Set her day off to a delicious start with our Mother's Day brunch ideas. (And yes, these recipes can be served for breakfast if you and she prefer.) Delight her with quiche, a Dutch baby, or eggs Benedict with crab and avocado. If she prefers sweet, serve scones, French toast, or baked cake donuts. So you can round out your menu, we've included salad and seasonal vegetables—plus a tropical fruit salad in case that's more her jam. Gather her loved ones around the table—and whatever you do, don't forget the fresh-brewed coffee or a pot of tea.
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Strawberry-and-Toasted-Sesame-Scones
What could be better for a Mother's Day brunch than these simple scones packed with sunny strawberry flavor? Make them ahead of time and freeze, baked or unbaked, so you can focus on other dishes that morning.
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Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Baked French Toast
Wow your mom with this brunch mashup that's a mix of the world's best breakfast sandwich and a classic egg-and-cheese strata. Prep it up to a day in advance, then slide it into the oven and watch it puff up into this dramatic, delicious, easy-to-slice feast.
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Easy Cheese-and-Jam Danishes
These cream-cheese-filled, fruit jam-swirled beauties aren't technically Danish pastries, because they aren't made with a yeasted dough. Using store-bought puff pastry brings the ease and creates a super flaky base. You can make them a day ahead if you like.
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Favorite Buttermilk Pancakes
A stack of pancakes makes a stellar Mother's Day brunch dish, especially when you serve them with whipped cream, strawberries, and maple syrup—it's like having strawberry shortcake for breakfast!
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Smoked-Salmon Flatbread with Pickled Beet
If Mom loves bagels and smoked salmon, make her this brunch appetizer that takes the cream cheese and salmon combo to new heights. Use store-bought pizza dough for the flatbread and Boursin in place of cream cheese; it's packed with flavorful garlic and herbs. Whatever you do, don't change anything about the salmon. It's good just the way it is.
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Asparagus Custard Tart
Plan to bake this eggy tart for your special brunch, then keep on scrolling for more ideas. That's right: This one is so easy to make that you'll want to whip up something else, too. The filling, a spectacular combination of Gruyère, goat cheese, and cream is studded with spring's most sought-after vegetable: asparagus. What's more, it's made with store-bought puff pastry, which makes it easy on the cook and gives the finished tart a more impressive look.
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One-Bowl Buttermilk Waffles
Get ahead on your Mother's Day brunch by making these freezer-friendly one-bowl waffles. As easy to prepare as they are to clean-up, the sweet breakfast can be served hot off your waffle iron or reheated from frozen.
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Roasted Radish Tart
Skip the bouquet of flowers and present Mom with blooming radishes atop a creamy cauliflower tart instead.
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Pear-and-Raspberry Baked French Toast
Thick slices of challah soak up the custard in this casserole, while Bosc pears and fresh raspberries add just the right amount of sweetness. The best part? You can prep the whole thing in advance and bake it just before brunch.
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Watercress, Strawberry, and Toasted Sesame Salad
Need proof that opposites attract? This salad, with peppery watercress and honeyed strawberries, is it. Plus, this bright, beautiful salad—which includes feta, toasted sesame seeds, and roasted tamari almonds—comes together in a snap. It's the perfect side dish for your Mother's Day brunch.
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Asparagus with Blender Hollandaise
Bring some green to brunch with this easy take on the classic pairing of asparagus and Hollandaise sauce. Made in the blender, the sauce comes together in seconds but tastes just as good as the original.
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Tropical Fruit with Coconut-Pistachio Crunch
The sweet granola-like mixture of pistachios and toasted coconut sets this colorful fruit salad apart. Serve with a dollop of sour cream for richness—Mom deserves it.
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Dutch Baby with Ham and Chives
This easy but impressive eggy pancake puffs up like a soufflé when it bakes and will delight Mom (she doesn't have to know it's more hands off than basic pancakes!).
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Peekaboo Avocado Toast
Don't make Mom choose between avocado toast and eggs-in-a-hole on her day; whip up both for brunch!
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Baked Cake Donuts
Donuts in a rainbow of festive hues are just the thing for Mother's Day brunch. Let Mom have her pick from powdered, glazed, or smothered in toasted coconut.
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Cinnamon Toast
Tell Mom you love her by spelling it out with cinnamon sugar on toast. Bonus points if you pair it with a fruit-on-the-bottom, hearts-on-the-top yogurt parfait.
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Zucchini Waffle with Smoked Salmon and Greens
These savory waffles call for grated zucchini, Gruyère, scallions, and fresh dill in the batter. Serve them with sautéed spinach, crème fraîche, and smoked salmon for a super-sophisticated brunch.
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Buttermilk Oat Waffles
The perfect partner for Cornflake Fried Chicken, these hearty waffles are even more delectable when doused in syrup.
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Swiss-Chard Frittata with Rye Berries
Rye berries give this healthy egg dish a satisfying chewy texture, while garlicky sautéed chard, fresh herbs, and dollops of ricotta add bright bursts of flavor.
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Scrambled-Egg and Sausage Pocket Pastries
Start Mom's day off right with this savory, grown-up take on pop tarts. They're filled with a tasty mixture of scrambled eggs and breakfast sausage and can be made ahead and frozen. Use our step-by-step guide to get them just right.
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Potato-Crusted Herb Quiche
A quiche is always a good idea for brunch, especially when it's this beautiful! Mom is sure to ooh and ahh over the gratin-like potato crust and artfully arranged herb filling.
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Lemon-Poppy Seed Buttermilk Biscuits
Lemon zest and poppy seeds amp up these fluffy, light-as-air biscuits. Lightly sweetened whipped cream and sliced strawberries take them over the top.
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Crab-and-Avocado Eggs Benedict
In this luxe Mother's Day brunch dish, nutty brown butter adds dimension to a combination of crabmeat, avocado, and poached eggs.
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Whole-Wheat Brown-Sugar Sticky Buns
Celebrate Mom with these irresistible sticky-sweet cinnamon buns studded with buttery pecans.
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Ham and Egg Crepe Squares
Breakfast never looked so elegant. These crepes are lined with Black Forest ham—there's also a sunny-side-up egg peeking out of each.
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Yogurt Panna Cotta with Strawberries and Granola
Make ordinary Greek yogurt brunch-worthy by turning it into a luscious vanilla panna cotta. Top with strawberries and Mom's favorite granola.
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Chocolate-Almond Pastries
These decadent pastries will transport Mom straight to Paris. They're reminiscent of pain au chocolat but so much easier to make.
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Bacon, Egg, and Toast Cups
A fun twist on a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, these cups are a guaranteed Mom-pleaser. The recipe is super versatile: Use crumbled sausage or spinach instead of bacon, or sprinkle with Parmesan or Mom's favorite cheese.
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Glazed Lemon-Ginger Scones
These lively buttermilk scones have three kinds of ginger (fresh, dried, and crystallized) and are finished with a lemon glaze. Pair them with coffee, tea, or a glass of Champagne to toast Mom with.
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Pansy Pancakes
Pancakes and flowers are hallmarks of Mother's Day, so why not combine them for the ultimate brunch dish? These buttermilk flapjacks burst with edible blossoms, thanks to a quick cooking time that preserves their vivid colors.
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