A collection of the best Mother’s Day brunch recipes and ideas to treat mom to a memorable one! Yes, being the best mom ever is a 24/7/365 kind of job, but isn’t it nice knowing that there’s a day in the calendar where you can clock out early, sleep in, and be treated to brunch in bed with an extra side of “I love you, mom”?
And I’ve got the perfect, curated list of breakfast and brunch recipes for you to do that with this year! From classics like scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and mimosa to more decadent and impressive breakfast pastries, mocktails, and even some light desserts, you’ll be spoiled for choice while you choose what to spoil mom with.
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Savory egg breakfasts
Quintessential part of a wholesome breakfast or brunch, of course. From simple scrambled eggs and fried eggs to an egg pie or quiche lorraine, here are some fantastic options for a special Mother’s Day brunch.
Check out my archive of recipes that use eggs for plenty more mother’s day brunch ideas.
1. Scrambled eggs
Perfect scrambled eggs (only 1 minute!)
Let's start off with an easy classic. You can't ever go wrong with perfectly fluffy, creamy, delicious scrambled eggs! Check out all my tips and secrets to make 2 servings of prefect scrambled eggs in 1 minute. Foolproof, adaptable recipe. Serve with buttered toast or a toasted bagel. Bonus mom points if you serve it with a slice of homemade bread!
Scrambled eggs recipe
2. Eggs en cocotte (baked eggs)
Mushroom baked eggs
Super simple dish to prepare, but comes with a fancy, elegant name to impress mom (and yourself!). Individually baked eggs (in ramekins) with a runny, golden yolk, nestled in a creamy, herby, spiced mushroom sauce and gooey gruyere cheese!Straight out of flavor town. Serve with buttery toast for breakfast / brunch perfection.
Eggs en cocotee (baked eggs) recipe
3. Bacon and egg pie
Ultimate breakfast pie
My spin on a Kiwi classic that is near and dear to me. Hearty whole eggs, thick smoky chunks of juicy bacon, lightly spiced flavorful soft leeks and gooey cheese all encased in beautiful, buttery, flaky layers of puff pastry. You could make your own homemade puff pastry, but let's not try too hard to impress mom, shall we?It’s a large pie that serves 4 (or 6 with a side salad), OR an especially hungry, tired, overworked mom on Mother's Day!
Bacon and egg pie recipe
4. Quiche lorraine
Quiche lorraine
This classic quiche lorraine is packed with bacon, chives, cheese, and eggs, and baked in a flaky, buttery crust that is so easy to make!It's nothing but creamy, cheesy, bacony, eggy indulgence! Make with your own homemade pie crust if you're trying to make up to mom for some past indiscretion.
Quiche lorraine recipe
5. Pizza egg muffins
Breakfast egg muffins
These are a great option if you're the typical forgetful kid who wants to make something for mom ahead of time, you know, just in case.These make ahead breakfast egg muffins are packed with flavor and all the usual pizza toppings and add-ins! Can easily be frozen for up to a week.
Breakfast egg muffins recipe
6. Sausage frittata
Sausage frittata
While “frittata” essentially means a “fried egg in a skillet”, this is not just any fried egg in a skillet. This is a bulked-up, gym rat version of a frittata. A well-seasoned, hearty, luscious, creamy frittata with breakfast sausages, herbs, leeks, cherry tomatoes and tangy goat’s cheese!If that won't get mom leaping off the bed for breakfast on Mother's Day, she can go right ahead and sleep in.
Sausage frittata recipe
7. Egg in a hole
Egg in a hole (with salmon)
Does egg and toast by any other name taste as delicious? Toad in a hole, egg in a basket, egg in a nest, eggs with hats… this one has quite a few street names that it has acquired over many years in business. But warm, buttery toast with a rich, runny egg in a hole, served with juicy salmon and topped with crunchy bits of pan-fried salmon skin and a tangy, spicy tartar sauce? None of those names will do this dish any justice!
Egg in a hole recipe
8. Breakfast fried rice (with chili garlic fried egg)
Bacon fried rice
A breakfast fried rice so good, mom will wake up just for this!Quick, easy, versatile, lots of flavor, bacon, and topped with a chili garlic fried egg! Did I mention bacon?
Breakfast fried rice recipe
Breads & quick breads
A little sweeter and a bit more indulgent, try these cozy, comforting bread and quick bread recipes for a memorable brunch to celebrate mom.
