Getting up early can be hard, especially on a Monday when the weekend feels far away. These 25 brunch recipes make waking up early worth it by offering simple, tasty meals that don’t take a lot of time or effort. Whether you like something sweet or savory, there’s a recipe here that will help you start your day with a good meal that feels special and satisfying.
Cinnamon Raisin Bread. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Mocha Scones
Wake up and try these scones that mix chocolate and coffee flavors for a sweet and bold start. The dough is easy to shape, and the glaze adds just the right touch to finish it. These are perfect for anyone looking for easy-to-make brunch recipes with a little twist on the usual.
Get the Recipe: Mocha Scones
Nutella Banana Bread
Start your morning with a soft loaf full of creamy Nutella and ripe bananas that blend into a comforting flavor. This bread is simple to make and stays moist, great for slicing or toasting. Add this to your brunch ideas, worth setting your alarm early for, especially when you want something sweet.
Get the Recipe: Nutella Banana Bread
Apple Puff Pancake
Try this puff pancake that rises in the oven with a light and eggy texture that is rich but not heavy. Apples are baked right into the batter for natural sweetness and extra flavor. It’s a quick and special recipe that works well when feeding a group for brunch.
Get the Recipe: Apple Puff Pancake
Spinach Soufflé
Make a fluffy soufflé with a bold spinach flavor that feels fancy but is easy to prepare. This dish looks impressive and serves as a warm and rich brunch centerpiece without taking much time. It’s a smart choice for anyone wanting simple but satisfying brunch ideas.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Soufflé
Cinnamon Apple Crepes
Fold soft cinnamon apples into thin crepes that cook up sweet and syrupy without making a mess. These crepes are simple to make and look great with powdered sugar or cream. They fit well in a brunch lineup when you want something a little different but still cozy.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Apple Crepes
Peach Kuchen Muffins
Bake soft and sweet muffins with juicy chunks of peach that have a tender, cake-like crumb. The batter is easy and forgiving, so no stress is needed to get it right. These muffins are great for anyone wanting fruity and easy-to-make brunch recipes that look nice on the table.
Get the Recipe: Peach Kuchen Muffins
Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Try chocolate muffins that bake moist and rich while hiding zucchini so no one notices. These are easy to mix up and offer a way to add something a bit better for you to a sweet brunch. They make a good choice when a chocolate treat is needed without being too much.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Cherry Chip Scones
Enjoy soft, buttery scones packed with sweet cherries and melting chocolate chips for a dessert-like treat. They bake quickly and go well with coffee, making them a solid pick for brunch with friends. These scones fit any brunch table when you want something that looks and tastes special.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Chip Scones
Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Slice into soft bread filled with sweet raisins and warm cinnamon, perfect for toast or French toast at brunch. This bread is easy to make with simple ingredients and a little time. It’s a comforting and versatile option to add to your brunch ideas worth waking up early for.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Sourdough Pancakes
Cook pancakes that are soft and fluffy with a slight tang from sourdough starter for extra flavor. They turn golden brown and soak up syrup and butter nicely, making them very satisfying. These pancakes are a simple twist on classic brunch recipes worth trying.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Pancakes
Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins
Bake soft and fluffy muffins packed with juicy blueberries that burst with sweetness. Sour cream keeps them moist and easy to mix up without fuss. These muffins make brunch better and always disappear fast, perfect for any easy-to-make brunch recipe list.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins
Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
Make French toast filled with creamy strawberries in the center for a soft texture and sweet flavor that beats plain toast. The outside crisps up just right while the inside stays smooth. This dish is a great way to add a diner-style favorite to your brunch table that is easy to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
Double Chocolate Muffins
Bake muffins loaded with chocolate chips and cocoa powder for a rich flavor-like dessert. They stay soft and moist with just the right sweetness to feel special but not too sweet. These muffins are a perfect choice when brunch calls for an easy chocolate treat.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Muffins
Mocha Donuts
Try donuts that blend strong coffee and chocolate flavors into a soft, rich treat with a smooth glaze on top. The mocha glaze adds extra taste and makes them look like bakery treats. These donuts are a good pick for brunch when something easy and café-like is needed.
Get the Recipe: Mocha Donuts
Loaded Mashed Potato Pancakes
Turn leftover mashed potatoes into crispy, cheesy pancakes that make a hearty and flavorful brunch dish. The outside gets golden and crunchy while the inside stays soft and full of texture. These pancakes are great for a savory brunch that doesn’t take much effort to make.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Mashed Potato Pancakes
Lemon Glazed Donuts
Make soft donuts with a bright lemon glaze that adds the right mix of tangy and sweet flavors. No frying or special tools are needed, which keeps the recipe simple and clean. These donuts work well as a bright and easy option in any brunch recipe collection.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Glazed Donuts
Blueberry Streusel Coffeecake
Bake a light and tender coffeecake filled with juicy blueberries and topped with a sweet crumb that feels like it came from a bakery. It’s simple to prepare and pairs well with coffee or on its own. This classic recipe is a comforting and easy choice for any brunch gathering.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Streusel Coffeecake
Fresh Peach Scones
Add juicy peach chunks to soft, buttery scones that bake into golden triangles in less than half an hour. The dough is easy to work with, and the result looks as good as it tastes. These scones fit right into brunch when something simple and homemade is needed.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Peach Scones
Strawberry Donuts
Make soft, lightly sweet donuts topped with bright strawberry glaze for color and flavor. The dough is easy to handle and does not require frying, making it less messy and more fun to make. These donuts are a fresh and fruity addition to any easy-to-make brunch menu.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Donuts
Crescent Roll Danishes
Use store-bought crescent rolls to make Danish filled with jam, cream cheese, or fruit, which makes it soft and flaky. These danishes are quick to prepare but look impressive on the brunch table. They are a smart choice when time is short, but the meal still needs to feel special.
Get the Recipe: Crescent Roll Danishes
Monkey Bread
Pull apart sticky, buttery bread coated in cinnamon sugar that is fun to share with a group. Made with canned biscuits, it takes very little prep but tastes homemade. This sweet recipe is an easy and warm option to add to any brunch spread worth waking up early for.
Get the Recipe: Monkey Bread
Egg Muffins
Bake quick egg muffins that can be filled with cheese, veggies, or meat, depending on what’s on hand. They are great for making ahead and reheating well for busy mornings or guests. These muffins are a fast, filling, and simple choice for anyone wanting easy-to-make brunch ideas.
Get the Recipe: Egg Muffins
No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls
Skip the wait with these cinnamon rolls that do not use yeast and bake up soft, sweet, and full of cinnamon flavor. They smell great while baking and come together quickly. This recipe is perfect for anyone who wants a quick and easy homemade brunch treat without the usual rising time.
Get the Recipe: No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls
Chocolate Frosted Donuts
Make soft donuts topped with creamy chocolate frosting and sprinkles that look and taste like a bakery treat. They bake fast and don’t need frying or fancy ingredients to turn out right. These donuts are a no-fuss option for a brunch recipe that feels special but is easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Frosted Donuts
Cherry Cinnamon Rolls
Bake soft cinnamon rolls filled with juicy cherries and warm cinnamon for a sweet twist on a classic. The dough is simple to work with and bakes into golden, gooey rolls every time. These rolls are a fun and easy recipe to share at brunch when something sweet is wanted.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cinnamon Rolls