New Year's Day Brunch

Feeling the pressure to make big plans for New Year’s Eve? It’s okay to stay in and do something low-key like dinner and a movie, or watching the countdown on TV. Save your energy for a New Year’s Day brunch on January 1st! Turn a day of football and parades into a fun-filled New Year’s brunch with family and friends. This is a great time to get together for some good conversation with great company. Check out these fabulous New Year’s brunch ideas!

Send out invitations to your guests to let them know about the festivities. Create your event on Punchbowl to access a wonderful selection of free New Year’s invitation designs. Since many people will likely stay up until midnight the day before, they may want to get a little extra sleep in that morning. Your New Year’s day party will be the perfect way to kick off the year with a delicious meal and fun gathering. Cook up some of these delicious New Year’s dishes:

Brunch Buffet: One option for a New Year’s Day menu is to serve a traditional brunch with bagels, omelets, hash browns, bacon or sausage, and fresh fruit. Try this decadent recipe for mushroom omelets, which serves six!

Mushroom Omelet Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds mushrooms (a flavorful variety are Champignons de Paris)
• 3 tbsp salted butter
• 12 eggs
• 2 tbsp crème fraiche
• chives, finely chopped
• ½ tbsp crushed white peppercorns
• salt

Directions:

Slice the mushrooms into large pieces. Cook in 2 tablespoons of butter over low heat to soften. Combine all the eggs and beat at least 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in the crème fraiche, chives, salt, and crushed peppercorns. Melt the other tablespoon of butter in a fresh pan over low heat. Add the egg mixture and cook 2 minutes. When the edges begin to look done, but the omelet is still soft in the middle, add the sliced mushrooms. Continue to heat until the eggs are cooked through.

Sweet Treats: Whip up fresh pancakes or waffles with everyone’s favorite toppings or show off your baking skills with hot out-of-the-oven muffins and scones. Donuts with powdered sugar are a sweet treat that also represent good luck since their round shape symbolizes “coming full circle.” Here is a fabulous basic scone recipe that makes a great foundation for any add-ins you’d like to try.

Traditional Tea Scone Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup margarine, chilled
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup of add-ins

Add-In Ideas:

• Fresh fruit (blueberries, raspberries, or chopped strawberries)
• Chunks of white chocolate
• Small pieces of toffee
• Dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients, then use a pastry cutter to cut in the margarine until you have a crumbly mixture. Mix the rest of the ingredients in another bowl and then combine with the dry ingredients. Mix lightly, and pour in any add-ins. Use a large ice cream scoop to scoop the dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 425F, until the tops just begin to turn golden.

Delicious Drinks: Vanilla hot chocolate and cafe au lait can be the perfect antidote for a chilly morning. Don’t forget to top off your New Year’s Day brunch menu with some yummy cocktails made with extra bottles of champagne saved from the night before. Mimosas or Bloody Marys are classic brunch drinks everyone will love.

Mimosa Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of champagne, chilled
• 1 carton of orange juice

Directions:

Fill half a champagne glass with champagne, and top it off with the orange juice. Squeeze your own fresh OJ for some added flair. You can also add a splash of Grand Marnier, or decorate the glass with a slice of fruit.

Inaugurate this fresh beginning with a special New Year’s Day meal and let your festive celebration shared with families and friends be a sign of all the happiness to come in the year ahead.

Need to invite friends and family to your New Year’s Eve celebration this year? Try one of our free New Year’s Eve invitations!