9. French toast
Perfect French toast
It's hard to conceive of mother's day brunch ideas that do not include French toast. It's a brunch classic for a reason. And perfect French toast need not be hard. Slice the bread, make the egg-milk mixture, dip, pan fry. But I share lots of tips to make sure your French toast isn't too eggy or soggy or dodgy. After all, if you can't get French toast right for mom, she might start questioning some of her life decisions…Variations – Brioche French toast, French toast sticks
French toast recipe
10. Brioche French toast casserole
Brioche French toast casserole (with cinnamon toast croutons)
Possibly the BEST French toast casserole you'll ever have! And this is a super customizable, make ahead friendly, special occasion worthy recipe, so it's tailor-made for breakfast in bed for mom on Mother's Day! And instead of a boring (and more involved!) streusel topping, I make delicious, crispy cinnamon croutons with the same brioche bread as the topping. That is TWO decadent breakfast choices in ONE dish!
Brioche French toast casserole recipe
11. Honey butter toast
Crispy honey toast
Thick slice of enriched bread (like brioche bread), flavored with honey butter, encased in a shatteringly crispy, crunchy, caramel sugar exterior, and then served with any topping of your choice!So simple, yet deceptively decadent! Imagine serving it with some whipped cream or creme fraiche or berry coulis sauce? You will easily be mom's very favorite!
Honey butter toast recipe
12. Cinnamon toast
Cinnamon toast (crème brûlée toast)
Sounds so simple, because it is. Sounds so delicious, because it really is.Made with a simple cinnamon butter and on a pan, so that the sugar and butter melt evenly. Butter becomes crispy and flavors the bread, while the sugar caramelizes and forms a caramel crust.The result is a buttery cinnamon toast with a creme brulee surface! This should come with a warning, because it can be habit-forming.Variation – Roasted blueberries and brie with cinnamon toast
Cinnamon toast recipe
13. Blueberry muffins
Blueberry muffins with streusel topping
No sad, soggy muffins for mom on Mother's Day!These are jam-packed with blueberries, buttery and delicious, and they are topped with a crunchy lemon streusel topping! Every morning's a treat if mom could sink her dentures into one of these!Variation – Basic muffin recipe
Blueberry muffins recipe
14. Banana bread
Classic banana bread
Well-tested recipe for classic banana bread with the best texture and flavor! Not too sweet, not gummy or wet at all, but not like cake either, and beautifully spiced. Just the way mom would like it!Variation – Whole wheat banana bread
Banana bread recipe
Waffles, pancakes, and crepes
There’s very little that is as homey and comforting as waffles or pancakes or crepes for breakfast and brunch. The recipes below are bursting with flavor, and very versatile too. And they make for excellent mother’s day breakfast ideas.
15. Overnight yeasted waffles
Classic yeasted waffles
As Leslie Knope would say, waffles are life! And I'm sure mom would agree too. Especially, these waffles.Delightfully crisp on the outside, and so light and fluffy and moist on the inside. Try these classic yeasted waffles once, and you won't need another waffle recipe ever again! The batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days.Variation – Spiced yeasted waffles
Overnight yeasted waffles recipe
16. Sheet pan pancakes
Oven baked pancakes
With this recipe, you can have your (pan)cake and eat it too! Soft, light, fluffy, delicious pancakes in a fraction of the time and effort as regular pancakes. And just like traditional pancakes baked on a griddle, you can top these with mom's favorite toppings. They store and freeze well too!
Sheet pan pancakes recipe
17. Scallion pancakes
Chinese scallion pancakes
Also known as green onion pancakes (or cong you bing), these are quite possibly my favorite flatbread ever! Make these incredibly flaky, crispy, light, layered, savory, umami and flavor-packed pancakes, and you win Mother's Day. That is all.
Scallion pancakes recipe
18. French crepes
Classic French crepes
For a touch of “je ne sais quoi” to transform your Mother's Day brunch spread into an unforgettable feast! Irresistibly soft, buttery, delicious French crepes to make sweet or savory dishes! Fill them with anything from jam, Nutella, or fruit spread to ham and cheese, bacon, cooked meat etc. As far as easy, versatile, and impressive go, these classic French crepes are where it starts and ends.Variations – Chocolate crepes, Crepes suzette, Chocolate crepe cake, Sweet coconut stuffed crepes, Vegan crepe cake
Crepes recipe
Breakfast pastries
If you’re handy (in the kitchen) and you know it, slap your hands (with some flour), and get to work on some brunch magic with these pastries!
