Easter brunch is a huge deal in my family. There are enough scrambled eggs, strips of bacon, and assorted muffins for at least 50 people (and enough chocolate and candy to give an entire elementary school a sugar high), a spring-inspired tablescape with place settings for each attendee, Easter egg hunts, and more. It’s a whole ordeal, so, obviously, it takes a lot of preparation. From deciding on the Easter brunch menu to which Easter brunch recipes to make ahead of time that will help save a little bit of time in the morning, the entire week prior to this one simple Sunday morning runs on a strict schedule.
If I’m being honest, I’ve only watched this from the sidelines. I’ve sat at the kitchen counter doing my homework while my mom prepared pastries, helped her check off items in the grocery store from her “Easter Morning” titled grocery list, filled Easter eggs with candy and quarters (does anyone else’s family do that?), and decided which one of my brunch outfits would make me the best-dressed cousin. I’ve never actually done the prep for the Easter recipes that make the menu. However, I hope one day that I will be hosting this lavish holiday brunch, and when I do, you already know I’m going to have a lineup of Easter brunch recipes to make ahead of time.
With Easter around the corner, I got inspired to find Easter brunch ideas and recipes that I will incorporate when it’s my turn to host, and of course, I have to share them with all of you. So, without further ado, ahead are 15 Easter brunch recipes to make ahead of time.
15 Easter Brunch Recipes to Make Ahead of Time
1. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
Source: I Heart Naptime
I’ve never met a soul who didn’t drool over a cinnamon roll, so adding this as one of your brunch ideas will not be a mistake. The dough for these overnight cinnamon rolls has to rest for 16 hours in the fridge, so making them in advance is a must. In the morning, pull the dough out of the fridge, and let it rise for an hour or two before baking.
2. Blueberry Breakfast Sausage
Source: Eat the Gains
Sure, you could just buy sausage patties, but why would you do that when homemade ones are a million times better? These crowd-pleasing patties are a savory and sweet side that will pair with any brunch menu. Prep the patties ahead of time, and in the morning, cook them on a skillet for 6-9 minutes.
3. Carrot Cake Thumbprint Cookies
Source: Girl Versus Dough
Not only is carrot cake one of the best Easter desserts IMO, but these thumbprint cookies look like little birds’ nests. So festive and cute. What is special about these is that there is goat cheese in the frosting, but if you’re not a fan of goat cheese, you can substitute it for cream cheese. Make these a few days before Easter, and put them in a tin to keep them fresh.
4. Blueberry Bread
Source: Plated Cravings
Switch up your usual banana bread this year and opt for this delicious blueberry bread instead. This recipe can be whipped up in less than 10 minutes (with only one bowl!), but the best part about it is that it can stay fresh and moist for up to four days at room temperature.
5. Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds
Source: Eat the Gains
This chicken salad is made with grapes, toasted almonds, celery, and herbs, and tossed with creamy greek yogurt that can be served in a salad, in a sandwich, or in lettuce wraps. Whether you shred your own chicken or buy some from the store is up to you, but combine all the ingredients in a bowl and leave it in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
6. Classic Deviled Eggs
Source: Kristine’s Kitchen
I’m sorry, but if you don’t have deviled eggs at your Easter brunch, I’m not coming. These classic deviled eggs are a staple for this holiday, and thankfully, they are super simple to throw together. Prepare the yolk filling and refrigerate the egg whites first, and then when in the morning, assemble the eggs.
7. Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage
Source: I Heart Naptime
Making sunny-side-up eggs for everyone at brunch is a task you do not want to take on. Talk about time-consuming, right? Instead, make this overnight breakfast casserole. It has eggs, veggies, sausage, and cheese, but you can swap any of the veggies and meats to suit your needs. Combine the ingredients, put them in the fridge, and bake for 45 minutes in the morning.
8. Lemon Cake
Source: Plated Cravings
Lemon cake is as easy and quick as it is zesty and sweet. This Starbucks lemon loaf copycat recipe can be made in less than 10 minutes and will taste just as fresh a few days after baking it if it’s kept at room temperature. If you want to fool people into thinking you woke up early to make it, wait to top the cake with the icing until you’re ready to serve it.
9. Spinach Tomato Quiche
Source: Plated Cravings
This spinach tomato quiche is bursting with flavor—whether it’s served warm, at room temperature, or chilled. You have to chill the mixture for 30 minutes or more before baking it, so you might as well make it the night before and put it in the oven in the morning. If you’re feeling bold, you can make your own crust for this quiche, but it will be just as good if you opt for one from the freezer section. No judgment here!
10. Nut and Seed Granola
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
Skip the store-bought granola this year for your parfait bar and make your own. The base of this granola is made up of cashews, pecans, walnuts, almonds, coconut, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds. It will only take you 15 minutes to prep and about 40 minutes to cook, but get this: It can be stored in a mason jar for a month or two!
11. French Toast Casserole
Source: Plated Cravings
Warm French toast with a crunchy cinnamon pecan streusel topping? Say less. This French toast casserole is made with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand (bread, eggs, milk, brown sugar, etc.) and can be prepped the night before. All you have to do is pop this brunch bake in the oven in the morning and serve it with maple syrup.
12. Farro Salad
Source: Kristine’s Kitchen
Apple, cranberries, almonds, arugula, feta cheese, and lemon dressing are the all-stars of this grain-based salad that can be served as a side or a main dish. To prepare this ahead of time, cook the farro, make the dressing, chop the ingredients, and store them all separately in the fridge. All you’ll have to do is toss everything together in the morning.
13. Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Source: Garnish With Lemon
I know what you’re thinking: sour cream coffee cake? Gross. But don’t knock it until you try it, OK? It’s the sour cream that makes this coffee cake dense and moist instead of crumbly and dry. You can bake and freeze this cake up to three months ahead of time, and you can even make it in a regular 9×13 pan if you don’t have a bundt pan.
14. Asparagus, Egg, and Prosciutto Tart
Source: Half Baked Harvest
From the look of this beautiful tart, you would think it takes hours to prepare. But nope—it only takes 10 minutes. With the help of a frozen puff pastry, this spring-inspired pastry with everything seasoning is a delicious savory addition to your menu. Assemble the tart, store it in the fridge, and then bake it in the morning!
15. Lemon Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
Baked oatmeal is practically cake for breakfast IMO, so obviously, this recipe caught my eye instantly. But it’s the lemon poppyseed, blueberries, a lemon yogurt topping that convinced me that this would be a crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s practically foolproof and can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days.
