Christmas Brunch ideas - really special

[Alexasashes]

I am hosting a Christmas brunch (6 adults) and want to serve some real showstopping dishes - it needs to be easy to help yourself and brunchy and Christmassy and not have anything that may be repeated at Christmas dinner later...

My ideas so far
Crabcakes with hollandaise sauce
Devilled eggs with caviar
Smoked salmon of some kind in a creative way
Breakfast pastries of some kind involving bacon

Open to easy good stuff too from supermarkets that anyone can recommend but don't want too many finger foods like sausage rolls.or anything

Any ideas really welcome please 🙏

What would be on your ultimate Christmas brunch?

Oh my Christ, I think the op knows how to host. How did this turn into an argument over what you call nice food at a certain time.

Ooooooo kedgeree is lovely.

I would look at Smitten Kitchen for brunch dishes. There’s a dish with mushrooms, cream, spinach and baked eggs that always goes down well. I would tend to think that things like homemade sourdough, homemade granola etc. would be the showstoppers at a brunch, but you know your guests and we don’t.

Can you not do a really glorious charcuterie board with delicious cold meat & cheese.

A bread / crackers board.

some home made sausage rolls (easy to make in advance)

Oh I adore kedgeree!

but have the windows and doors open!!

Argument?

oh you sensitive soul you 😆

I personally think that 1pm is too late for brunch, especially if they will be eating Xmas dinner at 6pm. Appreciate that's not what you asked though 😁

Not sure how into baking you are, but we always have a hotel-style breakfast at Xmas and I do the cinnamon version of these: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/kouign-amann/ Quite a lot of work but they are absolutely amazing. I make them in advance and freeze before baking, get them out of the freezer first thing to defrost/rise before baking and serve warm. They are always the most popular item!

I think people eat slightly differently on Christmas day? I mean a bit more, slightly different times and things than normal? As long as all this is communicated I don't see it as an issue and they are welcome to take leftovers home. I was trying to be generous hosting but now I'm starting to think I should withdraw my invite and let them stay at home so as not to confused their eating schedules 🤣

1pm in lunch, surely?

Hardly an argument 😂

It’s confusing because the OP has invited people for brunch. You know the meal where breakfast and lunch meet in the middle? Then admits she rarely hosts and intends to serve them food at 1pm on Christmas Day.

As long as they are aware of that it’s fine, now it seems they’ve requested specific dishes anyway

I would something really light. They’re having an early dinner and (unless you’re trying to upstage the person making the main meal) they won’t want to be too full for what sounds like an epic feast later!!

Exactly!

Brace yourself! 😆

They have been invited to arrive at 12 and they know it isn't for breakfast or a Christmas dinner.

I don't host a lot due to health issues but I know that when I go to a bottomless brunch or brunch in a pub/restaurant it goes on until at least 3pm.

Stick to one hot dish and the rest pre-prepared and cold otherwise you’ll be spending the entire time your guests are around beavering in the kitchen. Some great ideas here to add to your own

Sounds like it’s your in-laws anyway and you’ve agreed to do early starters rather than brunch? I’d definitely be doing canapes in this situation. Mini prawn cocktail, salmon and cream cheese blinis.

….yes.

Same. Sod the food. Get the gin out

Smoked salmon cream cheese bagels

Some type of pancake with berries, yoghurt and maple syrup

Hash browns and some type of eggs, crispy bacon

Bottomless brunch is never on Christmas Day though and it’s more to do with the “bottomless” part than the “brunch”. Entirely different scenario

My mind is a bit blown by the idea of brunch after midday.

If this were me I would probably do a classic brunch. For me, the best dish for that is french toast, with bacon, maple syrup, berries and berry couli garnished with mint and if you want to make it even richer a spoon of clotted cream on the side.

Assuming you don't do that, because frankly that's enough on its own:

If you want to do something with smoked salmon I would do smoked salmon parcels - make a sturdy smoked salmon mousse, wrap in more smoked salmon.

Bacon wise, you could do dates, stuffed with chorizo and wrapped in bacon then baked in the oven. They have gone down like hot cakes whenever I have made them.

The first time I did bottomless brunch I was so confused - it's standard lunch dishes from a menu, at lunchtime and the food isn't bottomless 🤯

Sensitive soul 🙄

Yet I’m not mithering on about “oh couldn’t possibly eat fish/ good grief who wants THAT at that time / hand wringing oh no you can’t possibly call it brunch / let me interfere with your Christmas plans because it’s not what I would do”. It’s literally not what she asked.

If ever a poster reconfirmed a description!

This trio of Mezedes could be made ahead and look lovely on the brunch table OP... Of Mezedes | Vegetable Recipes | Jamie Oliver share.google/ToKabhZYu66IGc3C0 Mezedes

Or some tapas items such as patatas bravas, tortilla, croquettes, Berenjenas con Miel, stuffed olives? I'd personally add an iberico ham too.