We've got you covered. This list of over 30 tasty brunch ideas will ensure your next family get-together is a success. A big THANK YOU to Crystal Farms® for sponsoring today's collection of brunch recipes.
When you were a kid, there was something magical about brunch... Mixing sweet breakfast treats with savory lunch staples all on the same plate was living on the WILD side.
Even today, the variety and slower pace of brunch make the meal a personal favorite. There are just so many delicious brunch recipes to mix and match.
30+ Brunch Ideas For You
Whether you're enjoying brunch on a random weekend or on a special holiday, it's an excellent opportunity to slow down and connect with your family. A word of caution though, my friend: Don't get stuck in the kitchen by yourself. There are two ways to ensure this doesn't happen:
- Plan your brunch using make-ahead brunch ideas.
- Get your family involved in the baking.
Skip the day-of hustle-and-bustle by using brunch recipes that you can pre-make. Below, you'll find a collection of family-friendly brunch ideas that you can make the day before so you can enjoy hassle-free family time together during brunch.
At our house, I like to do a mix of pre-made brunch recipes and day-of dishes. Doing both gives our family the opportunity to collaborate, goof around in the kitchen, and taste-test throughout the morning.
SEE OVER 30 BRUNCH IDEAS & RECIPES
Brunch Recipe: Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puffs
One of our favorite brunch recipes—Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puffs—is particularly delicious when enjoyed right out of the oven. The recipe uses store-bought crescent rolls, deli ham, and cheese (LOTS and LOTS of yummy cheese).
The simplicity of this recipe makes it easy for kids to be involved in creating the savory brunch treats. The basic instructions are easy:
Pinch crescent dough triangles together to make rectangles, fill with deliciousness, fold the edges, and bake (see full recipe below).
As we prepare these, my girls love the POP of the crescent package as it EXPLODES open and, of course, they love "sampling" the cheese.
On special occasions, I like to kick the recipe up a notch with a delicious mustard glaze. The glaze ingredients include everything you'd imagine:
Spicy brown mustard, a bit of onion powder, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, and some sweet brown sugar mixed with butter. The combination is heavenly.
Now, I admit... In general, my family (including my sometimes overly picky husband) doesn't exactly appreciate mustard. So the first time I made Glazed Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puffs, I simply failed to mention a few of the glaze ingredients (a handy tip in case you suspect you might come up against "mustard-glaze resistance" at your house, too!).
To make the "fancier" glazed version of the crescent puffs brunch recipe, simply pour a teaspoon of the mustard glaze over the ham and baby Swiss slices, then top with the shredded cheddar (and perhaps an easy garnish of some chopped green onions for added flare).
What I love about this brunch recipe is that you can make it your own by adding additional flavors to the mix. Imagine bacon crumbles, diced red peppers, chopped scallions... The sky's the limit.
My husband and I enjoy Ham-&-Cheese Spinach Puffs. To make this variation, sprinkle fresh-chopped spinach on the puff as soon as you take it out of the oven. I love the flavor (and the dash of color).
Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puff Printable Recipe
Here's a printable copy of the Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puff recipe for you. If the mustard glaze isn't your thing, just skip that part and make the basic recipe.
Ham & Cheese Crescent Puffs
These baked Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puffs are an easy brunch addition and a crowd-pleaser. They’re made with crescent dough, ham, Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, and topped with a sweet mustard glaze and poppy seeds.
Ingredients
- 2 containers of Crescent rolls
- ½ lb Deli ham, thinly sliced
- 8 Crystal Farms® baby swiss cheese slices
- ½ cup Crystal Farms salted sweet cream butter
- 1 tablespoon Spicy brown mustard
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Onion powder
- 8 oz Bag of Crystal Farms finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray (or use parchment paper).
- Pop open crescent dough containers. Place each roll of dough on a cookie sheet. Pinch together 2 triangles at a time to form a total of 8 rectangles.
- Top crescent rectangles with 1-2 slices of ham and 1 folded slice of Crystal Farms Baby Swiss Cheese. Fold edges up and over toppings. (Tip: Pinch any gaps to ensure the cheese doesn’t run during baking.)
- In a small saucepan, melt butter and add spicy brown mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, onion powder, and poppy seeds. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Pour 1 teaspoon of mustard glaze in the center of each crescent boat. Save remaining mustard glaze for dipping!
- Cover each crescent with a healthy sprinkle of Crystal Farms Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese. Sprinkle with additional poppy seeds.
- Bake uncovered for 16-20 minutes or until the crescents and cheese are lightly brown.
Notes
Imagine bacon crumbles, diced red peppers, or chopped scallions on your Ham-&-Cheese Crescent Puffs. The sky’s the limit!
Here's the collection of make-ahead brunch recipes I promised earlier. Be sure to pin this 30+ brunch ideas post for later, so you'll have this list of brunch ideas handy in the future.
20 Make-Ahead Brunch Recipes
Skip the day-of hustle-and-bustle by picking brunch ideas that you can pre-make. Here are twenty family-friendly brunch recipes that you can make the day before so you can enjoy hassle-free family time together during brunch.
- Original Overnight French Toast
- Make-Ahead Crustless Quiche Lorraine — Loaded with bacon, and eggs, and Swiss cheese... Oh my!
- Overnight Ham-&-Cheese French Toast
- Secret Make-Ahead Fruit Salad
- Overnight Apple-Pie French Toast Casserole
- Pre-made Cheesy Hashbrowns — Be sure to add the crunchy topping the day-of.
- Overnight Sugar-Crusted French Toast Casserole
- Fresh Fruit Cheesecake Bars
- Make-Ahead Mixed-Berry Cream Cheese Muffins
- Overnight Cinnamon Monkey Bread — My kids love this gooey brunch treat.
- Slow-Cooker Hash Brown, Egg, & Sausage Casserole
- No-Bake Butterfinger Pie
- Ham-&-Cheese Overnight Breakfast Lasagna Recipe
- Make-Ahead Parkerhouse Rolls
- Amazing Slow-Cooker Beef Stew Recipe — This is one of our family favorites.
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
- Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Make-Ahead Blueberry Scones
- Double Batch Pumpkin Bread — I promise, your family will be happy you made two!
- Make-Ahead Cheesy Tater Tot Brunch Bake
Here are ten day-of brunch recipes, if you'd like to mix a few into your morning!
SEE 10 DAY-OF BRUNCH IDEAS & RECIPES
10 Day-Of Brunch Ideas Your Family Will Love
At our house, I like to do a mix of pre-made brunch recipes and day-of dishes. Doing both gives our family the opportunity to collaborate, goof around in the kitchen, and taste-test throughout the morning.
- Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Parmesan Cups
- Cheesy Breakfast Braid with Ham & Eggs
- Giant Dutch Baby with Fresh Berries (video)
- The Best Crepes Recipe EVER — This recipe is perfect for Easter and Christmas pancake art.
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
- Cheesy Grilled Skillet Potatoes with Bacon
- Sausage, Kale, & Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Make-Ahead Mini-Frittata Brunch Bar — Our girls love doing this!
- Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Brunch Ring
- Spinach, Feta, & Artichoke Breakfast Bake
The next time our family enjoys brunch at home, I'm going to try some of these unique mimosa recipes. In my humble opinion, brunch is better with a mimosa in hand. (Wouldn't you agree?)
If your family has any favorite brunch ideas, please share them in the comments below. We love to experiment.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Crystal Farms® Cheese. The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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