How to throw a celebratory but stress-free holiday brunch

Key tips for your mid-morning feast and all the sweet and savoury recipes you need.

Key tips for your mid-morning feast and all the sweet and savoury recipes you need

Jessica Brooks · CBC Life · Posted: Dec 15, 2017 3:55 PM EST | Last Updated: March 22, 2019

If you're expecting a carload of houseguests over the holidays or just itching to carve out some time for the people you really want to see but don't have an evening to spare... host a brunch! It's less stress and hoopla than a dinner party and a great way to spend time with adults and kids alike. Gather everyone around the table for a mid-morning meal and you'll be surprised at how decadent it feels, even if the menu itself is actually super simple.

Which it should be, of course.

The best brunches are casually organized, with just the right amount of attention to detail so guests feel like they are at an event. Even if guests (or your family!), just rolled out of bed and down the hall to get there, it can and should feel celebratory at this time of year. So dust off that collection of coffee mugs because some of your best holiday bites are about to be served at the start of the day.

Here's a few tips to help you throw a low-stress, celebratory brunch:

Keep it simple and make one standout item to go with no-sweat offerings.

Brunch preferences vary from sweet to savoury and everything in between, so you want to make sure you've got your bases covered. An assortment of offerings doesn't have to mean more work for you. Go full-out for the main dish (like a quiche), and offer a few 'help-yourself' foods too, like yogurts with fruit, or sliced fresh bread from the bakery a jar of this year's jam.

Freshly-baked goods always feel special.

Hands down, you'll score high marks with guests if you offer something you took the effort to bake yourself. Think cinnamon buns or hot and flaky croissants and you get the picture. The good news is that most baked goods can easily be made ahead of time. So don't be shy about freezing muffins or banana bread. Wrapped tightly in the freezer they'll keep for at least a month, so get started now and stock up for company.

Offer a protein to help people feel fuller, longer.

Especially if your brunch guests are sleeping over, you want to make sure you keep their stomachs aren't growling an hour after you've finished cleaning up from brunch. Protein-packed offerings like eggs and bacon will help with keeping people feeling fuller, longer. If you're planning a pancake brunch, serve them with a side of cottage cheese or yogurt to help maximize their sustenance.

Don't make eggs to order at a brunch party, ever.

Sure, it's fine for three or four people, but start serving up eggs any-style for a crowd, and you'll be cursing under your breath as you flip Uncle Dave's sunny-side-up onto Aunt Gemma's over-easy. Eggs can definitely make an appearance, but on your terms. Try cracking them into individual ramekins or cook them all together in a way so show-stopping, no one can complain about undercooked yolks.

Freeze waffles or pancakes and pop them in the toaster on game day.

Your new waffle iron may be pretty sweet, but it'll help your guests relax if you aren't working the iron the whole party. Instead, make them ahead and freeze them in a single layer on a baking tray before popping them into a resealable freezer bag once frozen. This will also give you more time to focus on the toppings which, let's face it, are what will really make you the hero of the day.

Prep as much as you can the night before.

If company is staying with you, let them do the dinner clean up and you start getting ahead on brunch. Many things can be prepped the night before, including this decadent Cheesy Hashbrown Caserole, or these naturally-sweeted Lemon & Berry Chia Yogurt parfaits.

Make your own brunch cart or stock a corner nook with brunch dishware like coffee mugs. Do this a week or so before the party or before your house guests arrive to make sure you've got enough serving vessels. Replenish the sugar bowl, and dust out the milk pitcher so everything's ready for serving time. And do be sure you've got tea, both caffeinated and herbal, for the non-coffee-drinking folks. That's always a nice touch. You could even go so far as to stock this little area with a few grab-and-go items like granola bars for the early risers.

With these brunch-hosting tips laid out, it's time to get to the recipes. Here's a packed list, with plenty to choose from. Remember to mix it up and round it out with sweet and savoury and something for all. And don't worry, we've even got some morning drink options to help you really kick back. Happy holiday brunching everyone!

Savoury

Shakshuka