For every carefully packed lunch and weekend pancake platter Mom has ever made you, return the favor by planning a wholesome Mother’s Day brunch.
Not only is it the perfect way to show your mama you care—cooking for someone is the ultimate display of love, right?—it’s also a great excuse to prove to the whole family that healthy eating can taste really good.
If playing host seems overwhelming, we’ve made things a little easier by gathering 31 of our favorite brunch-friendly recipes to help inspire your gathering. Our list offers an assortment of gluten-free, vegan, Paleo, and vegetarian dishes, each easy to prepare so you can make more than one. After all, you’ll want to have a combination of sweet and savory dishes to satisfy everyone, including the kids—they often have pickier palates than adults!
Drinks
The first thing you’ll want to have ready for when guests arrive is a tasty beverage. Regular coffee, tea, and juice will work just fine—but if you really want to impress, hand out mason jars filled with these delightful drinks.
All you need is just five ingredients to throw together this pretty pink drink. There’s no processed sugar or artificial flavors here—just hibiscus and ginger tea paired with a little raw honey.
This all-ages bubbly can be enjoyed as is or topped off with some champagne for adults. Plus, it’s easy to make ahead, so you have one less thing to prepare for the big day.
Not only does pastel green matcha tea look gorgeous, it’s also a great substitute for iced coffee.
Keep Mother’s Day brunch on trend by serving up these striking “golden milk” lattes. The turmeric-pepper combo is perfect for getting the digestive tract moving and brightening up your Instagram feed.
Chocoholic moms will enjoy this caffeine-free latte. Roasted dandelion tea has a natural sweetness that pairs nicely with the slightly bitter cacao nibs.
Fruits and veggies
Brunch isn’t all about the bacon—we’re also loading the menu with nutrient-rich fruits and veggies. You can make these smoothie bowls the star of the show, or if you prefer to have a larger meal, one course could be shot glass-sized smoothies alongside a fruit or veggie salad.
It might look like an Orange Julius, but this smoothie is actually a whole lot healthier with a tropical blend of carrot, coconut, and banana.
The bright green color might intimidate smoothie newbies, but one taste and even the most skeptical guests will be begging for more of this dish. It pairs pear and ginger with cucumber, spinach, and kale.
Kids and adults will love this sweet, pastel-hued fruit drink that mixes pomegranate powder with strawberries, bananas, and coconut water.
The main ingredient in this stunning crimson bowl is almost undetectable thanks to fragrant fresh ginger and tangy pineapple.
Broiled Grapefruit With Ginger and Honey
A crisp bruleé layer adds a hint of sweetness that will help cut the bitter taste of grapefruit.
Exploding with citrus, this bright (and light) fruit and veggie salad is the perfect starter to kick off a healthy brunch.
Baked goods
Breads and muffins might not make regular appearances at the weekday breakfast table, but that makes them even more special for occasions like Mom’s brunch. To keep it healthy, use sprouted flours instead of regular white or wheat flour. Sprouted grains are soaked before milling, which not only reduces the amount of antinutrients (making them easier to digest), but it also creates a richer flavor.
Top these fluffy favorites with a little grass-fed butter and a Paleo breakfast sausage, and the whole fam will bow down to your mad brunch skills.
Carrot cake is calling with these cinnamon-scented Morning Glory muffins. They will satisfy even the most intense sweet tooth—no cream cheese frosting required!
Blueberry-Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
Instead of choosing between the two popular muffin flavors, we made a hybrid that’s twice as good, especially when you consider that they’re gluten-free and Paleo-friendly.
Guests probably won’t be able to put their finger on the tasty secret ingredient in this surprisingly nutty loaf. (Spoiler alert: It’s tahini.)
Almond-Honey Swirl Banana Bread
Lazy bakers, bookmark this recipe. All you need is a base of Simple Mills Banana Muffin Mix and some honeyed almond butter, and voila!—bread is served.
Though they’re not usually a breakfast food, orange-scented madeleine cookies are traditionally served with tea and coffee. Close enough, right?
This baked custard is one of those dishes that you’ll want to make for dessert… and then eat for breakfast the next morning. It’s okay, no one is judging.
Pancakes, waffles, and crepes
Here’s where you can give IHOP a run for its money. These recipes are so good, there’s no need to adorn them with a whipped cream smiley face. A little fresh fruit, grass-fed butter, and real Vermont maple syrup does the trick.
Flapjacks so decadent they can double as dessert? Count us in.
These sweet banana stacks are worth borrowing your neighbor’s waffle iron if you don’t already have your own!
Filled with goat cheese, avocado, and fennel, these savory crêpes are inspired by plates traditionally served in Brittany, France. They’re loaded with vegetarian protein, thanks to gluten-free buckwheat, and are a great option for guests who don’t love sugary-sweet breakfast foods.
Seriously show-stopping, this gluten-free crêpe cake takes a little time to prep—but it’s totally worth it.
Oats
If you want an easy way to please everyone, try a DIY oatmeal or parfait bar. Pick a base below, and then supply assorted toppings so everyone can customize their bowls and compare which creative mixes taste the best.
Prep the dry mix the night before, then add hot water right before you’re ready to serve. It’s stress-free and gluten-free!
Guests will be shocked to learn the base of this tropical “porridge” is just shredded coconut, chia, hemp, and flaxseeds. It’s not only tasty but also filling (one serving has twice the fiber of traditional oatmeal).
Here’s another recipe that will make life much easier. Prepare a batch the night before the shindig, pop it in the fridge to chill, and you’ll be good to go in the morning.
Odds are that most people haven’t tried this faux-grain as a breakfast cereal, so give them something new to rave about. We particularly love this recipe that is topped with almond butter and berry jam, but any combo of dried fruits and nuts will be tasty.
Proteins
An omelette bar might be overkill, but with these inventive recipes, it’s still possible to make eggs, bacon, and sausage for the whole family without resorting to a big undercooked scramble.
An almond flour-thyme crust envelops eggs and spring greens in this good looking and good tasting quiche. It’s both dairy- and gluten-free.
Yes, we’re suggesting pizza for breakfast. Yes, it’s gluten-free. And yes, you’d better believe we put an egg on it.
Poached eggs get a tomato hug in this recipe, which is way easier to make than the traditional kind. Plus, the individual servings are super cute for brunching!
Who doesn’t like deviled eggs? Spice up the classic side dish with this herb blend including pickled shallots—their tangy sweetness perfectly complements the slightly spicy yolk.
Brunch feels like you’re down on the farm with this make-it-yourself sausage recipe that uses high-quality pork, maple syrup, and lots of spices.
The most important thing to remember about hosting Mom’s brunch—cook it with love. In the end, it doesn’t matter if the eggs are a little overcooked. Just give her a hug, let her know you care, and dig in.
Michelle Pellizzon
Certified health coach and endorphin enthusiast, Michelle is an expert in healthy living and eating. When she's not writing you can find her running trails, reading about nutrition, and eating lots of guacamole.
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