Let's Get Together: Celebrate Spring With an Epic Brunch

Dig into our ultimate brunch casserole, learn the "right" ratio for making a mimosa, and steal all of the hosting secrets from Allrecipes Allstar Ashley Berger.

What is it about the longer days and the warmer weather that just screams brunch? Maybe it's the brunch-y spring holidays like Mother's Day, or that you can eat outside (!) during the day without shivering. Maybe it's just that everything feels fresh and new, and waking up to that—with a side of coffee and eggs—doesn't get much better. Whatever the reason, it shouldn't come as a surprise that April is National Brunch Month, and Allrecipes is ready to celebrate.

Brunch at a restaurant is great, but hosting brunch at home for your friends and family? Let me tell you: It's way superior. In fact, it's one of my favorite reasons to have people over. It's more casual, it's generally more budget-friendly, and it's a great excuse to perfect your favorite cinnamon roll recipe. And unlike a dinner party, you don't have to stay up late doing dishes, because people leave before it gets dark out. Sold!

If you're looking for inspiration for your next epic brunch at home this spring, we've got you covered. Scroll down to find an irresistible blueberry-lemon breakfast cake, the secret to fluffier pancakes, an interview with Elizabeth Poett of The Ranch Table for her essential hosting tips, and much more.

— Ariel Knutson, Senior Editorial Director

Although Julia Child is often misquoted as saying "a party without a cake is just a meeting," the sentiment stands. And so for a truly epic brunch, we have to bring out the cake. Izy Hossack uses oats in her version for a muffin-like texture, and Greek yogurt for a moist and tender crumb.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry-Lemon Breakfast Cake

Allrecipes has hundreds of breakfast casseroles on our site—and it makes a ton of sense. Not only are casseroles a delicious option for brunch, but they tend to feed a lot of people without a lot of fuss. Here, Maren Ellingboe King shares her ultimate brunch casserole, which includes frozen hash browns (!), chorizo, and eggs.

Read more: The Ultimate Brunch Casserole

Allrecipes Allstar Ashley Berger is the ultimate host. Full stop. "Berger believes in greeting guests at the door with a beverage in hand, but she’s also not afraid to enlist her guests to do some drink pouring of their own," explains writer Stephanie Ganz. Read more about their conversation on all things hosting and brunch below.

Read more: How to Throw Your Best Brunch Ever, According to an Allrecipes Allstar

Writer Rachel Yang discovered the secret to the best fried breakfast potatoes in her college dorm room—and she hasn't looked back since. If you're looking for a potato that's "soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, with a subtle infusion of flavor," this is for you.

Read more: This Single Pantry Staple Is the Secret to Better Breakfast Potatoes 

Writer Molly Adams would have a gold medal if making pancakes were an Olympic sport. As a mom of three kids, she's made a lot of this classic brunch staple. And her favorite recipe of them all involves swapping out milk or buttermilk for a cheesier ingredient.

Read more: The Surprising Ingredient for the Lightest, Fluffiest Pancakes Ever

When it comes to figuring out the ratio between orange juice and Champagne in a classic mimosa, some would argue to measure with your heart (aka just add a drop of orange juice). But the original recipe(s) suggests otherwise, as Rachel Yang reports.

Read more: I Just Learned the “Right” Way to Make a Mimosa

Put down the Bloody Mary, it's time for a DIY spritz bar for brunch! Don't know where to start? Writer Molly Adams' top choice is the classic Aperol Spritz, and Juliana McIntosh—the host of The Art of Drinking podcast—says the Lambrusco Spritz is the Next Big Thing.

Read more: Why a Spritz Bar Is the Perfect Way to Fizz Up Brunch This Spring 

Elizabeth Poett is a seventh-generation cattle rancher, host of Magnolia Network's Ranch To Table, and cookbook author of The Ranch Table. Sara Haas chatted with her to see how she tackles hosting brunch on her 14,000-acre family-owned ranch in California (yes, it's pretty fabulous).

Read more: Elizabeth Poett of "The Ranch Table" Shares Her 5 Essential Tips for Hosting Brunch

Did you know that Allrecipes' top recipe of all time is this Good Old-Fashioned Pancake recipe? In fact, it has over 15,000 reviews! Find that recipe and more in this roundup of our brunch MVPS from Leslie Kelly.

Read more: Our Top 20 Brunch Recipes of All Time

The secret to stress-free hosting is to do as much as possible before anyone comes over. To help, Tracey Minkin rounded up Allrecipes' very best make-ahead brunch recipes, including overnight cinnamon rolls, make-ahead breakfast sandwiches, and brunch enchiladas.

Read more: 15 Make-Ahead Brunch Recipes to Save Time and Wow the Crowd

These six casseroles with five ingredients or less are just the thing for an impromptu spring brunch. "[They] come together in a snap, on a budget, and are ready to star on the brunch table," writes Tracey Minkin. What more could a host ask for?

Read more: 6 Spring Brunch Casseroles with 5 Ingredients or Less

The Queen of the Kitchen, Ina Garten, knows a thing or two about making scrambled eggs. "I used to put a lot of liquid in because I thought that made [the eggs] light and fluffy, but in fact it's the opposite," Ina explains in a recent TikTok video from Food Network. Robin Shreeves reports on what she does instead.

Read more: Ina Garten's Tip For Perfect, Fluffy Scrambled Eggs

Read the original article on All Recipes.