Yes, croissants, brioche bread dough, doughnuts etc. can be a labor of love, but if you’re looking to whip up something dreamy to impress mom, start with any of these comprehensive recipes I’ve shared below.
19. French croissants
Homemade croissants (small batch)
The most comprehensive and meticulously crafted French croissants recipe on the internet to help you perfect the pièce de résistance of your Mother's Day brunch spread! Buttery, with shatteringly crisp and flaky layers, this small batch recipe will help you make 6 perfect homemade croissants. So that mom will never complain again that you won't ever do anything nice for her.Variations – Pain au chocolat, Croissant bread pudding
French croissants recipe
20. Bostock pastry
Bostock (French almond pastry)
A fancy French toast of sorts, bostock pastry is simply enriched bread soaked in a sweet, citrusy syrup, and baked with frangipane and sliced almonds on top. That's it!Easy peasy. Yet, bostock is super underrated. Great way to repurpose stale brioche bread or croissants or pain au chocolat even.
Bostock pastry recipe
21. Cinnamon rolls
Cinnamon rolls
Always a classic. Rich, soft, fluffy, brioche-like bread dough, stuffed with a delicious butter-cinnamon-sugar paste. Then topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.These cinnamon rolls are the real deal. They are special occasion worthy. Celebrating-mom-on-Mother's-Day worthy! You can prep these the night before and refrigerate them overnight. Or even freeze for longer.Variation – Brioche cinnamon rolls
Cinnamon rolls recipe
22. Glazed doughnuts
Glazed vanilla doughnuts
Deliciously fluffy and airy on the inside and tender on the outside, homemade doughnuts with a sweet glaze are simply irresistible! Try a cold, overnight rise to develop even more flavor. This comprehensive recipe with lots of troubleshooting tips will help you master the art of doughnut-making!Variations – Coffee doughnuts, Simpsons doughnuts
Glazed doughnuts recipe
23. Cream scones
Classic cream scones
Super buttery, extra flaky, tall cream scones are such a quintessential breakfast and brunch treat! Similar to American buttermilk biscuits, but flakier. I cut the dough and stack it on top of each other to create extra flaky and tall scones. Serve with a dollop of clotted cream or whipped cream or mascarpone or strawberry jam for a bit of indulgence. Variations – Blueberry scones, Coffee and date scones, Savory egg stuffed breakfast scones, Orange whole wheat scones
Cream scones recipe
24. Strawberry shortcake
Easy strawberry shortcake
Buttery, soft lemon and strawberry shortcake with a crunchy topping, served with fresh strawberries and whipped cream! These biscuits take 5 minutes to make and only 20 minutes to bake. How easy is that? You can make these buttermilk biscuits ahead of time and freeze for later too. These are such a fun and delicious Spring / Summer brunch for me, so they are PERFECT for Mother's Day celebrations! Variation – Strawberry shortcake ice cream (for a nifty frozen dessert idea!)
Strawberry shortcake recipe
Potatoes for breakfast
I LOOOOVE potatoes. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner.. no matter. Here are a few options to truly elevate potatoes into brunch magnificence with lots and lots of flavor! These make for some excellent savory mother’s day recipes.
25. Curried potato hash
Easy curried potato hash
If you have potatoes, onions, your choice of protein / ground meat (optional), and common pantry spices, then you've got all you need to make this super flavorful, cozy, savory brunch!Crispy, caramelized potato chunks (“devilled potatoes”), caramelized onions, a touch of curry, turmeric and chili flakes, and maybe topped with a fried egg! Nothing but wholesome and delicious.
Curried potato hash recipe
26. Oven roasted breakfast potato hash
Easy breakfast potato hash
Let the oven do all the work while you take all the credit! Crunchy breakfast potatoes, crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked eggs with a creamy, runny yolk! Ready in 40 minutes, all cooked in one sheet pan, with very little active time on your part.This is the epitome of a wholesome yet lazy weekend brunch, but mom won't know. If you don't tell her.
Oven roasted breakfast potato hash recipe
27. Bubble and squeak (potato cakes)
Bubble and squeak
Try this just the fun of saying bubble and squeak over and over. This is my twist on a British classic, which typically features leftovers. Potatoes and cabbage (or brussels sprouts) are generally a must, but besides that, feel free to add carrots, peas, herbs, cheese, corn, or even broccoli. Flavorful, colorful, fluffy, creamy, and oh-so-good. Top these potato cakes with spiced breakfast sausages, bacon, or a poached egg for a Mother's Day brunch munch.
