What Should I Make for a Thanksgiving Brunch?
Good Questions

Q: My Mom and I want to prepare a Thanksgiving brunch for family that will be around in the morning for the holiday, but not at the traditional dinnertime.

Does anyone have any tasty recipe ideas for us?

Sent by Erin

Editor: Erin, we love brunch and breakfast! Here's our own Thanksgiving breakfast from last year. We made an egg tart and an apple-blackberry pie, to stay in the pie theme of the day.

Here's some more inspiration for throwing a fancy brunch on a budget, and for eggs baked in ramekins, which we think is a great easy and light breakfast dish.

You probably want to keep it a light breakfast, with all that heavy food coming up later! What about simple baked eggs, toast, and fruit? Maybe with a pie off to the side to be festive, and for those who really want to start early?

Readers? Any thoughts for Thanksgiving breakfast?

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(Image: Faith Durand)

Comments (10)

I was just looking at some whole grain cranberry and walnut muffins on King Arthur Flour's website that would be lovely for Thanksgiving breakfast. If you are hosting dinner as well, you can prepare the batter in advance and freeze in the muffin cups to minimize any extra holiday baking. Scones would also be nice, maybe with some yogurt and granola. And don't forget the mimosas!

We're serving pumpkin pancakes and oranges wedges to people, as they arrive (7:30- 11 or so) and join in the preparing festivities. It's possible we may add some bacon to the mix.

How about French Toast? To make it extra special, use challah, brown sugar, orange zest and actual vanilla bean. Here's my recipe.

http://www.recipezaar.com/Sweet-Potato-Cranberry-Quiche-78378

Very delicious and surprising recipe.

I would aim light--pumpkin spice granola, yogurt, stewed pears.

My husband and I did a brunch one Thanksgiving, with bloody marys & cranberry champagne cocktails, oysters on the half shell, Paula Deen's Baked Garlic Cheese Grits, and Chicory Coffee Creme Brulee.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/baked-garlic-cheese-grits-recipe/index.html
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/chicory-coffee-creme-brulee-recipe/index.html

The baked eggs are wonderful. You could do them in small custard cups or ramekins, put in a slice of canadian bacon first, some sauteed spinach, then the egg, salt and pepper, some grated parmesan cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes. Or if you wanted to do something like scrambled eggs with sharp cheddar and chives, that would leave the oven free for roasted cherry tomatoes. Buy some awesome spreads, muffins, bagels, bread for toast...and awesome juice and coffee, that way, you only have to make two things.

I think it would be fun to do a stuffing-inspired egg strata as the main dish. You could do a really yummy sausage or bacon with some sage and some aromatics like you would put in a stuffing. I use the strata recipe from Simply Recipes as a starting point and add whichever ingredients I prefer. (http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/as-you-like-it_breakfast_casserole/) Plus, you can make the whole thing the night before and keep it in the refrigerator - in fact, making it ahead of time makes it even tastier!

Something light and casual and easy to make, maybe rustic sandwiches or soup (which can be made well ahead of time) served with crackers.

What about cranberry almond scones? Good Thankgiving ingredients in an easy brunchy pastry....

http://yummysupper.blogspot.com/2009/11/cranberry-almond-scones.html