Creative Brunch Ideas

Who doesn’t love a good brunch? Meeee! I’m hoping you do too! Let’s dig in and talk about some creative brunch ideas. We will explore, food, tablescape, décor, and party favor ideas for your next brunch gathering. I love to have a get-together that incorporates all of these pieces because I feel like it makes my guest’s experience memorable and they leave feeling so loved.

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Creative Brunch Food Design

I personally like to keep recipes simple and let the staging and design add the extra flavor.  Don’t get me wrong, I love GOOD food! It has to taste amazing! If you don’t have a lot of time to be able to pour hours into creating culinary masterpieces, but want to look as if you did, here are some examples of where that sweet spot lies.  

Take a peek at some of these creative brunch food ideas that would be great additions to your menu and then let the staging take it to the next level. Your friends not only will love the flavors but they will also love the visual interest.

• French Pancake. This dish is a family favorite because when it’s pulled out of the oven it looks like a fun science experiment. The dough rises and creates these steep side walls all around the outskirts of the dish. It’s delicious and easily modifiable if you want to add more ingredients to suit your fancy.  I’d recommend that you time it right and take it out of the oven as soon as you are ready to serve your guests.

• Cinnamon Rolls. Cinnamon roll dough can be rolled out and formed into cookie-cutter shapes of your choice. This is a fun and creative brunch idea that can coordinate with any theme you choose for your gathering.

• Breakfast Casserole. This dish is another winner with my family! I make it almost every Sunday morning. I think it’s the easiest way to serve “scrambled eggs” and keep them warm and compact, and yet still give a protein-packed punch. You can place the casserole in your favorite casserole dish that compliments your creative brunch décor idea. Or, you can cut them into wedges and lay them in a diagonal-overlapping pattern on an oversized rectangular platter. Many of these types of platters can be found at Homegoods, Amazon or Target at great prices.

• Yogurt and Granola. Yogurt with granola crumbles placed in footed dessert cups, and then set on a gorgeous platter, immediately elevates the look and feel of any food staging. You can add blueberries and raspberries on top for more color and flavor. Place all of these on tiered serving stands or symmetrically on a giant tray.

• Fruit Cups. You can put the tiny fruit pieces in individual glass cups, preferably see-through so you can look at all of the colors shining through. Or, you can use a glass trifle bowl and stack the fruit in layers like a rainbow. You will be able to, again, see the pretty colors through the side.

• Breakfast Pizza. I’m a huge vegetable fan, even on pizza. Any way to add veggies to a meal is a must for me and my family. A breakfast pizza can be so versatile and a perfect way to add those veggies to your brunch. You can cut the pizza into squares depending on the baking dish, or cut it into wedges. Place side by side on the perfect size platter and sprinkle a dash of parsley.

• Bacon and Sausage. It’s as simple as it sounds. Cooked bacon and sausage links can be laid side by side in a mound as the centerpiece of your serving station. It’s a meat lovers crowd pleaser.

• Belgian Waffles. These are fun stacked in a tall pile on a gorgeous serving dish with maple syrup, berries, and whipped cream close by. You can add your own creative whipped cream label around the can to coordinate with your décor, and you can pour the warmed-up maple syrup in a gravy boat with a saucer underneath to catch any drips.

• Crepes. A creative brunch idea would be to stage a crepe buffet with all the fillings. Crepes are so versatile that you could literally display your entire brunch around them as your main course. You can make them sweet or savory. I prefer to fold the crepes into triangle shapes and lay them overlapping each other on a platter.

• Blueberry Muffins. Choose pretty wrappers to pour your muffin batter in. I love to find muffin wrappers that have a scalloped design around the brim. You can find patterns and prints in many different styles that will complement your party décor.

• Deviled Eggs. When adding the filling back into the hard-boiled egg, use a piping bag with a pretty tip. Sprinkle with paprika and dill. Place them in a ceramic egg plate and if you need some extra height for your food staging, place the dish on top of a pedestal plate.

• Zucchini Bread. You can bake your zucchini bread in a beautifully designed fluted bunt pan. Or, you could pour the batter in mini bunt pans to make muffin-size bread pieces. Place these little guys on a platter with some strawberries off to the side.

• Donuts. Need to add some height to your food staging design? A creative idea would be to stack your donuts on a paper towel holder to keep them standing upright.

• Chicken Salad. Choose your favorite opaque dish for your chicken salad. I love to top my chicken salad, just before serving, with paprika or dill to make it look more dressed up. You can also place the shredded chicken on individual lettuce leaves or individual custard cups.

• Eggs Benedict. Oh my! These are super easy to stage and beautiful all by themselves. Lay side by side on a dish that coordinates with your décor and color scheme.

• Smoothies. Smoothies can be placed in beautiful wine goblets and a strawberry or orange slice wedged over the brim of the glass. You can also add a few sweetheart rose buds on the top, if your smoothie is super thick.

