The Perfect No-Stress Brunch Party!
Tips, menus, easy recipes, and ideas to help you host the perfect no-stress brunch party! How to host a brunch like a pro… the easy way!
The perfect no-stress brunch party!… No-stress!? Really??
Well, my friends, the answer is yes!! A big yes!! 😊
Brunch is probably the easiest meal party to host!
I can’t tell how much I like brunches…especially the buffet-style brunches; they are perfect for small or bigger crowds and so much easier to handle!!
I like to offer variety, and just like many of us, I love having many things to choose from when filling my plate… But the last thing I want is to stress out about my meal!! And I bet you feel the exact same.
So I thought it would be nice to share some of my best tips to help you host your next brunch party without stress!!
You know that I’m all about simple things and brunches are so perfectly simple!! Really!…
Just keep things simple, and all will turn out perfectly! Remember that the simple, the better to keep your stress level low!!
… planning is the key to a perfect no-stress brunch party!!
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Let me prove how fun and easy it is to plan and host a brunch party!!
In this post, we will talk about;
- How to choose your menu
- Your brunch party planning
- Why and how to prepare dishes ahead
- Tips to make things easier for you
- What to add to your table
- Why choosing the buffet-style brunch is the best
- The toasts bar…
- A few menu ideas
- Some recipes
- Things to consider
- Tools and utensils you’ll need
Of course, the meal is by far the main thing here!! For this reason, choosing a well-balanced menu for your brunch is essential…you don’t want to end with only sweet dishes on your table!
So let’s start with that menu 😉
The perfect no-stress brunch party: Choosing the menu
There are so many things to choose from when it’s time to select your menu! Again, offering a great variety is the best… your guests will appreciate having many different possibilities to build their plates. Sweet, savory…or a bit of everything, just like I usually do!! But the most important thing to keep in mind when choosing your menu is the preparation! The more make-ahead dishes, the better!! Not only will it be easier to bake and cook, but it will also be much easier to serve! After all, you want to have fun and enjoy that brunch too!!
Hold on because I will share some menu ideas and a few recipes, but before, here are some of the most popular dishes for buffet-style brunch;
Any egg-based dish, of course!
Choose one of these:
- Omelette
- Frittata
- Scrambled eggs
- Egg casserole
- Quiche
Some sweet dishes:
Again, one of these would be perfect…
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- French toasts
- Bread pudding
The perfect no-stress brunch party… The meat!!
You can decide to serve all of these or choose one or two… really up to you! It also depends on the number of people. Personally, I like to do bacon and sausages and cold ham slices so all can find something they like.
- Bacon
- Sausages
- Ham
- Cold or warm pork roast slices
- Back bacon
Now, some “side dishes”:
- Potatoes or hash brown
- Some fresh fruits or a fruit salad
- A cheese plate
- Baked beans
Finally, all the other things to serve with your brunch:
…Although they’re all pretty appealing, you don’t have to serve all of them! 😊
- Toasts
- Croissants
- Muffins
- Bagels
- Scones
- Banana or carrot cake
- Cinamon and chocolate cake ( one of my favorites! )
- Jam, marmalade, maple syrup, or any other garnishing
Lastly, the beverages!!
Some of your guests will drink tons of coffee, while others will prefer a glass of sparkling wine or juice… or maybe a mix of wine AND juice!! Mimosas are the best to transform your simple brunch party into a special occasion! Your guests will appreciate that lovely attention…after all, your guests are the essential part of your brunch party, and for this reason, you have to show them that you’re happy they are here!
So, what to choose for that perfect brunch?
Well, if you choose one dish from each of these categories, you’ll have a complete brunch! But, if, just like me, you always like to offer a bit more, feel free to select more!!
Seriously, you must offer a nourishing meal for a complete brunch, offering products from all food groups. That’s why I recommend choosing:
- A egg-based dish
- Meat
- Fruits and/or vegetables
- Bread and/or muffins
- Something sweet ( of course!! 😉 )
All of these will be the base of your meal. You certainly can add a few more dishes, but you don’t absolutely have to! It’s really up to you. As long as all can find something they like…
If you like cooking & baking, and hosting friends & family, you might like this Bullet Journal! 😉
Let’s get back to our brunch party!
