Make Ahead Brunch Ideas for Mother’s Day

French toast casserole, cinnamon rolls, frittatas, and pancakes are wonderful make-ahead recipes for Mother’s Day. No matter which you choose, Mom is sure to be impressed this year.

By
Milagros Cruz
Milagros Cruz
Milagros Cruz
Milagros has been developing content for the past six years and worked with brands such as Food Network and The Latin Kitchen.
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Published April 23, 2021
Milagros Cruz
Three photos side by side of Mother's Day brunch recipes.

Simply Recipes

Celebrate mom this Mother's Day by serving her something delicious!

This guide to make ahead Mother's Day brunch recipes includes ideas that are quick and easy or easy to make ahead so you’re not in the kitchen for hours and can spend more time with mom. Breakfast casseroles (of all kinds), baked egg dishes, and pancakes are all solid choices. 

French toast casseroles are similar to bread pudding in taste and texture—you’ll have a custardy middle and golden edges. Make sure you give Mom her favorite piece and you can top it with fresh fruit, powdered sugar, jam or maple syrup.

Egg casseroles and baked egg dishes like frittatas are also a match made in heaven for make ahead brunches. You can cook everything the day before and rewarm it in the oven the day of. And, if you have any extra veggies lying around your fridge you can add those in for added flavor and flare. Serve it with a side of sweet potato hash browns, roasted potatoes or a side salad.

Pancakes and waffles freeze well so if you’re a super forward thinker you can make these a few weeks before your big event and rewarm them the day of. Top with yogurt, whipped cream, fresh fruit, jam or nuts and I’m sure your Mom will be nothing short of impressed. 

Here are the perfect make ahead brunch recipes that will make Mother’s Day even more special and don't forget the pineapple mango mimosa!

  • Baked Blueberry French Toast Casserole

    Blueberry French Toast Bake
    Cindy Rahe

    If your Mom loves bread pudding this baked blueberry French toast casserole is the perfect brunch option. It has a sweet custardy middle while still having those crispy edges—it’s the best of both worlds. But the best part is that it can be made the night before, baked in the morning, and served by the slice with maple syrup and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

  • Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    The best cinnamon rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting.
    Cindy Rahe

    Nothing says “I love you mom” like freshly baked cinnamon rolls. The rich dough is filled with a buttery sugar-cinnamon filling and slathered with sweet cream cheese frosting. Make the dough the night before and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight. The day of you can fill, roll, and bake them off.

  • Mini Salmon Quiches

    Mini Salmon Quiches
    Sally Vargas

    Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and scallions are loaded into mini store-bought puff pastry rounds. You can make these ahead of time, freeze them, and warm them up the day of your Mother’s Day brunch making this the easiest brunch appetizer yet.

  • Make-Ahead Frittata Squares with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta

    Frittata Squares with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta
    Sally Vargas

    Frittata squares are the perfect make ahead brunch idea. Spinach, tomatoes, and feta are the star of this egg dish, but you can easily add in other veggies your Mom loves (and you have on hand). Make this dish from start to finish the day before and you can rewarm squares as needed. Serve with biscuits, toast, potatoes or a side salad for a well-rounded meal.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.

  • Yeasted Belgian Waffles

    Belgian Waffle Recipe
    Irvin Lin

    Make the batter for these yeasted Belgian waffles the night before so in the morning all you have to do is turn on your waffle maker and cook them up. You can also make them from start to finish a few days in advance, keep them in the fridge (and they’ll reheat and crisp up perfectly). If you’re really a forward thinker, these waffles even freeze well. Serve them with a dusting of powdered sugar, maple syrup, fresh fruit, jam or a combination.

  • Sausage Breakfast Casserole

    How to Make Breakfast Casserole with Sausage
    Elise Bauer

    You can assemble this breakfast casserole the night before and just pop it right in the oven before brunch. This casserole is loaded with eggs, sharp cheddar cheese, day old-cubed bread, and Italian pork sausage. You can always go ahead and swap out different meats, cheese, and even add in veggies if you desire.

  • French Toast Casserole

    Syrup Being Poured On Square of Easy French Toast Casserole
    Lisa Lin

    Your Mom deserves a treat this Mother’s Day and making this French toast casserole for brunch is just that—she won’t be able to forget the super crunchy sugar-cinnamon topping. You can make this dish ahead of time, put it in the fridge overnight, and bake it the day of.

  • Oatmeal Almond Butter Breakfast Cookies

    Breakfast Cookies Recipe
    Marta Rivera

    Yes! You should totally add cookies to your Mother’s Day brunch menu. These almond butter breakfast cookies are a double hitter—they are packed with nourishing ingredients and taste delightful. You can make the cookie dough, shape and freeze the shaped cookies, and bake them to order.

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  • Lemon Pound Cake

    Lemon Pound Cake
    Alison Bickle

    This lemon pound cake has triple the lemon flavor with lemon zest and juice in the batter, a lemon syrup that the cake is soaked in, and the cake is then coated in lemon frosting. You can make this oh-so-tart pound cake up to 5 days in advance and leave it covered on the counter or freeze it ahead of time. To freeze it, prepare the cake through the point where you soak it in lemon syrup, then wrap and freeze. Thaw on the counter and frost before serving.

  • Carrot Cake Pancakes

    Tall stack of buttermilk carrot cake pancakes with a cream cheese topping, chopped pecans and a puddle of syrup at the bottom of the plate. Whole carrots, a glass of cream cheese topping, more pancakes and a bowl of chopped pecans surround the plate.
    Jessica Gavin

    Pancakes freeze beautifully so you can totally make them ahead of time for your Mother’s Day brunch—these carrot cake pancakes are no different which is lucky for you because your Mom is going to fall in love after one bite.  A basic buttermilk pancake is elevated with spices, pecans, raisins, and freshly grated carrots. The spiced cream cheese topping and chopped nuts is just the icing on the cake, so to speak.