• Bagels and Cream Cheese. Cut the bagels into fourths and stack them on a beautiful platter. You could also make bagel kabobs after you cut them into fourths, and serve the cut-up a bagel on a kabob skewer. Or, arrange them whole on a paper towel holder like the donuts.

• Breakfast Skillet. This looks amazing all on its own. Use a pretty trivet underneath to protect your surface and serve directly out of the skillet so it stays warm. Sprinkle with parsley on top for an added splash of color.

• Avacado Toast– Shaping the avocado slices into a rosette on top of the toast is an extra special creative brunch idea that will wow your guests. Here is a video on how you can do it.

Creative Décor and Tablescape Brunch Ideas

When it comes to creative décor and tablescape brunch ideas, I like to start with an inspirational piece, a color scheme, or a design theme. Whatever it is that you are pondering in your heart, do that! Go with your gut and design your brunch around what makes you and your guests smile. Here are some smile-worthy brunch design ideas for you to consider as you plan your next event.

• Boho. Boho syles can be a fun brunch idea with lots of creams, whites, eucalyptus, and woven or macramé textures in the décor.
• Old Vintage. Old Vintage styles can be incorporated with mix-matched colored platters, antique vases, lace doilies, and worn-out iron baskets.
• Rustic. Rustic style brunches can be surrounded by round wooden bark cake stands, dried flowers, burlap runners, and wooden crates.
• Shabby Chic. Shabby Chic style brunches incorporate pastel colors, flag and tassel streamers, small buffalo plaid prints, dainty cake stands, mason jars, twine, and tiny floral printed dishes.
• Modern Rustic. Modern style brunches add in white, cream, tan, brown, gold, and green colors mixed with candles, lanterns, clear glass, and light wooden serving and décor pieces.  Think McGee and Co.
• Garden Party. Garden Party style brunches can include wildflowers, greenery, mason jar candles, hanging lantern lights, baskets, and wooden bark cake stands.
• Modern. Modern style brunch styles come with clean straight lines, shiny silver, and black platters, marble, and asymmetrical patterns, and geometric shapes.
• Picnic. Picnic style brunches generally have a modified food menu conducive for the outdoors, wooden pallets as a low-rise table, floor cushions, melamine dishes and plastic platters to prevent breaking, picnic baskets, flowers, and greenery, and flameless candles. Check out the birthday picnic I hosted for more tablecape and décor ideas.
• Color and Design. Design your creative brunch around a favorite color or pattern. For example, if you have a yellow buffalo-plaid table runner, build your décor around the runner and have accessories that would complement it. Accessories such as yellow, white, and gold balloons, yellow and white plates, yellow napkins, and gold chargers. Just an FYI, I like to use gold flatware if I use gold chargers. Not unless it’s for a New Year’s party. Hehe!
• Plate Toppers. You can take tiny gift bags and place special party favors inside as a creative brunch idea for sweet take-home gifts. Make it something that compliments your theme and color scheme.
• Charcuterie. Charcuterie boards are super fun and very trendy in the 2020s. You can display all of your brunch foods in a very creative way by using a space such as a table top to completely cover with food.

Creative Brunch Party Favor Gifts

I don’t know about you but I love to send my guests home with a party favor. It shows intentionally and reminds them of the time they spent with you. Plus, a present can make anyone feel special. Feel free to take some of these ideas and use them as hostess gifts too. Here is a list of creative brunch party favor ideas for you to consider.

• Cupcakes in a gift bag
• Frosted cookie in a gift bag
• Lotion with a ribbon tie
• Nail polish with a ribbon tie
• Coffee mug with a ribbon tie
• Single rose
• Tiny potted succulent
• Box of tea with a ribbon tie
• Tiny floral arrangement
• Teaspoons with a ribbon tie
• Jewelry dish in a gift bag
• Tiny picture frame with a scripture verse inside
• Magnetic paper pad with ribbon tie
• Bar of soap wrapped in decorative foil
• Candies that match your color scheme stuffed in cellophane bags with a ribbon tie
• Candles in your favorite scent

Conclusion

I’m hoping you gleaned some fun creative brunch ideas for your next get-together with your loved ones. However you choose to stage your food and décor for your brunch, it will be amazing. Isn’t it so fun to be able to express your creativity and show love to those who come over to share a meal? These are cherished moments in life.

P.S. A Word of Encouragement

Stay in your own lane. I love this phrase as it reminds me to keep my eyes on where I am in life, rather than where everyone else is. Not in a bad way where we don’t consider someone else’s journey. It’s just to remind ourselves that we are not to live anyone else’s life or run anyone else’s race. We are not to compare ourselves or styles with others because we are all uniquely and wonderfully made.

You are a treasure just as you are. However you style your party, it will be perfect.  I want to encourage you to stand confident in your food, décor, and gift choices. You don’t have to do your party the way someone else does. Do it the way that makes your heart sing. It will be evident in the details and make your guests so happy they came.