over butter, incorporated 50% white whole-wheat flour, and kept the added sugar low by leaning on the sweetness of ripe summer strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Peaches will be a welcome addition later in the season.

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Kale and Mushroom Frittata

Credit: Jennifer Causey

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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Chicken and Waffles with Kicky Syrup

Credit: Alison Miksch

Chicken and Waffles with Kicky Syrup Recipe

If ever a breakfast meets dinner combo were to go viral, chicken and waffles would be it. The mash-up actually dates back a couple hundred years, and we can guess why—the sweet, crunchy, and salty trio must have been just as crave-worthy then as it is now. We skip the deep fry and intsead bake chicken breast cutlets with a super-crunchy cereal and panko crust. Lean, boneless chicken and multigrain frozen waffles also save time. To top it off, a bit of Sriracha and soy sauce adds spicy, savory depth to a maple syrup drizzle.

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Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Pistachios

Credit: Photo by Hector Manuel Sanchez

Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Pistachios Recipe

The key to the dish’s dramatic puff comes from oven spring—the jolt of heat and steam the batter gets when it’s poured into a sizzling hot pan and placed in a cranked-up oven. The butter browns instantly when it’s added to the pan, but pouring in the batter right away keeps it from burning, and the brown butter lends rich nuttiness to the batter. Make the strawberry topping first so the fruit has time to macerate and release some of its juice to form a loose sauce. The finished Dutch baby will deflate a little as it cools, though the texture remains airy and crisp outside, creamy and custardy within.

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Zucchini and Spinach Chilaquiles

Credit: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower

Zucchini and Spinach Chilaquiles Recipe

This verde version of a Mexican brunch classic is the perfect introduction to summer. If you have time, try switching out canned tomatillos for fresh: Remove the papery husks from 8 ounces fresh tomatillos, toss with 1 tablespoon oil on a baking sheet, and broil 6 minutes or until lightly charred. Cool before processing. Queso fresco has the texture of strained ricotta—it won’t quite melt under the broiler, but its mild flavor will be a welcome contrast to the heat in the tomatillo mixture. Add scrambled eggs to each serving for a little extra protein.

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Creamy Baked Eggs with Herbs and Bacon

Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Creamy Baked Eggs with Herbs and Bacon Recipe

This hearty helping of sunny-side up eggs is a great way to say hello a fresh spring morning.

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Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Lower

Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries Recipe

The typical syrup-doused breakfast plate gets a healthy transformation with these lower-sugar, fruit-forward, gluten-free, whole-grain waffles.

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Veggie Eggy Scramble

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Veggie Eggy Scramble Recipe

We like the idea of incorporating veggies into the morning meal, and it's not hard or time-consuming to do.

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Golden Potato-and-Smoked Sausage Hash

Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Golden Potato-and-Smoked Sausage Hash Recipe

Make this hash even heartier by adding a fried egg on top.

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Crostini with Spinach, Poached Egg, and Creamy Mustard Sauce

Credit: Con Poulos

Crostini with Spinach, Poached Egg, and Creamy Mustard Sauce Recipe

Low heat is the key to perfect poaching and silken eggs in this one-dish meal of Crostini with Spinach, Poached Egg, and Creamy Mustard Sauce.

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Grilled Asparagus with Fried Eggs and Pancetta

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Claire Spollen

Grilled Asparagus with Fried Eggs and Pancetta Recipe

Asparagus and fried eggs are a classic springtime combo for good reason--they're delicious together. Medium-thick asparagus spears will char nicely outside while staying crisp-tender within.

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Veggie-and-Herb Frittata

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rachael Burrow

Veggie-and-Herb Frittata Recipe

This frittata is chock full of good veggies and flavors that nearly burst out of the pan. Fresh crumbled goat cheese and shredded fontina cheese to bring out the perfect texture.

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Carrot Cake Pancakes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Carrot Cake Pancakes Recipe

These cakey flapjacks feature warm spices and bright carrot flavor. Our lightened version calls for low-fat buttermilk and a small dab of honey butter.

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Breakfast Enchiladas

Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Breakfast Enchiladas Recipe

Remove eggs from stovetop while they're still a bit wet; they'll finish cooking in the oven. To make this a day ahead, go through Step 2; cover and chill the casserole. Let stand at room temperature about 20 minutes before baking.

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Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake Recipe

If you're ready to step up your brunch game, this beautiful cake will definitely do the trick. Serve with lots (and lots) of coffee.

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Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

Credit: Oxmoor House

Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata Recipe

A hearty, rustic bread is the key to a great strata. Here, a ciabatta loaf is cubed, toasted and combined with a sautéed onion-mushroom mixture, then topped with Swiss cheese and bacon. This make-ahead dish is not only great for brunch–it's also ideal for a savory supper.