The perfect no-stress brunch party: Menu ideas
Here, not only will I share some menu ideas, but I will also explain why I chose these dishes. Of course, all these menus are easy to make and easy to serve, but most of all, many of these dishes can be prepared in advance…which I love. That sure is the best way to host without stress!
The perfect no-stress brunch party: Menu 1
–Scrambled eggs with onions and mushrooms topping
-Bacon and sausages
-Pancakes with blueberry sauce
-Baked beans
-A nice fruit plate
-Toats and croissants with assorted jam and jelly
As you can see, this menu contains every food group.
I like serving scrambled eggs because they are so easy to make. But not everyone wants onions and mushrooms; that’s why I suggest having the mushrooms topping on a side so people can choose to have some or not.
Same with the pancakes. Some of your guests might prefer to eat their pancakes with syrup instead of blueberry sauce; for this reason, it’s better to serve them separately.
For sausages, it’s always nice to have a few varieties, but again, it’s not absolutely necessary! Only one kind would be perfect too!!
Serve baked beans in small individual ramekins; it will be much easier to serve and keep warm.
I chose croissants because they are the easiest to handle! You can warm them up a little just before serving. For toasts, unless you have many toasters, I suggest that you grill them in the oven. You will be able to do a big batch all at once 😉… but serving croissants is an excellent trick to have fewer toasts to do!
Finally, the fruit plate is a must here! Don’t forget that many people don’t like to overeat in the morning. Fruits are perfect for them, and they will also add color to your table!
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: Menu 2
-Spinach frittata
-Roasted potatoes
-Slices of cold ham
-Mango and tomatoes salad
-Assorted cheese plate
-French toast muffins with maple syrup and strawberries
–Croissants, warm dinner rolls, assorted jam, and jelly
A lovely frittata is almost as easy to make as scrambled eggs. You can even make it the day before and warm it up before serving time. Spinach will add color and taste here.
The mango and tomato salad I’m proposing is so good 🙂 …don’t tell my sister that I stole her recipe!! This salad will definitely bring sunshine to your table.
Because the frittata is kind of spectacular, I decided to serve only ham slices, but feel free to add bacon or sausages too.
These French toast muffins are the best!! Again, you can make them ahead and warm them up simultaneously as the frittata. Serve maple syrup and strawberries separately, so each of your guests can choose to have some or not.
Finally, I would choose one cheddar cheese, brie or camembert, and maybe a soft pepper cheese or cranberry cheese for the cheese plate. I find them perfect with croissants and dinner rolls. You could also add a few bunches of grapes and nuts to this plate.
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: Menu 3
-Ham and cheese egg casserole
-Baked beans
-Assorted sausages
-Roasted potatoes
-Raspberry muffins
-Fruit salad
-Toasts and croissants, with assorted jam and jelly
This time, I chose an egg casserole as my main dish. Another easy dish to prepare ahead. And because it contains ham and cheese, I won’t serve a cheese plate and do only sausages on the side.
Of course, I will use small ramekins for the baked beans. And I will top my roasted potatoes with green onions to add some colors.
Raspberry muffins and fruit salad will be perfect for bringing the sweetness here!
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: Menu 4
-Eggs and ham cups with hollandaise sauce
-Bacon
-Roasted potatoes
-Asparagus and cherry tomato warm salad
-Assorted berry plate
-Assorted cheese plate
-Warm dinner rolls and French baguette slices with jam and marmalade
-Chocolate and cinnamon bread with chocolate sauce
These ham and eggs cups are so cute and so easy to make! You could also add cheese to them, in which case, I would skip the cheese plate… unless you know your friends are true cheese lovers! 🙂 And, of course, the sauce should be served separately.
The asparagus and cherry tomatoes salad will add colors and goes so well with the hollandaise sauce!
An assorted berry plate is very chic, but any other fruit would be perfect too. Try to choose some according to the season.
This time, I won’t serve croissants because of the creamy sauce. Instead, I would do both dinner rolls and French baguette. Both go well with the sauce and are perfect for those who like to have jam or marmalade.
