30 Breakfast Ideas Fit For Special Occasions

Mama and brunch approved.

By

Updated on June 17, 2024

blueberry clafoutis — Photo:
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

While you don't even need a reason to enjoy these fancy breakfast dishes, if you do have a special celebration on the horizon we have you covered. Whether it's a big or small celebration, these indulgent breakfast recipes are sure to hit the spot.

Next time you're looking to impress your mother on Mother's Day, start a birthday off with a fun surprise, commemorate an anniversary with something special, or host a happy family on Christmas morning—look no further than these delicious fancy breakfast recipes.

01 of 30

Caramel Rolls

Southern Living Caramel Rolls on a serving board — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

There's no better way to make a meal feel more special than adding a little extra sweetness. Sticky buns meet cinnamon rolls in these delicious breakfast treats complete with a cinnamon-spiced filling and rich caramel sauce.

02 of 30

Peanut Butter–Stuffed French Toast

Southern Living Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast on a plate to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you're looking to spoil a loved one, this peanut butter-stuffed French toast recipe will surely make them feel loved. Conveniently, it only takes 12 minutes to make, so you can spend more time celebrating with them. Serve with a cold glass of chocolate milk to satisfy that peanut butter chocolate combo craving.

03 of 30

Roasted Tomato Quiche

Roasted Tomato Quiche — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

We'll never say no to tomatoes, even on the breakfast table. While this quiche is delicious any time of day, it feels especially decadent for a celebratory brunch. If you're still not convinced, you should know there's a generous amount of bacon layered in.

04 of 30

Cookies And Cream Cinnamon Rolls

Southern Living Cookies and Cream Cinnamon Rolls in the skillet ready to serve — Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

If you're looking for the sweetest way to celebrate someone you love, look no further than this cookies and cream cinnamon roll recipe. Topped with thick cream cheese icing and lots of crumbled Oreo cookies, every bite of these warm cinnamon rolls will delight.

05 of 30

Quick And Easy Cream Cheese Danish

Southern Living Quick and Easy Cream Cheese Danish on a board to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Sheets of frozen puff pastry make these cream cheese danishes ridiculously easy to pull together. The hardest part will be deciding what fruit or other toppings to fill them with.

06 of 30

Brioche French Toast Casserole

Southern Living Brioche Cinnamon French Toast Casserole in the pan ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Buttery and fluffy brioche bread takes a ho-hum french toast casserole to the next level. Whether you're whipping up this casserole for a child's birthday or just looking to make a Wednesday morning feel special, this recipe won't disappoint.

07 of 30

Asparagus Quiche

Asparagus Quiche — ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: TINA BELL STAMOS

A braided crust gives this humble quiche its company-worthy appearance. Spring onions, asparagus, tarragon, and chives keep the dish light and fresh, while shredded Gouda adds a layer of richness.

08 of 30

Ham-and-Cheese Puff Pastries

Ham-and-Cheese Puff Pastries — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

You'll be shocked to discover how simple these fancy-looking savory pastries filled with Gruyère, ham, honey, and mustard are. Plus, they're ready in just over 30 minutes.

09 of 30

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls Recipe — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Christmas? Valentines? Birthday? You'll want to add these ultra-rich, gooey red velvet cinnamon rolls to your menu. A cinnamon, sugar, and butter filling and classic cream cheese icing nods to the traditional version.

10 of 30

Southern Salmon Benedict

Southern Salmon Benedict — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

We put a Southern spin on traditional eggs Benedict with buttery biscuits in place of english muffins while slices of smoked salmon make it feel extra fancy.

11 of 30

Ricotta Pancakes with Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote

Ricotta Pancakes with Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote — Hector Sanchez

While these light and fluffy ricotta pancakes are delicious on their own, our blueberry compote and brown butter-maple syrup make them irresistible and celebration worthy.

12 of 30

Classic Shrimp And Grits

Classic Shrimp And Grits — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

You definitely aren't making shrimp and grits on a Monday morning which means this super-Southern dish is just thing for any special occasion.

13 of 30

Spiced Orange Rolls

Spiced orange rolls in green casserole dish — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

We'll rise and shine for orange rolls. From holidays to weekend brunches, these slightly spiced rolls are the ideal balance of sweet and tangy. Best of all, you can prepare them the night before baking.

