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Planning brunch for a large group at your place can feel hectic, but itisn’t.
All you need to do to plan the best brunch you and your friends will remember is to stick to these 3 simple steps. (And if you ever get lost in the process, don’t fear! Just download our infographic with brunch menu essentials).
With the help of these steps, you’ll be planning a fabulous brunch faster than you can scarf down that delicious spiced buckwheat waffle you need!
1. The Table
image viaThe Crafty Hostess
If you’re having guests over you either have two options: to brunchal fresco or find a table large enough to seat everyone comfortably. Either way, you want a place large enough to include everyone (because isn’t that what brunch is all about? Inclusion and the opportunity to drink bottomless mimosas, baby!) and, once they’re seated, with enough room to move around, reach for platters and toast your host/ess skills.
Once you have your table set,set it with nice tableware (dinnerware, glassware and flatware) and decorate it with awesome centerpieces. We love these centerpiece ideas:
If you really want to go all out, set placeholders that double as souvenirs for each of your guests! That will make them feel extra special and will elevate your brunch-game to the next level. We lovethese,theseand especiallythese.
2. TheDrinks
Now on to the important part. The drinks and food!
Drinks are what kickstart your brunch, so you definitely want to spend a little extra time making sure you have an assortment of beverages for your boozy, health-conscious and hip friends.
I always recommend having mimosas. They’re a classic brunch item and, really, nothing says I’m Having A Leisurely Sunday With My Friends like the mimosa. My favorite mimosa recipe so far has been thispineapple strawberry mimosa; however, if you’re a traditional type of mimosa drinker, I recommend thisorange sorbet mimosa.
Now that you have your mimosas set, spread the wealth and make some freshly-brewed coffee and freshly-pressed juice. If you don’t want to make these, you can always purchase them ahead of time! Most coffee shops offer traveler jugs that serve 10-12 people and you can buy fresh juice from any juice shop or grocery store.
I always like to have French presses at the ready withGuatemala Finca El Injerto Bourbonby Stumptown. This is the perfect morning roast as it’s easy on the tum, buttery and tastes like citrus honey.
For juices, I like to fresh press my own green juice blend (spinach, kale, pear, pineapple and turmeric) or if I’m taking it easy, fresh orange juice. If you don’t have a juicer and don’t want to buy juice, try makingsmoothiesinstead!
3. The Food
Ah, we have finally arrived to the food portion of your brunch. Planning a brunch menu can seem daunting, but never fear because it’s really rather easy when you break it down to its essentials. For the perfect brunch menu, you only need these 4 items:
- breakfast pastries
- sides
- sweet entree
- savory entree
Easy, right? When coming up with a menu it’s also important to remember 2 things:
- know the dietary restrictions and food allergies of your guests! You don’t want a gluten-free friend to come to your brunch and not have anything to eat. This is also the case with your vegan or vegetarian friend.
- take it easy. Don’t go overboard with your menu bytrying to make fresh croissants and savory souffles. Choose what you make well and stick to that. You also don’t want to try a recipe you’ve never done before for your brunch. If it doesn’t turn out, that’s on you and your guests will have to suffer through a poorly-made dish. Brunch is about having fun, so have fun!
Breakfast Pastries
If you want an assortment of pastries, there are bakeries and grocery stores that allow you to pick and choose or already have pre-packaged assortments at the ready.
I always like making muffins for brunch. They’re quick and easy to put together and loved by everyone! C’mon, who doesn’t love muffins? If you don’t, you’re un-American and have probably never had a muffin to begin with. Muffin recipes I’ve made over and over again (not just for brunch, but for myself!) are these:
Sides
After French toast and coffee, the best part about brunch are the sides. This is where you can let your skills and creativity take over. I’m a HUGE breakfast potato lover so you better believe that’s one of my go-to sides come brunch-time.
Breakfast potatoes, hash browns, sausages, bacon, fruit salad – have fun with your sides and make sure you make a little something for everyone.
Sweet
Now that we’ve moved past the “appetizer” section of brunch, let’s get down to the REAL reason why people brunch. No, it’s not just to get toasty before 12 PM, it’s for the sweet entrees! Whether you make pancakes or French toast, sweet entrees are always a win with people (unless your friends are robots).
If you’re new to French toast, it can be difficult to master. We’ve written upthis guideon how to make the BEST French toast ever. Do remember that French toast requires some prep time that’s best done the night before your brunch.
If you’re making pancakes, don’t make them ahead of time or else they will get cold and soggy and NOBODY likes cold and soggy pancakes. If you have the time, I definitely recommend making different kinds of pancakes, such as plain, berry and chocolate chip. If you’re able to pull this off, you definitely deserve a Brunch Host Of The Year award.
Savory
Last, but not least, the savory part of your brunch. It’s hard to choose a savory brunch item that’s loved by everyone, but here are some close seconds:
- quiche
- frittata
- eggs benedict
- omelettes
- bakes
- croissant-wiches
While eggs benedict and omelettes should be reserved for master chefs, dishes you can make ahead of time are quiches and frittata. If you prep your ingredients beforehand, bakes and croissant-wiches are easy to throw together the morning of your brunch.
Tips:
- make what you know
- make what you can ahead of time (the night before)
- stick to 3-6 items (don’t go overboard!)
- make a variety of dishes for all of your friends
- have fun!
There you have it, folks! 3 simple steps, easy tips and lots of fun are what will make your Sunday brunch the BEST EVER.
Have fun and ease up on the mimosa, will you?! We’re watching!
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- 25 Delicious Brunch Recipes
- 16 Comforting Homemade Banana Bread Recipes
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