A special Mother’s Day brunch out at one of her favorite restaurants is certainly a wonderful way to celebrate all that your mom does—but by no means is it a must. If you’re looking to cozy up at home with your mother and the family this year for Mother’s Day, we’ve got everything you need to prepare an unforgettable celebratory brunch that will feel even more special than eating out.
We have a feeling that your mom would love anything you cook—but just in case you’re at a loss for what to whip up this year (or you’re just hoping to try something new), we’ve brainstormed a handful of the brunchiest recipes out there from bestselling cookbooks written by award-winning chefs. These are all suitable for a Mother’s Day brunch, and can definitely be served at the kitchen table with the whole family, or delivered to her bedside with a bouquet of tulips. Quick tip: if you think she’ll love the books we’ve picked recipes from, leave it wrapped next to her plate as an extra surprise.
Our top picks for an inspired Sunday brunch, below. Bon appetit!
Related: The Best Mother's Day Gifts Ideas
Crepes, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Julia Child
It doesn’t get more classic than Julia Child. These delicious crepes are all-purpose, light and airy—everything needed to yield a versatile Sunday brunch that your mom will talk about for weeks. The batter can be used for sweet or savory crepes, so feel free to get creative with toppings and fillings. A few ideas: sliced strawberries and Nutella, or sweet ham with Gruyere cheese.
Orange-cranberry Scones With Turbinado Sugar, Sweet!, Mani Niall
The crunchy texture of the turbinado sugar that Mani Niall uses in this beautiful recipe from his cookbook Sweet! make these scones particularly dense and delicious. The flavor combination—orange and cranberry—is the perfect mix of tangy and rich. We suggest making a few extra; we’re willing to bet mom will want to have these for breakfast tomorrow, too.
Frozen Blackberries with Labneh and Honey, Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes, Alison Roman
The genius of this recipe from Alison Roman’s popular cookbook, Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes, is in the balance between fruity and creamy. In short: it’s to die for, and anything leftover (although don’t count on it) will make for an equally good dessert.
Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche, The Joy of Cooking, Irma Rombauer
A timeless recipe from a timeless cookbook, you can’t really go wrong with any of Irma Rombauer’s classic dishes. This flaky, creamy tomato and goat cheese quiche is the kind of savory custard that’s simple to make but full of rich, complex flavor—and it’s great for sharing with the family over coffee and Mother’s Day gifts.
Sour-milk Griddle Cakes With Breakfast Sausage, The Taste of Country Cooking, Edna Lewis
If your mom is a fan of southern cooking, then you simply cannot go wrong with a dish from Edna Lewis’s celebrated book, The Taste of Country Cooking. We recommend whipping up the Sour-milk Griddle Cakes. Thick, tangy, fluffy, and topped with mouth-watering warm-berry sauce, your mom is going to be asking for the recipe within minutes of trying out this southern take on an American classic. If you know your mother likes her sweet with some savory, serve them paired with warm breakfast sausages, for some extra southern charm.
Related: 10 Timepieces Perfect for Mother’s Day
Shakshuka, Jerusalem, Yotam Ottolenghi
This is one of those life-changing dishes that once you know exists, it’ll likely become a regular part of your diet it. But while it’s delicious for any meal, it’s also easy to make it special, to add your own twist, and on top of that it’s beautiful to serve. At once fresh, comforting and full of depth and warm flavors like Harissa, your mother will become a big Yotam fan if she isn’t already.
Herb-Baked Eggs, Barefoot in Paris, Ina Garten
We couldn’t write about brunch and not include a recipe from the legendary Barefoot Contessa. Ina Garten’s herb-baked eggs are delightfully simple to make, yet filling and flavorful. She uses a combination of garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and parmesan cheese over carefully broiled eggs for a five-star dish that goes perfectly with your mom’s favorite type of fresh, crunchy bread.
Savoy Cabbage, Black Kale and Potato Subji, Fresh India, Meera Sodha
Talk about a flavor explosion. From Meera Sodha’s wonderful vegan book Fresh India, this combination of cabbage, kale, and potato with spices like cumin and coriander smells almost as incredible as it tastes. Whether your mom loves Indian food or will be trying it for the first time, we know she’ll be back to this book for more.