14 of 30

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole in a casserole dish and a scoop on a blue plate — Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Though this loaded breakfast casserole doesn't look fancy, the richness of bacon, cheese, tater tots, and a custard-like base turns it into something special.

15 of 30

Blueberry Clafoutis

blueberry clafoutis — Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Don't be intimated by the name of this dish—you likely already have all the ingredients you need to make it in your pantry and fridge. You can also swap out the blueberries for any fruit of your choosing.

16 of 30

Cornmeal Crêpes With Blackberries And Buttermilk Cream

cornmeal crepes with blackberry sauce — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Impress brunch guests with these simple cornmeal crêpes. Let guests get creative and build their own by providing an array to toppings from fruit and jam to nutella and whipped cream.

17 of 30

Bacon Pancakes

Bacon Pancakes — Antonis Achilleos

If you thought fluffy buttermilk pancakes couldn't be improved upon, think again. Pour the batter overtop the crispy strips of bacon and let the salty and savory meat cook right into the flapjacks.

18 of 30

Chocolate Dutch Baby With Berries

Chocolate Dutch Baby — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Forget endlessly flipping flapjacks on the stovetop and opt for this crispy-on-the-outside, custard-like in the middle, chocolaty treat that can be made in a cast-iron skillet. Make it extra fancy with fresh berries and whipped cream.

19 of 30

Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits

Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This casserole isn't your run-of-the-mill biscuits and gravy dish. One reader gave high praises saying, "One of the best recipes I have ever made! Very tasty!"

20 of 30

Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Croissant Breakfast Casserole — Victor Protasio

Our croissant breakfast casserole might not look fancy at first glance, but we ensure it's special enough for any gathering thanks to country ham, Vidalia onions, spinach, dijon mustard, and cheese.

21 of 30

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche — Alison Miksch

From Easter brunch to slow Saturday mornings, this cheesy, grits and bacon quiche is one you'll want to make again and again.

22 of 30

Egg In A Biscuit

Eggs in biscuits on baking sheet with spatula and a egg in a biscuit on a plate with mixed greens — VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLING: RUTH BLACKBURN; PROP STYLING: LYDIA PURSELL

You've probably heard of a Toad In A Hole or Egg In A Hole, but we're introducing you to our Southern version that relies on buttery, flakey buttermilk biscuits. Our recipe calls for store-bought biscuits, but you can make your favorite homemade ones to make this dish extra special.

23 of 30

Blueberry Cornmeal Cake

Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cake for breakfast? We say yes! From Mother's Day brunch to before school birthday celebrations, serve this cornmeal cake (which has less sugar than a traditional cake) that is bursting with juicy blueberries.

24 of 30

Millionaire Bacon

Millionaire Bacon — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

As if bacon wasn't already worthy of any occasion, we coated it in brown sugar and maple syrup with a hint of cayenne and black pepper for irresistible slices of candied bacon.

25 of 30

Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake

Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake — Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke

Think about this sweet breakfast bread as an oversized version of an old-fashioned cake donut. Top it with a simple powdered sugar glaze, then add any additional toppings you'd like from sprinkles to Oreo crumbles.

26 of 30

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Monkey Bread

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Monkey Bread — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please! This chocolate-peanut butter filled-and-topped monkey bread is just waiting for the candles. Store-bought crescent dough ensures it is extra buttery and flaky.

27 of 30

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Coffee Cake — Antonis Achilleos

You'll rarely find a breakfast gathering in the South without some version of this classic on the table. With a ribbon of brown sugar and chopped pecans throughout, we guarantee you won't be left with a single slice.

28 of 30

Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole With Blueberry-Maple Syrup

Overnight Blueberry French Toast — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

You only need 20 minutes of hands on time before letting this casserole soak in all the flavor and moisture overnight. The best part though? The homemade blueberry-maple syrup.

29 of 30

Butter Pecan Scones

Southern Living Butter Pecan Scones ready to serve on a serving board — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

If this reader's endorsement doesn't have you hooked, we're not sure what will. "The flavor was amazing. It is a chilly day in Vermont and the flavor was really perfect for a fall like day. It was easy to make. I will make it again," they said.

30 of 30

Easy Blackberry Turnovers

Easy Blackberry Turnovers — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Breakfast or dessert? Who's to say. Try switching up the jammy fresh fruit filling according to the produce in season.

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