There is something truly special about gathering with friends and family for a relaxed Easter brunch. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the weekend—whether with a quiet morning for two or hosting a lively get-together for a crowd. To help make your Easter weekend even more memorable, I’ve put together a collection of delicious Easter brunch recipes that are ideal for sharing. Most are wonderfully easy to make, and they are all family favourites at my house.
But first, I’ve got some tried-and-true tips to help make your Easter brunch as enjoyable for you as it is for your guests.
Tips For Hosting a Relaxed Easter Brunch
Keep it simple
Keep things as simple and stress-free as possible. Easter brunch is supposed to be fun.
Ask your guests to bring something for a relaxed, pot-luck style Easter brunch. Whether it’s a favourite dish, a fruit plate, some cheese and crackers or drinks, almost everyone likes to feel like they are contributing.
Choose a centrepiece dish and build your Easter brunch around it
Choose a stand-out dish for your Easter brunch centrepiece like Crunchy French Bread Egg Pie (above), Brie, Tomato and Basil Strata or Blueberry French Toast Casserole (for a sweeter option).
Choose one or two easy salad recipes for your side dishes. Add a fruit or cheese platter or some crudités and dip and you are nearly there! If you do choose to serve a sweeter centrepiece dish like a French Toast Casserole, consider leaning into the sweeter theme with a fruit and cheese platter as your side dish or even an Easter “charcuterie” tray like this cute idea I found on Pinterest.
Make some muffins to serve on the side. The perfect quick and easy make-ahead option, a basket or two of gently warmed muffins on an Easter brunch table is always a welcome sight.
Don’t forget dessert
Consider a stand-out dessert to round everything out. My Blackberry and Apple Cake looks like it takes ages to make – but it doesn’t! You could also serve Pear and Ginger Cake (there’s a gluten-free option too) or go all out with my Coffee and Almond Cake which takes a little more effort but is still very manageable.
Set the mood for your Easter brunch
Put some coffee on or make some mulled apple cider to make your home smell welcoming. Set the mood with gentle background music, and scatter round a few floral arrangements. I bought the arrangements in the above photograph from Green Parlour, my favourite florists, but even a few stems in small vases dotted here and there can really make your table look amazing.
Set the table with your favourite plates, glasses and cutlery. This is a great opportunity to use some of those pieces of china, stoneware and crystal that need to get out of the cupboard more often! Mis-matched china and glass work really well in an Easter brunch setting. I’m using cloth napkins more and more these days. Although they do need washing and ironing, they are a sustainable solution and they really elevate your tablescape. There are so many cute Easter napkins. I also like these sweet butterfly and bunny napkins which would also work really well (affiliate links).
More Delicious Easter Brunch Recipes
Appetizers
Cut up some crisp vegetables for crudités or break out the tortilla or pita chips and serve them alongside a Quick and Easy Nacho Dip. Or make some Crab Melts on French bread and cut them into pieces to serve as canapés.
Main Dishes and Salads
Double the recipe and make a big sharing bowl of this traditional Waldorf Salad – there’s a vegetarian option too! Or make Coronation Chicken Salad – a variation on the recipe served at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II – your centrepiece dish. Another great option is my Tuna Pasta Salad. Perfect for pescatarians, it is a salad I am often asked to bring to barbecues and pot-luck dinners.
If you prefer a different egg based dish as the main event, try my Easy Vegetarian Quiche or Sausage and Leek Quiche. For an egg-free option, there’s my Mediterranean Vegetable Tart. And if you still fancy something sweet, this French Toast Casserole is an alternative to my Blueberry French Toast Casserole suggestion above.
Baked Goods
Muffins are always a great addition to a brunch buffet, and I particularly like these Blueberry Chia Muffins with Lemon and Ginger for this time of year. Or try Oat Bran Muffins with Carrot and Orange, or any of my other delicious muffin recipes. Alternatively, why not make some Cheese Scones? These savoury treats are the work of moments and almost everyone loves them!
Desserts
I always like to round out Easter brunch with a dessert – and sometimes that is as simple as some frosted chocolate cupcakes topped with jelly beans or tiny chocolate eggs. On other occasions I get a bit fancier with some of the options I suggested above – Apple and Blackberry Cake, Pear or I make something a bit more traditional like this Simnel Cake.
Simnel Cake is an easy to make, light fruit cake, with a marzipan topping that dates back to Medieval times. Marzipan lovers rejoice – there is also a layer of marzipan in the middle, making this Easter cake (which until the Victorian era was more associated with Mother’s Day) especially moist and delicious. It makes a beautiful centrepiece for a dessert buffet, and I love how easy it is to decorate.
You could also serve my Blackberry and Apple Cake, Pear and Ginger Cake or the Coffee and Almond Cake I suggested above – or for a cake that serves a crowd, my Chocolate Banana Bundt Cake will be just the ticket.
Of course, a beautiful fruit and cheese plate also makes a lovely dessert.
Drinks
Coffee or tea are a natural choice with brunch, but it can also be nice to offer some cold beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I like to serve fruit juices – freshly squeezed orange juice is always a good option, or it can be nice to make mulled apple cider as I suggested earlier. If you fancy some bubbles, you could always offer Buck’s Fizz or a glass of champagne as guests arrive. That said, I’m not big on drinking in the daytime so I tend to stick to the non-alcoholic options – and there are plenty of those around these days!
Happy Easter!
Whether you’re keeping things low-key or planning a bigger celebration, I hope these Easter brunch ideas and tips help make your gathering both delicious and stress-free. With a little planning and a few special touches, you can create an Easter brunch that is as joyful and memorable as the occasion itself. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter, filled with good food, laughter, and plenty of sweet moments.
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