… And for the sweet touch…
Finally, my lovely Chocolate and Cinnamon Bread! I just love that bread!! Surprisingly, chocolate and cinnamon are a fabulous match! This bread is just perfect, not too sweet, and so tasty…make sure to serve the chocolate sauce separately; otherwise, it would get mushy.
And because I love desserts so much, I created a book about my favorite desserst! 😉
As you see, they are many possibilities here! No matter what dishes you choose to serve, your brunch will be perfect as long as you follow these patterns! Just make sure to bake enough so all can eat their fill.
You could also add a smoked salmon plate, some pâté, rillettes, devil eggs… or even mini-pizzas!
Remember that the more dishes you can make ahead, the better! Ideally, everything should be done the night before. Select your menu according to that rule, and I promise that your stress level will stay low!! The goal here is to spend as much time as possible with your family and friends… that’s why I love brunches so much! I prefer chatting with my friends than hiding in the kitchen to make pancakes!! ( even though I like pancakes!! ha! ha! )
… And don’t forget to keep it simple!! 😉
You know that I’m all about simple things… So, to me, a buffet-style brunch is the perfectly simple way to host a no-stress brunch… Not having to serve everyone is undoubtedly the best and easiest option. And a buffet table is always so appealing; I can never resist it!!
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Before jumping into the planning part, let me share some tips and ideas.
-Buy good quality, ready-to-serve baked beans ( that will make you save a lot of time! )
-Even though quiches are very easy to make, buying a ready-to-serve is ok to save time. You would find some tremendous ones in any fancy bakery shop…but buy one that looks homemade!
-If you don’t want to use the oven to make toast, use a small table or set a “toasts bar” where your guests can access it easily.
-Butter and jam could be either on the table or in the toast bar area.
-Don’t hesitate to borrow one or two toasters from your friends!
-Same with the coffee maker if yours is small.
-Having a coffee and beverages bar is a great idea too. Otherwise, you will have to refill cups and glasses all day!
-Make sure you have enough serving plates, spatulas, and spoons.
-Keep champagne in an ice bucket; easy to access.
-Clean your kitchen and countertops as you go…a messy kitchen is very stressful!!
-Provide different sizes of plates and bowls.
-Grease the egg-casserole pans so it’s easier to serve.
-Put everything that needs to be re-heat in the right cooking pan, ready to throw in the oven.
-Keep a complete list of your meal menu close to you so you don’t forget anything.
-Write the cooking time beside each item.
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: How to plan
First, remember that almost everything should be ready before your guests arrive!… and it’s essential to reserve time on your schedule to shower and get prepared at least one hour before the arrival time; 😉 some of your guests might show up a bit earlier than expected… Also, brunch is a little different than dinner. We won’t have a few drinks before, which means that we will be ready to eat a little faster than for dinner, that’s why your meal should be prepared before they arrive…
So here is what my planner would look like:
The week before:
- Confirm the date and arrival time with your guests.
- Do a good house cleaning the week before and some quick touch-ups the day before.
- Don’t forget to reserve the croissants at the bakery store if needed.
A few days before:
- Do the grocery so you have everything on hand to cook and bake ahead.
- Select all serving plates, utensils, and cooking sheets you’ll need to make sure nothing’s missing.
- Wash and iron tablecloth.
- Set up your buffet table and ensure all plates fit on it… here you’ll find great tips to create your own brunch buffet table!
- Make sure you have enough ice for the ice bucket.
- If you borrow a toaster or coffee maker from a friend, confirm with them so they won’t forget to bring it.
The day before:
- Wash and cut all fruits and veggies.
- If you choose to serve pancakes, make them the day before. Separate them with parchment paper and refrigerate them.
- Same with French toasts.
- If you can’t cook your egg casserole ahead, make sure all ingredients are ready to use.
- Prepare salads and vinaigrette. Refrigerate them separately.
- Cook sausages and bacon, set them into a baking pan, and refrigerate.
- Make fruit sauce and fruit coulis put them in the proper serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
- Build the cheese plate the day before, cover and refrigerate.
- Set up toasts and beverages bars or areas.
- Put champagne in the fridge.
- Take out champagne glasses and coffee cups.
