A Last-Minute Mother’s Day Brunch That You Can Throw Together in the Morning

So you’re hosting Mother’s Day brunch and, for whatever reason, you’re down to the wire with barely a plan in place. Mom is coming over in just a few hours and you haven’t put one thought into what to make. Don’t worry — you still have time to pull this off. And there’s no need to run out for a dozen doughnuts and a box of joe — you can do this just the way you pictured. This menu will help you put together a fast, fancy, and celebratory brunch together in little to no time. This menu feeds six people and can be made before mom arrives. We’ve even included a timeline on exactly how you to can pull this off. You’ve got this!

This brunch menu was intended for the last-minute folks who wake up Sunday morning and can hardly believe it’s actually already Sunday and that mom is coming over in just a few hours. Everything can be made in next to no time, without breaking a sweat, and still comes together as one fabulous, celebratory meal.

• Elderflower & Lemon Sparkling Sipper
• Rainbow Fruit Salad
• Mini Bagels and Lox
• How To Make a Frittata

A good cocktail is sure to make Mom happy on her special day. Sure, you can simply pop open a few bottles of bubbly, but you do actually have time to upgrade those bottles by adding a couple of other ingredients to the equation and turning them into a quick cocktail. Grab your prettiest Champagne flutes to make the drinks extra festive.

Elderflower & Lemon Sparkling Sipper: Add a splash of elderflower liquor and fresh lemon juice to sparkling wine and suddenly it’s a touch lighter, sweeter, and completely fit for brunch. Then just drop a couple of raspberries into each glass to dress it up (although blueberries, sliced strawberries, or even just a lemon twist will do).

This brunch is simple yet well-rounded. There’s your signature egg dish to sit in the center of the table, carbs and cream cheese to make everyone happy, and enough fresh fruit to keep it squarely in morning territory.

• Rainbow Fruit Salad: This classic fruit salad, tossed with a sweet and tangy honey-lime dressing, can be anything you want it to be. Rather use cubed melon instead of grapes? No one is stopping you. If the peaches at the grocery store look pathetic, grab plums. Oh, and buy all the fruit pre-cut to make it extra easy on yourself. Add everything to a serving bowl, drizzle over the dressing, and stick it in the fridge until the doorbell rings.
• Mini Bagels and Lox: Lox always feels fancy, so it fits the bill for Mother’s Day. This recipe requires absolutely no cooking and calls for easy ingredients any grocery store will stock. If you don’t have time to assemble each mini bagel before people arrive, make it a DIY situation and let your guests assemble their own. Mini bagel bar has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
• How To Make a Frittata: Grab those roasted vegetables you have leftover from last night and, as long as you also have some eggs, you have the makings of a frittata. This recipe is infinitely adaptable. Toss in some cooked pasta or rice too, if you have it, and reach for any and all nubs of cheese that are lingering in the fridge. Cook it off before guests arrive and there’s no need to reheat it — it’s actually best at room temperature.

Your timeline starts as soon as you wake up Sunday morning. If guests are arriving in a few hours, you still have time to shower, make a cup of coffee, run to the grocery store, and get this menu together.

• When you wake up: Run to the store to pick up anything you might not already have. That probably means grabbing some cut fresh fruit, the ingredients for the mini bagels and lox, and maybe a bottle of elderflower liquor and a couple bottles of bubbly. Save yourself a second trip by making a quick grocery list before you head out.
• Before everyone arrives: After getting the frittata in the oven to bake, toss together the fruit for the fruit salad and lay out the mini bagels, lox, cream cheese, and toppings on a pretty platter.
• When guests arrive: Once guests arrive, pour the cocktails, relax, and enjoy your time with mom.