Bubble and squeak recipe
28. Steak and sweet potato hash
Sweet potato hash (with steak)
A potato hash that even dad would be proud of! Packed with spicy, smoky, sweet flavors. A great way to use up leftover steak or beef too. Wholesome, satisfying, nutritious, and very customizable too. Top with an egg or avocado for a pop of color and flavor.
Steak and sweet potato hash recipe
Drinks
To wash down your brunch special and to savor the morning well into the day, here’s a refreshing collection of cocktails, mocktails, and drinks for mom (and yourselves) to enjoy!
Or you can check out these drink recipes and fun cocktails for more mother’s day brunch recipes and ideas.
29. Blood orange mimosa
Gin and blood orange mimosa
This brunch mimosa has just the right amount of sweetness and booze to keep mom in a celebratory mood! It tastes floral, citrusy, and earthy. Feel free to use other seasonal citrus fruits such as clementines or tangerines to make this blood orange mimosa. I make this with a vanilla blood orange syrup to add more depth of flavor.
Blood orange mimosa recipe
30. Ginger lychee sangria blanca
Lychee sangria blanca
Sangria blanca for weekend brunch? I say, yes please! Especially, when it's this fruity and refreshing! While sangria is typically made with red wine, this sangria blanca is my top choice! White wine mixed with lychee, ginger, lemon and lime, lychee juice, plus elderflower syrup and vodka. A cool, boozy drink with an explosion of flavors!
Ginger lychee sangria blanca recipe
31. Lychee mocktail
Easy lychee mocktail
So that mom doesn't have to worry about hangovers!A beautiful floral, earthy, light mocktail made with lychee and non-alcoholic gin. I make this with my homemade lychee syrup, so you can easily adapt this into a cocktail too. Non-alcoholic gin is a great way to add more herby, earthy flavors that complement the lychee.
Lychee mocktail recipe
32. Pineapple chia fresca
Vanilla pineapple chia fresca
Popular in Mexico and Central America, chia fresca is a quick, easy beverage typically made with water, chia seeds, lime or lemon juice, and a sweetener of choice. It's a naturally energizing drink, because you know mom will have to do all those chores that you forgot to do, once she's done with brunch.This simple, gorgeous pineapple chia fresca is so fruity & refreshing, and surprisingly filling with the added nutritional value of chia seeds.
Pineapple chia fresca recipe
33. Vanilla avocado drink
Creamy vanilla avocado drink
For all the Millennial moms out there to pair with your favorite avocado toast, ha!This super simple and creamy avocado drink was my avocado snack of choice, growing up. A delicious (and healthier) alternative for dessert drinks and milkshakes. Easy to adjust the consistency of the drink to your liking too.
Vanilla avocado drink
34. Healthy strawberry smoothie
Strawberry smoothie (with green tea & almond)
Get mom's day off to a bright and healthy start with this strawberry smoothie with protein-rich creaminess of almonds and the slow-release caffeine of green tea. This is one deliciously perky glass of smoothie with the fruity sweetness of strawberries that she'll love!
Strawberry smoothie recipe
35. Bubble tea (boba tea)
Homemade boba milk tea
This Taiwanese classic is one of my favorite spring / summer drinks. I've also shared my boba pearls recipe to make those delightful little tapioca pearls from scratch. They can be a little tedious to roll, but they are heaps better than store-bought! Perfectly sweetened milk tea with chewy, soft boba pearls is just such a fun and refreshing weekend beverage! Variation – Ube bubble tea
Bubble tea recipe
36. Iced matcha latte
Iced matcha latte (and variations)
Such a fun pick-me-up drink, perfect for warmer weather! Quick and easy, plus matcha has plenty of health benefits too. I also show you how to make other variations such as iced matcha frappuccino, sweetened or vanilla matcha latte, or even upgrade it with some boba pearls (store-bought or homemade).
Iced matcha latte recipe
37. Brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso
Brown sugar iced latte (with oat milk)
If mom's a Starbucks fan, she'll love this treat, especially because she'll need the caffeine to deal with you lot after her celebratory brunch. This iced coffee drink made with oat milk and a brown sugar syrup is DE-licious! And I show you how to make it either with espresso (if you own an espresso machine) or with strong brewed coffee.
Brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso recipe
38. Masala chai
Authentic masala chai
Imagine the perfect cup of spicy, warm, sweet, milky masala chai to go with a curried potato hash or a savory egg breakfast? Made with your own easy homemade masala spice mix, this masala chai is such a satisfying and warming drink!
Masala chai recipe
39. Vanilla steamer
Vanilla steamer (babyccino)
When I was a little kid, I loved vanilla steamer. When I grew up a little more, I thought it was just for little babies. Now that I've grown up some more, I LOVE vanilla steamer all over again. It's the circle of life. Vanilla steamer is simply warm, fluffy steamed milk with a touch of cinnamon and maple syrup. That's it. Also called a fluffy or babyccino, it's what they sometimes make in coffee shops for kids in lieu of caffeinated drinks. If you think it's only for little gremlins, you don't know what you're missing out on!
Homemade vanilla steamer recipe
40. French hot chocolate
Parisian hot chocolate (chocolat chaud)
Hot chocolate is not just for cozy winter nights. And this French hot chocolate is the real deal. Intensely thick, luscious, and creamy, this hot chocolate is not pretending. Made with just 3 simple ingredients. And if you're planning on making any breakfast pastries or French pastries, then I can't think of a more decadent beverage pairing than this hot chocolate. Variations – Peanut butter hot chocolate, dairy free bourbon hot chocolate
French hot chocolate recipe
41. Mexican horchata
Horchata (Mexican rice drink)
I once spent an entire summer drinking horchata every day. True story. And it was actually last summer, and I highly recommend it! 🙂 Horchata (agua de horchata) is a super creamy, thick, delicious, refreshing rice-based drink, spiced with cinnamon. It's naturally vegan and made without any dairy, but you can absolutely add milk or use dairy-free plant-based milk too.Variation – Dairy free horchata
Horchata recipe
Light desserts
If mom’s a dessert for breakfast / brunch kind of gal, here’s just a taste of some light desserts to feature in your mother’s day brunch menu. Of course, if you’re making breakfast pastries or crepes or French toast or honey toast etc., you could easily turn those into a more indulgent treats too.
You can also check out my extensive collection of delicious desserts for lots more ideas that you could transform into treat-worthy mother’s day breakfast recipes.
42. Coffee panna cotta
Espresso panna cotta
Pair coffee with a quick, easy, custardy dessert and what you get is this sinfully creamy, melt-in-your-mouth jiggly panna cotta! So simple to make, this panna cotta has such a robust coffee flavor, and I show you how to make it with instant coffee, ground coffee, or espresso shots! Variations – Classic panna cotta, Coconut panna cotta, Matcha panna cotta, Bubble tea panna cotta, White chocolate panna cotta
Coffee panna cotta recipe
43. Tofu chocolate mousse
Silken tofu chocolate mousse
Creamy, delicious silken tofu chocolate mousse that is vegan, gluten free, and takes less than 20 minutes to make? Forget Mother's Day, you could make this part of your daily rotation! It's made without any cream. Plus, you can easily add protein powder to make a high protein tofu chocolate mousse too. This is the type of dessert you might call a win-win-no-lose type treat!
Tofu chocolate mousse recipe
44. Vanilla pudding
Homemade vanilla pudding
Homemade vanilla pudding is so much better than store-bought. Really. There's no comparison. Easy, creamy, perfectly sweet, simple ingredients, perfect texture and flavor. You can make it as thick or as thin as you like. Mom would love nothing better than a yummy, creamy vanilla pudding to nibble on all day! Variations – Chocolate pudding, Banana pudding, Chocolate self saucing pudding
Vanilla pudding recipe
45. Cream puffs
Perfect cream puffs
A dreamy, light choux pastry puff filled with light chantilly cream and maybe topped with a dusting of powdered sugar is such a splendid treat to celebrate mom! I've been making choux pastry for decades now. I adore making these. I could make them with my eyes closed. I can't think of a moment or celebration where cream puffs would not be a hit! So it's only natural that I would break out my piping tips to make these delightful little French pastries for an occasion like this!Variations – Choux pastry, Chocolate cream puffs, Chouquettes, Strawberry cream puffs, Profiteroles, Choux au craquelin, Chocolate eclairs, Earl grey eclairs
Cream puffs recipe
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