Recipes Breakfast + Brunch Kid-Friendly Brunch Ideas for Guests of All Ages By Food & Wine Editors Updated on May 25, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Julia Hartbeck Brunch can be a family-friendly affair, and that doesn't have to downgrade the food. From sweet cinnamon streusel-topped coffee cake and classic Belgian waffles to savory breakfast sliders and super-creamy mac and cheese, we have a variety of tasty brunch ideas that are sure to please guests of all ages. Your kid-friendly brunch menu planning starts here. 01 of 21 Chilaquiles Rojos with Fried Eggs and Cotija Greg Dupree Charring the tomato and onion before adding them to the red chile sauce is a quick way to create rich, slow-cooked flavor. Don't worry — the seeded chiles here impart a bit of smoky flavor without the heat. Thick-cut fresh tortilla chips soak up the sauce and runny egg yolks without getting soggy. Get the Recipe 02 of 21 Cinnamon-Apple Babka Cinnamon-Apple Babka. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Imagine a gooey, buttery cinnamon bun twisted together with the flavors of apple pie — that’s what you get with this utterly decadent babka. Make sure to slice the apples very thinly here; the thinner they are, the easier it will be to roll your bread. The final glaze is extra and worth it. Get the Recipe 03 of 21 Challah French Toast Julia Hartbeck This decadent challah bread French toast is delicately flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, and freshly grated nutmeg. The key to making perfect French toast is to thoroughly soak the thick slices of bread in the egg mixture, then cook them over medium-low heat so the edges don't burn before the centers cook through. Get the Recipe 04 of 21 Potatoes Benedict with Make-Ahead Poached Eggs Jennifer Causey "In this take on eggs Benedict, crispy potato rounds are a fun, gluten-free substitute for the everyday English muffins," F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple writes. "A combination of extra-virgin olive oil and butter gives the potatoes incredible flavor and a golden, crunchy crust that provides the best-ever canvas for poached eggs." Get the Recipe 05 of 21 Polenta Dutch Baby with Ham and Swiss Gregory DuPree A large-format pancake with a light, airy interior and rich, savory toppings, this Dutch baby is perfect for brunch. Add the toppings around the edges, leaving the center clear to allow it to rise properly. Preheating the pan is also crucial to a beautiful rise; the batter should begin to puff immediately after you pour it into the pan. Get the Recipe 06 of 21 Corn Biscuits with Savory Herb Streusel Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox 2021 F&W Best New Chef Thessa Diadem's streusel-topped corn biscuits star a trio of corn — cornmeal for texture, creamed corn for moisture, and freeze-dried sweet corn for its intense flavor. The savory streusel combines Parmesan, chives, parsley, and thyme with butter, adding extra interest to each bite. Get the Recipe 07 of 21 Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless This streamlined coffee cake recipe layers the streusel in the center of the cake and on top, eliminating the need to make a separate mixture for the filling. And it's any kid's dream: cake for breakfast. Get the Recipe 08 of 21 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, from Molly's Rise and Shine in New Orleans, gets big flavor from stewing carrots and apple with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise for a warmly spiced, brightly colored result. Get the Recipe 09 of 21 Blueberry-Banana Pancakes © John Kernick Chef Tyler Florence made these pancakes at home one weekend morning with his son Hayden. They’re a slight variation on a recipe from his book, Tyler Florence Family Meal. Get the Recipe 10 of 21 Brown Butter-Raspberry Baked Oatmeal Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Caitlin Haught Brown In this baked oatmeal, perfectly tender spiced oats mixed with sweet and tart fruit are topped with crispy coconut and pecans. The recipe calls for raspberries — blackberries, blueberries, or sliced strawberries would work as well. Blooming the spices in the hot brown butter releases their flavors and infuses the entire dish with a nutty warmth. Get the Recipe 11 of 21 Tater Tot Casserole © Abby Hocking The secret to this casserole is the layer of cheesy creamed spinach in the middle. It adds elegance to the dish, as well as a nice contrast to the crispy, crunchy Tater Tot top. Get the Recipe 12 of 21 Raspberry-Swirl Sweet Rolls © Quentin Bacon You can make these fruit-swirled sweet rolls any time of the year by taking advantage of frozen raspberries. They're terrific in these soft, puffy yeast rolls — a fun variation on a cinnamon bun that's perfect for brunch or a special breakfast. Get the Recipe 13 of 21 Toasted Chocolate-Hazelnut Sandwiches Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely The perfect brunch or late-night treat, these sweet sandwiches are piled high with a blend of sweet-tart preserves, toasty hazelnuts, and melted chocolate. The bread is crisped, lightly salty, and golden brown from the butter, while the inside of the sandwich is both gooey and delightfully crunchy. Get the Recipe 14 of 21 Strawberry, Banana, and Almond Butter Smoothie © Lucy Schaeffer Sweet berries, creamy bananas, nutty almond butter, and a pinch of salt make this smoothie deliciously complex. Get the Recipe 15 of 21 Chocolate Chip and Banana Muffins Fredrika Stjärne Like banana bread, these especially moist muffins are a great way to use up overripe bananas. Chopped toasted pecans would be delicious in them, too. Get the Recipe 16 of 21 Loaded Potato Waffles © Nicole Franzen Shredded potatoes are cooked in a waffle iron until crisp, then topped with cheddar, bacon, sour cream, and chives. Get the Recipe 17 of 21 Classic Belgian Waffles © Tina Rupp Wafels & Dinges founder Thomas DeGeest went to Belgium to learn from master waffle-makers and perfect his own recipes. He came back with ideas for two styles of waffle, including this light, crispy Brussels version. Toppings can include dulce de leche, maple syrup, and fudge sauce. Get the Recipe 18 of 21 Crêpe Monsieur Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Drawing inspiration from a croque monsieur and an egg-topped croque madame, Milwaukee chef Joe Muench’s playful crêpe pays homage to Wisconsin by sourcing local ingredients. While a nutty, rich Alpine-style cheese studded with savory pieces of ham fills the interior, the outer crêpe is garnished with a drizzling of a zippy Dijonnaise sauce and chopped dill pickles for a balancing, tangy bite. Get the Recipe 19 of 21 Southern-Style Mac 'n' Cheese Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer When the brunch is closer to lunch, add this creamy, savory macaroni and cheese recipe, which gets layers of flavor from three cheeses, fresh bay leaves, and dry mustard. Get the Recipe 20 of 21 Bacon, Tomato, and Cheddar Breakfast Bake with Eggs © Fredrika Stjärne This breakfast bake topped with runny eggs develops a terrific texture as it cooks slowly in a glass dish. As one F&W editor remarked while tasting it, “I worship the crisp bottom and the chewy, moist bread.” Get the Recipe 21 of 21 Open-Face Egg and Griddled Ham Breakfast Sandwiches © Nicole Franzen F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple poaches a dozen eggs at once in a muffin pan in the oven, making his cute and tasty breakfast sliders extraordinarily easy to prepare for entertaining. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit