This Mother’s Day brunch, give her what she really wants. To eat like a queen, obviously. We’ve got that covered with brunch recipes that are sophisticated, yet absolutely doable. From breakfast to cocktails and everything in between, it’s all here. Now, go call your mother!

A torn croissant on a plate with more croissants on a rimmed baking sheet in the background.
Quentin Bacon
1 of 12

Flaky Croissants

How to make croissants gives you a foolproof method so you can confidently mix, fold, roll, and assemble flakey, buttery croissants at home that taste exactly like the best croissants from a French bakery in Paris. Swear.
Recipe
A glazed lemon pull-apart coffee cake on a wire rack with a spoon and jar of glaze beside it, all resting on a wooden cutting board.
Cenk Sönmezsoy
2 of 12

Lemon Pull-Apart Coffee Cake

This lemon pull-apart coffee cake is made of layers of yeasted dough sandwiched together with a sweet, buttery filling fragrant with citrus zest. Once out of the oven, it’s brushed with a lemon cream cheese icing and fairly falls apart although it’s much funner to gently pull it apart.
Recipe
A cedar plank with 3 eggs Florentine, one with spinach, one with tomato, one with ham.
Mike Searle
3 of 12

Eggs Florentine

For this classic Eggs Florentine, creamed spinach is spooned onto rounds of buttered toast and topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Chopped chives finish the dish.
Recipe
A breakfast martini with orange zest next to a plate with buttered toast and marmalade, a pair of reading glasses, and a newspaper.
Jason Varney
4 of 12

Breakfast Martini

Although we're not necessarily suggesting that you consume this for breakfast, you'll think of it every time you look at your jar of marmalade. Hence, a breakfast martini.
Recipe
A white plate with 2 pieces of challah French toast covered with fresh strawberries, icing sugar and being drizzled with strawberry syrup.
Keller + Keller
5 of 12

Challah French Toast with Strawberry Syrup

Challah is a braided egg bread well suited to this dish, but sourdough, French bread, or brioche is a good substitute, if need be. Strawberry syrup is the crowning touch to an already gorgeous dish.
Recipe
A cherry tomato, asparagus, and herbed ricotta tart on parchment on a baking sheet
Dora Kazmierak
6 of 12

Cherry Tomato, Asparagus, and Herbed Ricotta Tart

The whipped ricotta with herbs, Parmesan and garlic is sensational and should be added to all your vegetable tarts. If you have some delicious homemade pesto (or a good shop-bought one), then drizzle it over the tart for an extra layer of flavor.
Recipe
An oval casserole dish filled with easy breakfast strata on a wooden board with a wedge of Parmesan and a spoon on the side.
Liren Baker
7 of 12

Easy Breakfast Strata

This easy breakfast strata is filled with eggs, cheese, ham, and plenty of vegetables.
Recipe
Two packets of steamed vegetables in parchment --asparagus and green beans--on a white plate
Con Poulos
8 of 12

Steamed Vegetables in Parchment

Steamed vegetables in parchment–in this case, asparagus and green beans–is a simple, easy, healthy way of cooking veggies. Simply wrap them up and slide them in the oven. No fuss. And, even better, no mess to clean up afterward.
Recipe
Young girl holding an two-layer iced berry cake filled with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream
Dan Jones
9 of 12

Iced Berry Cake

This iced berry cake couldn’t be easier. A store-bought cake is filled with fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and whipped cream. An easy and fast celebration cake.
Recipe
A partially-eaten chocolate souffle in a round white ceramic dish.
America’s Test Kitchen
10 of 12

Chocolate Soufflé

This chocolate soufflé, made with eggs, sugar, chocolate, and orange-flavored liqueur, is light and airy and far easier than you may imagine. We show you exactly how to make it.
Recipe
Four individual servings of cardamom panna cotta with rhubarb on a serving tray.
Dora Kazmierak
11 of 12

Cardamom Panna Cotta with Rhubarb

Cardamom panna cotta with rhubarb is an elegant, yet simple, dessert that makes use of seasonal rhubarb or even strawberries. A creamy base is infused with cardamom, making it as irresistible as it is easy.
Recipe
An apple rose tart, shaped to look like a rose with a scoop of ice cream beside it on a white plate.
Sam Folan
12 of 12

Apple Rose Tarts

These almost-too-pretty-to-eat apple rose tarts are made with flaky filo pastry and almonds. The drizzle of honey just takes them over the top.
Recipe

Looking for recipes to help celebrate Mom all day long? Check out this collection of Mother’s day recipes and spoil her with her favorite foods.




About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


Hungry For More?

Our 8 Best Skewer Recipes

Let’s not mince words here—food on sticks is awesome. We all know it, so grab some skewers and start lining up stuff to grill, roast, toast, and otherwise enjoy.

3 hrs 30 mins

6 Grilled Chicken Thigh Recipes

When you fire up the grill this summer, put these chicken thigh recipes at the top of your must-make list. You’ll be glad that you did.

1 hr 15 mins


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