Spring brings a myriad of fresh celebrations, but if we had to pick the most colorful and brightest of them all, it would be Easter, hands-down. And it’s just around the corner, so around here we’ve been brainstorming our best Easter brunch ideas, including menu and recipes, plus tips on how to host a festive, bright and colorful Easter brunch.
Kids will be happiest with baskets loaded with chocolate eggs and sugary pastel bunnies, but while they’re scampering about hunting for their treats, the adults will be looking for something more upscale at the brunch table. Delight them with a selection of gourmet foods that are easy to make ahead – so you can enjoy the meal as well!
Start with a choice of dishes that you can either make ahead or serve at room temperature, like our tried-and-tested-never-fails Quiche Lorraine recipe. With a buttery crust (you can buy it pre-made or learn How to make the Perfect Pie Crus heret!) , this quiche is loaded with Gruyere cheese and mouthwatering chopped Pancetta from La Quercia. It pairs perfectly with a light salad of fresh greens, citrus fruits and chopped nuts. Looking for some more Easter brunch recipes? Head over to our Easter Recipes section for more mouthwatering dishes!
But brunch is not really brunch with just one dish option! A simple way to add more options, color and flavor to the Easter table is with buttery slices of smoked salmon, a perennial crowd-pleaser. We like to offer two types of smoked salmon – a plain option and dill-rubbed Gravlax, so guests can savor two distinct flavors. Arrange the slices on a big platter, sprinkle in capers, super thin onion slices, some lemon wedges, and serve with a towering pile of your favorite bagels, alongside a pretty bowl of cream cheese. Or try the tangier, European-style crème fraiche - a thick and tangy soured cream that has a higher fat content than regular sour cream.
Address food allergies and vegetarian guests: It’s always good to have a gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly option - chances are at least one of your friends or family members will need to be accommodated - so add a large and hearty salad that invitees can either enjoy as the main meal but can also serve as a dish. The key to take your greens from bland to grand? It's all in the seasonings. A flavorful vinaigrette is so easy to make and will immediately brighten any salad. Our pick is Yuzu Vinaigrette by Serious Eats - made with exotic citrusy Japanese Yuzu Juice. To make: mix 2 tbsp. of premium extra virgin olive oil with 2 tbsp. of Yuzu Juice and 1 tbsp. Mirin Sweet Cooking Sake Vinegar to offset some of that tang, and voila, a flavorful dressing that's also interesting and modern.
We love mixing sweet and savory for breakfast, so get inspired by how Europeans start their day by serving toasted croissants filled with ham and cheese. Not just any old ham and cheese croissant, but our pre-baked French Butter Croissants , filled with classic Swiss cheese or elegant Brie-style Moses Sleeper by Jasper Hill Farms (or pick from any of our meltable cheese options here), plus slices of all-natural sweet and smoky Sweetheart Ham made in Oregon by Olympia Provisions. Yes, you could use any other ham, but really, trust on this, this ham takes this sandwich many step above.
A bright ending: For the sweetest part of your Easter, bring out a showstopping cake that’s sweet and also looks amazing. If there’s a time to be thematic with carrots, Easter is it, so our beautiful Carrot Cake by Sweet Endings is our no-contest pick. It’s dessert AND decoration! Plus, pastels are a must for Easter, so set up pretty plate or cake stand with our delicate French Almond Macaroons - the perfectly delicious and gorgeous way to finish off the meal!