24 Recipes for a New Year's Day Brunch

Ring in the New Year with brunch cocktails, light dishes, and bright flavors.

By

Food & Wine Editors

Updated on December 5, 2023

Mimosas — Photo: Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

New Year’s Day brunch should be uplifting and exciting, full of healthful dishes, sparkling drinks, and bright flavors. Here are some ideas for the best way to start your year, with plenty of recipes for a crowd (and maybe some hangover-combating dishes).

01 of 24

French Press Brewed Coffee

How to Use a French Press — Matt Taylor-Gross / French Press from HAY

“Not only is it an easy way to prepare coffee (leaving more time for conversation and laughter), a French press produces a cup of coffee with rich flavors that complement just about any brunch dish.”

02 of 24

Carrot Cake Marmalade with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit

Carrot Cake Marmalade with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

This take on chef Mason Hereford's marmalade gets big flavor from stewing carrots and apple with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise for a warmly spiced result that pops with color.

03 of 24

Bloody Mary

Classic Bloody Mary — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

This recipe is the platonic ideal of a Bloody Mary with classic tomato flavor, a bit of tart lemon, salty Worcestershire, and spicy hot sauce. Gussy it up with over-the-top edible garnishes, savory miso, sweet Aperol, or a bit of Thai chili, however you like.

04 of 24

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Truffles

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Truffles Recipe — Victor Protasio

Light and fluffy, these eggs are gently seasoned and generously perfumed by fresh black truffles.

05 of 24

Orange Liqueur Mimosa

Mimosas — Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

Give classic mimosas an update by swapping out the traditional orange juice with splashes of homemade orange syrup and orange liqueur that can be made weeks in advance.

06 of 24

Basil-and-Corn Cornmeal Waffles

Basil and Cornmeal Waffles — Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

These loaded cornmeal waffles are your next brunch showstopper, balancing savory, salty, and sweet flavors all in one dish.

07 of 24

Red Snapper

Mardavall Red Snapper — Courtesy St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

The gin-based Bloody Mary has a long history as a hangover remedy.

08 of 24

Egg in a Bagel Hole

Egg in a Bagel Hole Recipe — The Ingalls

Serve a lightly toasted bagel wrapped around a perfectly runny yolk with savory smoked salmon, creamy avocado, and optional decadent caviar.

09 of 24

Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

Banana, almond butter, date smoothie recipe — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Ali Domrongchai

Filling, nutritious, and easy, Merlyn Miller's smoothie has all three of these crucial elements, plus the bonus of tasting like subtly sweet ice cream for breakfast.

10 of 24

Blueberry Almond Yogurt Toast

Blueberry Almond Yogurt Toast — Photo by Sarah Crowder / Food Styling by Chandra Ram

This yogurt toast mimics the rich, creamy flavor and texture of French toast and can be adapted to use all kinds of fruit and nuts.

11 of 24

Bellini

Bellini Recipe — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

Everyone should know how to make this balanced, sweet, and floral brunch cocktail that pairs well with pancakes and omelets.

12 of 24

Quinoa Pancakes with Ricotta and Lemon

Breakfast scene with quinoa pancakes, blueberries, syrup — Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Kathleen Varner / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey

Nutty whole wheat flour, fluffy ricotta, and tender cooked quinoa add flavor and texture to these light pancakes, due to the clever addition of whipped egg whites. Lemon zest, vanilla, and maple syrup add just enough sweetness to balance the slightly bitter quinoa.

13 of 24

Iron Skillet Cornbread with Grapefruit

Iron Skillet Cornbread with Grapefruit, Beluga Lentils, Jalapeno Spread and Spiced Cane — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Ruby Red grapefruit, a jalapeño-onion spread and fried beluga lentils make this cornbread an impressive centerpiece for a special brunch.

14 of 24

Brioche à Tête

Brioche à Tête — Cedric Angeles

These winsome Italian breakfast buns are scented with citrus and vanilla and can accompany coffee.

15 of 24

Coco Café

Coco Cafe Recipe — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

Made with cold brew from French Truck coffee, the Coco Café is creamy, sweet, and soothing. The brunch cocktail feels right at home in a glass tea cup.

16 of 24

Breakfast Egg Cups with Parsley Gremolata and Mushrooms

Prosciutto Egg Cups with Parsley Gremolata Recipe — Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners

These surprisingly elegant, savory herb-topped eggs bake up in a muffin pan, so it’s easy to make breakfast or brunch for more than a few people.

17 of 24

Oversized, Pillowy English Muffins

English Muffins — Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Impress your guests with homemade English muffins. This recipe from Rick Rodgers’ The Model Bakery Cookbook is well worth it for the light, fluffy, buttery results full of nooks and crannies.

18 of 24

Mixed Berry Jam

Mixed Berry Jam — Sophia Yartseva / Getty Images

You can use any combination of berries to make your own jam for your English muffins.

19 of 24

Sicilian Orange Bundt Cake

Sicilian Orange Bundt Cake — Aubrie Pick

For a sweeter recipe, try this light cake that Sicilian grandmothers often serve with tea.

20 of 24

Persimmon, Whipped Goat Cheese, and Hazelnut Parfaits

Persimmon, Whipped Goat Cheese, and Hazelnut Parfaits — Persimmon, Whipped Goat Cheese, and Hazelnut Parfaits.
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

These eye-catching parfaits make the most of the winter fruit persimmon, which is tossed with lime juice and sugar; layered with whipped goat cheese and crunchy cardamom-glazed hazelnuts; and topped with fresh mint and dried rose petals.

21 of 24

Bloody Majestic

The Bloody Majestic — Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Yellow tomatoes give a golden color to this Bloody Mary, which is fortified by bitters with notes of pineapple and white flower blossoms from a specialty sake.

22 of 24

Shakshuka with Swiss Chard

Shakshuka with Swiss Chard — © John Kernick

Chef Michael Anthony introduces Italian flavors, like basil and Parmesan, to the classic Middle Eastern dish that steals the show at any brunch.

23 of 24

Quick Buckwheat Blini

Quick Buckwheat Blini — © Fredrika Stjärne

Called oladyi or blinchiki (the diminutive of blini), these mini blini get their nutty flavor from buckwheat flour. They require no rising so you can make a big batch quickly.

24 of 24

Double-Lemon Scones

Double-Lemon Scones — © Marcus Nilsson

Lemon–poppy seed cake meets scones in this delightful recipe from Justin Chapple.

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