Hosting brunch is a great way to kick off a weekend morning or early afternoon. But having guests over first thing can be a bit daunting. Luckily, if you prepare just a bit in advance, you’ll be ready to host shortly after you wake up, without spending every second in the kitchen.
Get some fresh air, go on a pastry run, and host a fun brunch at home with a few shortcuts that will leave you feeling socially satisfied and guests thankful for the hospitality.
Pick a brunch theme.
Brunch is sort of a theme within itself, but themed meals can be fun to lean into and make decisions easier. A simple theme like seasonal produce or locally made products can help create structure, or you can go all out with a thematic color palette, a regional emphasis, such as Coastal Italian Brunch, or an era, like ‘90s cartoons and nostalgic cereals.
Prepare an easy menu.
To stress less while hosting brunch, prepare as much as you can beforehand. And don’t even think about making poached eggs for a crowd!
Plan your menu to include a cold or room temperature option that guests can nosh on before the brunch begins. You can have a selection of pastries delivered the morning of the brunch, set up a platter of specialty doughnuts, or make a fruit salad, put out some yogurt or chia pudding, nuts, and granola for a mini parfait station to kick things off.
The day or night before, make a dish that just needs some reheating or plating. Quiche is an excellent brunch dish for hosting, as it’s savory, filling, and feels special. You can buy pre-made pie dough or par-baked pie crusts and still achieve a homemade feeling. Plus, you can easily double the custard recipe and then make two different quiches with different fillings, like a classic quiche lorraine with ham and cheese or a veggie-packed rendition with cooked spinach and feta. You can also make batched dishes like waffle nachos to serve a crowd easily and stick with the brunch theme.
Lower lift items can be indulgent without any cooking at all. Serve a bagel platter with sliced bagels, smoked salmon, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, capers and at least two types of cream cheese.
You can try an avocado toast bar and supplement with oven-cooked bacon and smoothie shots made in a single blender.
If you feel a need to fill out the menu, bowls of cut fruit or berries are always appreciated, and if you throw some fresh mint on top, it looks extra fancy.
Set the table early.
The night before hosting, get your table and serving station or buffet area ready, so you’re prepared in the morning. Make sure all the serving pieces, plates, and utensils are clean, napkins are folded and ready and everything has a place to reduce stress in the morning. A simple bouquet can also be arranged the night before for some extra flare.
For coffee, use a french press of carafe for hot or iced coffee so guests can refill their drinks themselves. You can decant milk and plant-based creamers into cute dishes for a more stylish aesthetic. Teas can also be set in a small dish for those who don’t drink coffee. Don’t forget the sugar bowl to add even more color.
If you have a preference as to where people sit, set out place cards before anyone arrives. These can be as simple as names written on cardstock or cut from online templates and tucked at each seat.
Pass out party favors.
With brunch, there are so many options for party favors that keep the theme going. A can of cold brew with a little thank-you note attached is fun to hand guests on their way out. You can make homemade granola to serve at brunch with extra portions in jars for guests to enjoy as a souvenir. Or you can decant your favorite store-bought granola into jars as a gift.
Parting gifts don’t have to require too much extra work. Send guests on the road with a to-go coffee or tea, or even a nice box of leftovers, so they’re not leaving empty-handed.