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Croissant French Toast With Fresh Strawberry Syrup

Croissant French Toast With Fresh Strawberry Syrup Recipe

If you've ever surprised mom with breakfast on her special day, you know how much she enjoys being pampered. Let her sleep in while you prepare this elegant take on classic French toast.

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Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade Recipe

Serve this sparkling lemonade as the perfect, thirst-quenching cocktail for your spring brunch. Elderflower liqueur is sweet, delicate, and floral, like nectar from a spring bouquet.

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Potato Hash

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Potato Hash Recipe

This great potato hash is a perfect addition to the brunch table.

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Bloody Mary Punch

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Bloody Mary Punch Recipe

No brunch is complete without a pitcher of hot and spicy Bloody Marys. This classic tomato juice cocktail never goes out of style.

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Eggs Benedict

Credit: Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Eggs Benedict Recipe

The real kicker on this breakfast classic is the buttery, luscious hollandaise sauce. We lighten it up with a mixture of silken tofu and reduced-fat sour cream. When poaching eggs, choose the freshest possible; the white adheres to the yolk better, making for an easier, cleaner poach.

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Peter Rabbit

Credit: Michael Kraus; Styling: Roscoe Betsill

Peter Rabbit Recipe

Thinly sliced carrot makes a wonderful garnish for this festive cocktail.

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Hot Chicken-and-Waffle Sandwiches with Chive Cream

Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Hot Chicken-and-Waffle Sandwiches with Chive Cream Recipe

We did a taste test and loved the just-fried tenders from the Publix grocery store deli.

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Bacon, Egg, and Kale Breakfast Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Bacon, Egg, and Kale Breakfast Salad Recipe

Based loosely on the flavors of a BLT, this salad is hearty and light at the same time. Don't worry if it feels like you don't have a lot of dressing; the luscious golden yolk makes a creamy sauce in the bowl.

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Caribbean Crab Cakes Benedict

Credit: Howard L. Puckett

Caribbean Crab Cakes Benedict Recipe

Instead of placing the poached egg on top of a slice of ham and an English muffin for a traditional Eggs Benedict, make crab cakes the base. Top with an island-inspired hollandaise sauce spiked with lime juice, ginger and red pepper.

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Stuffed French Toast

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jen Rotenstreich

Stuffed French Toast Recipe

Start the day with a satisfyingly sweet main dish. This make-ahead version of French toast earns its high rating from the layers of cinnamon-raisin bread with a sweet cream cheese filling.

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Smoky Egg and Cheese Tostada

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Smoky Egg and Cheese Tostada Recipe

This egg and cheese breakfast tostada cuts back on calories and sodium by using whole-grain corn tortillas instead of flour. Just top with this fun flavor combo and crunch. So healthy and delicious, you'll want two.

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Boysenberry Danishes

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Boysenberry Danishes Recipe

Even if you're a baking newbie, you can turn these out with ease, thanks to frozen puff pastry. To keep them from sticking, remove the pastries from the pan right after baking.

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Brunch Flatbread with Eggs, Bacon, and Frisée

Credit: James Carrier

Brunch Flatbread with Eggs, Bacon, and Frisée Recipe

Think of these flatbreads as individual breakfast pizzas, each topped with a baked egg, bacon, and fresh greens. This is definitely a dish that's out-of-the ordinary, yet features familiar breakfast ingredients.

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Spring Gin Punch

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spring Gin Punch Recipe

A simple formula makes perfect punch every time.

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Spring Brunch Recipes

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Eggs in a Garden Breakfast Tart

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Open-Face Matzo Brei Breakfast Sandwiches

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Saucy Skillet-Poached Eggs

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Fluffiest Multigrain Pancakes with Almond Butter Drizzle

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Triple-Berry Muffins

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Kale and Mushroom Frittata

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Chicken and Waffles with Kicky Syrup

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Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Pistachios

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Zucchini and Spinach Chilaquiles

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Creamy Baked Eggs with Herbs and Bacon

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Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries

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Veggie Eggy Scramble

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Golden Potato-and-Smoked Sausage Hash

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Crostini with Spinach, Poached Egg, and Creamy Mustard Sauce

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Grilled Asparagus with Fried Eggs and Pancetta

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Veggie-and-Herb Frittata

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Carrot Cake Pancakes

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Breakfast Enchiladas

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Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake

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Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

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Croissant French Toast With Fresh Strawberry Syrup

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Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade

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Potato Hash

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Bloody Mary Punch

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Eggs Benedict

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Peter Rabbit

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