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Toast with the most -

Turn your toast into a two-course taste sensation by adding savory and sweet toppings. You might try soft cheese with tomatoes and herbs for the 'main' and add colorful fruity toppings for 'dessert.' Takes mere minutes to prepare, and looks like a work of art!

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Brunch pizza -

When is it acceptable to eat pizza before midday? When it's brunch pizza, of course! Ramp up the protein and vitamin levels by cracking eggs and tomatoes with fresh spinach and/or broccoli onto your pizza before sticking it in the oven.

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Gluten-free crepioca pancake -

The crepioca is a protein-rich brunch pancake that's suitable for gluten-free brunchers. Mix up your eggs with tapioca starch (available online and in specialty stores) to create an easy-peasy base for creative fillings. Cheese or avocado with spinach, tomato, and herbs is a winner. Add chili for a kick!

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Poached egg avocado toast -

There's just something about a perfectly-poached egg spilling into soft avocado and crunchy bread. If you're new to the poaching game, you might want to practice your technique a few times before your brunch, but once you've got the knack, this is a cinch to prepare.

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Croque Madame -

Mais oui, madame! It's a delicious toasted cheese and ham sandwich, with the indulgent addition of Dijon mustard, an extra slice of melty cheese (Gruyère is good), and a fried egg popped on top. Bon appétit!

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Baked eggs with spicy tomato -

Baked eggs with tomato is a popular breakfast dish in the Mediterranean and Middle East (where it's known as shakshuka). It's also a breeze to make if you prepare the spiced tomato sauce the day before.

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Greek-style breakfast -

If you're lucky enough to have sunshine and outside space for your brunch, go Greek-style with a feta, tomato, and Kalamata olive omelet followed by thick yogurt with honey and fresh fruit.

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Brunch omelet -

Part of the beauty of the omelet is that it's quick and easy to prepare, and can be adapted to pretty much any tastes. Get creative and add colorful fresh vegetables for a dash of panache to a familiar dish.

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Egg and spinach toast -

A nice spin on the egg-and-avocado-toast brunch staple is to use sautéed spinach in place of the avocado. It's a tasty, vitamin-rich addition to your brunch menu, and takes mere minutes to assemble.

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Croissants and (boozy) coffee -

Ooh-la-la! Croissants are an enduring breakfast-and-brunch staple, with good reason. Buy morning-fresh if you can, and fill with your choice of goodies. Then enjoy with a coffee (splash of Bailey's optional!), and slip back into bed to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

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Special occasion brunch -

Whether you're catering to family and friends, a special someone, or just treating yourself, some brunches require an extra level of decadence. But even a lavish brunch buffet can be whipped up without too much time or effort.

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Smoked salmon blinis -

If you can make a pancake, you can make a blini! These fancy-looking treats are essentially mini pancakes topped with smoked salmon, soft cheese, and chives for a sophisticated addition to a brunch buffet.

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Avocado and coconut popsicles -

Popsicles for breakfast! But these aren't just any popsicles: these vegan treats are made with coconut milk, avocado, coconut flakes, and just a little sugar. Whizz it all up the night before and place in popsicle molds over night.

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Overnight oats with fruit -

Fresh fruit is your friend when it comes to brunches that look and taste like you put the work in. Overnight oats are a winner because, as the name suggests, you can prep the night before by leaving the oats and milk (dairy or plant-based) in the fridge overnight. Add some seasonal, freshly-chopped fruit, and voilà!

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Salmon Eggs Benedict -

Take the indulgence levels up a notch or two with smoked salmon Eggs Benedict. To keep it quick, make your Hollandaise sauce in advance (or you can even cheat by using store-bought).

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Bacon Eggs Benedict -

Bacon is always a popular guest among meat eaters at the brunch or breakfast table. Swap the salmon for bacon or smoked ham, and you have the perfect recipe for a carnivorous crowd.

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Asparagus and soft boiled egg toast -

Get your greens in style by adding asparagus to the mix. Steamed, in-season asparagus with soft-boiled eggs on seeded toast is a sophisticated way to start a lazy day.

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Buckwheat brunch pancakes -

Pancakes are a long-standing favorite at breakfast or brunch: if you're catering to a crowd, using buckwheat flour is a hassle-free way to make sure gluten-avoiders can tuck in, too.

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Soft boiled egg with asparagus dippers -

Asparagus also comes into its own as a grown-up alternative to toast dippers for soft boiled eggs. Wrap up your asparagus bundle in a slice of bacon or smoked salmon for non-veggie brunch guests.

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Eggs baked in avocado -

The avocado has become a familiar face at the breakfast-and-brunch table. This is a novel, hassle-free way to serve it: crack the fresh eggs into the pitted halves, season, and bake in the oven.

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Brunch mimosas -

Blinis are traditionally served with champagne, and the simple addition of fresh orange juice to your brunch bubbles makes a classic mimosa (and helps lower the alcohol levels for pre-lunch drinking).

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Brunch cocktails -

Whether it's a hair-of-the-dog drink after a big night out or a decadent start to a leisurely weekend, the brunch cocktail should have a hit of caffeine or vitamins to earn its place at the table.

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Bloody Mary -

How about this for a clever idea? The Bloody Mary cocktail (essentially spiced tomato juice and vodka) is a brunch classic, and with the addition of crunchy pickles, veg, and even bacon, it becomes a booze-spiked meal in itself!

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Brunch espresso martini -

Adding caffeine to a cocktail makes it an acceptable late-morning drink, right? Grab your cocktail kit and practice making a delicious espresso martini, and you'll be all set to impress at brunch.

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Indulgent coffees -

Add a dash of decadence to your caffeine fix by making Irish coffee—with whiskey and whipped cream—or a splash of Baileys to keep things sweet. Serve hot on a winter morning or over ice in summer.

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Chocolate chia puddings -

Keep the indulgent feeling going with these sneakily-healthy vegan brunch desserts. Mix chia seeds with unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, and almond milk, leave to soak overnight in glass cups or bowls, and add your choice of nuts and berries before serving.

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Chocolate banana nice cream -

This chocolatey delight is another indulgent-feeling brunch treat with hidden nutrition. Freeze chopped bananas and blend the frozen slices with nut butter, cocoa power, and a little maple syrup. Sprinkle over a few nuts before serving.

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Colorful fruit salad -

Fruit salads are a triple brunch threat: pretty, delicious, and nutritious. If you have access to dragon fruit, you can scoop out the flesh and use the skin as a colorful serving bowl.

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Substantial fruit salad -

Even a simple fruit salad can be a brunch treat. Add some granola (bonus brunch points for homemade, but nobody's telling if you use store-bought!) and thick Greek yogurt for that extra oomph.

Sources: (BBC Good Food) (Insider) (Skinny Taste) (Taste)

See also: The benefits of home cooking

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