- Prepare all jams, jelly, syrup, and fruit coulis the day before, cover, and refrigerate. Put onto the table before they arrive.
- Set up the dining table; all dining ware, glasses, utensils, and napkins should be ready to use.
- Quick clean-up of your house and touch-ups.
D-Day morning:
- Pick up the croissants at the bakery store…but it would be better to pick them up the night before
- Mix and toss salads.
- Take out jams, jelly, and syrup from the fridge and put them on the table before they arrive.
- Same for mustards, ketchup, butter, salt & pepper, or other condiments.
- Make sure nothing is missing on the dining table and in the toast and beverages areas.
- Throw your egg casserole in the oven according to cooking instructions to be ready at arrival time.
- Put in the oven everything that needs to be re-heat at least half an hour before arrival.
- Prepare coffee 10 to 15 minutes before the arrival time.
- Take out the cheese plate, fruit plate, salads, muffins, or any other items that don’t need to be re-heat.
- Same with bread and bagels; set them close to the toast area.
As you can see, once all the tasks to do are written down, everything looks much easier! 😊 I bet you guessed that I’m a lists lover!!… lists are so good to keep our stress level low!!
You could use a fancy planner or just a plain paper sheet; it really doesn’t matter…as long as you add all the to-dos on it!
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: A few other things to consider
-Make sure you have enough seating places around the table. Borrow extra chairs if needed.
-Move or remove some furniture and carpets to clear the access to the buffet table if needed.
-Put all condiments, jams, bread and croissants baskets, salt & pepper, cream & sugar onto the table.
-Sit the older people closer to the buffet table.
-Also, make sure you have all utensils on the buffet table so it’s easy for your guests to fill their plates.
-Toasters and coffee makers should be placed close to electrical outlets… but maybe not all plugged on the same to avoid blowing the circuit breaker 😉
-Select dishes that you’re sure all will like, or as many as possible, unless you know your guest’s tastes very well.
-If you serve a big crowd, it might be good to leave some of the food in the oven and refill the serving plates when needed…it sure is a bit extra work, but that will assure that the dishes are always warm.
-Also, a good idea to choose your menu according to the number of people… Choose dishes that you can bake in big batches.
-If they are kids, make sure that the buffet table area is secure for them.
And the most important thing: Stop worrying too much!! Nothing has to be absolutely perfect!! Remember that it’s only a meal you share with people you love.
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: Recipes…
See?! It seems like I just did it again!
I promised you recipes, but I talked too much…again! I just can’t add recipes here, or that post would last forever! ha! ha! But don’t worry, you will find them in my next post!! ** My best easy, no-stress brunch recipes.** All simple recipes to help you host your next brunch party the easy way!! …Frittata, French toast muffins, blueberry sauce… and much more!! You certainly don’t want to miss it! …While we’re at it, why not take a look here for more tips about planning a buffet like a pro and grab some good tricks to host like a queen!! 😉
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The perfect no-stress brunch party: In short
- Select dishes that you can easily make in advance.
- Choose a well-balanced meal: at least one item from each food group.
- Keep in mind preparation time when choosing your menu.
- Make sure that everything is almost ready to serve before your guests arrive.
- Cook everything the day before and reheat dishes just before arrival time.
- Serve champagne or Mimosas to add a festive touch.
- Set up the dining table and the buffet table the day before.
- The beverages bar, the toasts bar, and buffet table should be easy to access.
- Add all spatulas, serving spoons, or other utensils to the buffet table.
- Ensure to have all condiments, butter, salt & pepper, jam & jelly on the dining table.
- Don’t hesitate to buy ready-to-serve quiche and baked beans.
- Make sure coffee is ready when your guests arrive.
And most importantly, relax, enjoy your guests and have fun!!
I hope that you are now excited to host a brunch party and that it will help you get rid of your worries! Brunches are truly easy to host!…
And don’t forget that the simpler it is, the less stressful it will be!!
As always, I would love to hear from you 🖤. Please use the comment box for any questions or tell me about your best brunch party experience. Or even better, use that comment box to share your best brunch party tips & tricks! I’m such a curious girl, I just can’t wait to discover them!!
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Talk to you soon!!
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