Before you start planning your brunch recipe menu, here’s how I like to think about brunch at home:
- Keep brunch simple and focused: You don’t need a huge spread. One standout main, a couple of easy sides, and a good drink is more than enough to create a great brunch.
- Balance sweet, savory, and drinks: The best brunch plates have range. Pair something sweet like pancakes or French toast with a savory side like potato hash, and round it out with a fun beverage.
- Choose recipes that are easy to execute and shareable: Brunch works best when it feels relaxed. Go with recipes you can prep ahead, batch, or put on the table for everyone to enjoy without extra stress.
Brunch season is here. Actually, when isn’t it? Around here, brunch is less of a holiday and more of a state of mind. It’s the one meal where nobody’s rushing, the coffee stays hot (for a few minutes at least), and you can mix sweet, savory, and something bubbly without overthinking it.
Whether you’re hosting Easter, celebrating Mother’s Day, or just pulling together a slow Sunday with the kids running in and out of the backyard, this is the playbook I come back to. Keep it simple. Do one thing really well, add a couple of easy sides, and make sure there’s a drink people get excited about.
If you’re like me, your ideal plate has range. Something classic and comforting, something salty to balance it out, and just enough sweetness to make it feel like a treat. Pancakes with crispy potatoes. French toast with bacon. Maybe a crumb cake that disappears before you’ve had your second cup of coffee.
Here’s a roundup of our go-to brunch recipes from Lilies and Loafers, all in one place so you can mix, match, and build your perfect spread.
Brunch Mains (Build Your Anchor Dish)
This is where to spend your energy. Pick one main that feels a little special and let everything else support it.
Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Soft, golden, and exactly what you want on a slow morning. These are a staple in our house because they’re simple enough for a regular weekend, but still feel like an occasion. Oh, and the kids love them. Read the full recipe: Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Classic French Toast
Crispy edges, custardy center, and just sweet enough. This is the one I make when we want brunch to feel a little elevated. Whenever I tell my kids I’m making French toast, they get so excited. Read the full recipe: Classic French Toast
Savory Egg Sandwich
If you’re feeding a group with different tastes, this is your move. Toasted bread, eggs, cheese, and whatever extras you have in the fridge. It’s flexible, filling, and always hits. Read the full recipe: Savory Egg Breakfast Sandwich
Breakfast Pizza
This is the wildcard that always works. Eggs, cheese, and toppings baked into one shareable dish. Kids love it, adults go back for seconds. It’s pizza without making it feel like a pizza. Read the full recipe: Easy Breakfast Pizza
Savory Sides (Balance the Plate)
You need something salty to cut through the sweetness. These are low effort, high payoff.
Crispy Breakfast Potato Hash
Golden (or sweet), crispy potatoes with just enough seasoning to keep people coming back for more. This pairs with everything and can sit on the table without losing its appeal. Read the full recipe: Breakfast Potato Hash
Something Sweet (Because It’s Brunch)
This is the piece people don’t plan for and end up loving the most.
New York-Style Crumb Cake
Big, buttery crumbs and a soft cake base. This is the one that disappears fast, especially with coffee. It feels like something you picked up from a great bakery (but you made it yourself). Read the full recipe: New York Crumb Cake
Pistachio Cake
This one feels a little more special. Light, nostalgic, and just different enough from your typical brunch spread. Read the full recipe: Grammy Pat’s Pistachio Cake
Cinnamon Rolls
One of these pillowy cinnamon rolls is practically its own meal. Somehow, I can eat a whole tray. Read the full recipe: Cinnamon Rolls
Banana Pudding
Banana pudding in spring? Groundbreaking. This is Magnolia Bakery’s famous recipe. Read the full recipe: Banana Pudding
Mocktails & Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Not everyone wants alcohol at brunch, and honestly, these are just as fun.
“Take the Edge Off” Refresher
Light, citrusy, and perfect if you want something that feels like a cocktail without actually being one. Read the full recipe: Take the Edge Off Mocktail
Blueberry Iced Tea
A little sweet, a little tart, and great for a crowd. You can make this ahead and keep it in the fridge, which is one less thing to think about in the morning. Read the full recipe: Blueberry Iced Tea
Cocktails (For the Full Brunch Experience)
You can always go with a classic mimosa, bloody Mary, or margarita, but if you want something a little more memorable, these are our favorites.
Huckleberry Lemonade Cocktail
Bright, slightly tart, and feels like spring in a glass. Read the full recipe: Huckleberry Lemonade Cocktail
Elderflower Margarita
Floral, light, royal and a nice twist on a classic margarita. Read the full recipe: Elderflower Margarita
Peach Basil Margarita
Smooth, slightly sweet, and easy to batch for a group. Read the full recipe: Peach Basil Margarita
Grapefruit Margarita
A little more bite, a little less sweet. Great if you want balance. Read the full recipe: Grapefruit Margarita
Simple Brunch Sangria
Make it ahead, pour it when guests arrive, and you’re done. This is the easiest way to serve a crowd without playing bartender all morning. Read the full recipe: Easy Brunch Sangria
How I Actually Pull This Together
If you’re hosting, here’s the move:
- Pick one main (pancakes or French toast is usually enough)
- Add one or two savory sides (potato hash covers you)
- Include one sweet extra (crumb cake or something similar)
- Offer one batch drink and one simple cocktail option
That’s it. You don’t need a full menu. You need a few things done well and the space for people to relax and enjoy it.
Brunch works when it feels easy. A little messy, a little loud, kids grabbing seconds, someone refilling drinks, and nobody in a rush to leave. That’s the version worth aiming for.