Easy on the Budget Jolly Holiday Brunch

Looking for ways to host holiday brunch without leaving a hole in your pocket? Look no further than these popular easy recipes to get you started. Your guests will be impressed, and your wallet will still have some extra cash in it when you hit those end-of-the-year sales!

"When brunch is an event, treat your guests to mimosas: fill wine glasses with equal parts orange juice and Champagne (or any sparkling wine) and raise a toast to friends and family."

Karen, Editor - BettyCrocker.com

The Menu
Party Guide
Plan Ahead

Foiled Place Settings

Make designer holiday place mats and place cards using heavy foil gift wrap. For place mats, cut gift wrap into 18x12-inch pieces. If desired, use a little glue to attach doilies to the center, or decorate with glitter paint or stickers.
For place cards, cut gift wrap into 4x2-inch pieces, and fold in half so they stand up. On one side, glue a piece of plain paper and add each guest's name, then attach a sparkling snowflake made from paper or a purchased ornament.
Roll silverware in napkins, and tie with metallic ribbon or foil-wrapped wire.

Butter 'em Up

Cut thin slices of butter into pretty holiday shapes using tiny cookie cutters in star, tree and bell shapes. Or place softened butter in holiday ice-cube molds.
Freeze, then pop out the shapes and refrigerate or freeze in a single layer.
Look for these holiday cutters and molds at kitchen and home stores.

Great Garnishes

A few sprigs of fresh rosemary or frozen cranberries are lovely dusted with powdered sugar to look snowy.
Or cut shapes from slices of bell pepper with those little holiday cookie cutters to garnish quiche.

Mealtime Makeover

There's no need to buy holiday dishes or glassware to set a festive table. Just decorate what you already own. Tie holiday ribbons with jingle bells or a keepsake ornament around napkins to make napkin rings.
Decorate the base of stemmed water or wine glasses with ribbons or metallic cord.

Up to 1 or 2 Weeks Ahead

Bake your choice coffee cake; wrap and freeze. (Wait to frost and finish until thawed.)
Make Roasted Sesame and Honey Snack Mix or Sweet and Savory Snack Mix, using recipes’ Do-Ahead Tips.

The Day Before

Make Cranberry-Orange Slush (if served); freeze.
Chill beverages for Noel Spritzer (if served).
Make Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing for Pomegranate and Poppy Seed Salad (if served); refrigerate. Prepare salad ingredients; store in separate containers in refrigerator.
Thaw coffee cake overnight. Frost and decorated, if needed.
Get head start preparing Easy Cheese and Bacon Quiche, using recipe’s Do-Ahead Tip.

As Guests Arrive