The Best New Year's Day Brunch Recipes

Congratulations! You finally made it through 2020! The best way to welcome in the new year is by putting off any plans for a new year's diet until Jan. 2 and eating something truly tasty. After all, following a long night of celebrating, you'll likely need a real pick me up. And what could be better than making a gourmet brunch at home (especially since eating out is kind of off the table right now)? These incredible recipes, from berry pancakes to croque madame, will taste like a 5-star dining experience. Throw in a boozy drink (or two) — without the restaurant upcharge.

Pancakes are one of the most popular breakfast foods in America. But, as good as classic pancakes are, who doesn't love giving their favorite foods an extra boost for special occasions? Make your brunch a memorable one by adding a honey berry topping to your stack of pancakes for a sweet, tart bite.

For the Mixed Berry Pancakes with Honey Berry Topping recipe, click here.

This recipe is a great way to use up that leftover prime rib from Christmas that's probably on its last legs. Just swap for the roast beef in this recipe and toss into a skillet with finely chopped onion, paprika and a cooked potato.

For the Roast Beef Hash recipe, click here.

Ham and potatoes go together like peanut butter and jelly. This recipe weaves them both into one delectable quiche. There's no crust required, which makes the baking process even easier.

For the Ham and Potato Crustless Quiche recipe, click here.

Nothing says celebration (or the morning after a celebration) quite like a mimosa. But don't relegate yourself to the usual orange juice and Champagne song and dance. Instead, get creative by making this apple cider mimosa.

For the Apple Cider Mimosa recipe, click here.

It's like an apple pie...but for brunch. This skillet-baked pancake is loaded with apples, tossed in sugar and cinnamon. When cooked, the apple mixture forms a thick syrup that adds a sweet and moist layer to the pancake's base.

For the Baked Apple Pancake recipe, click here.

Ah, bloody Marys, you either love them or you hate them, but there's no denying it's the perfect hair of the dog cocktail. This recipe keeps things classic, but garnish with some bacon, celery, cheese, citrus or olives if you want to give the morning staple some extra flare.

For the Bloody Mary recipe, click here.

Whether it's served on top of toast or baked into a tart, smoked salmon is brunch gold. This tart combines smoked salmon, eggs, chives and cream cheese in a stunning golden brown pastry and serves up to six people.

For the Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Tart recipe, click here.

It's time to make some noise for a crowd favorite: eggs Benedict. If you're like us, this dish is your go-to order when you hit the town for bottomless brunch deals. Luckily, this recipe makes poaching your own eggs at home seem like a breeze.

For the Eggs Benedict recipe, click here.

Sure, mimosas and bloody Marys are great. But it's the first day of the new year and you deserve something a little more highbrow. This ruby spritzer uses a mix of tequila, sparkling apple cider, pomegranate juice and Angostura bitters for a celebratory bubbly drink.

For the Ruby Spritzer recipe, click here.

If you're a tequila lover, these Meyer lemon margaritas are a great light cocktail to have with brunch. Use fresh squeezed lemon in place of the standard lime, and then pour in the usual suspects, like tequila and triple sec. Shake it all up and then pour the mixture into a salt rimmed glass.

For the Meyer Lemon Margaritas recipe, click here.

Don't let the fancy name intimidate you, croque madame is more or less a regular old breakfast sandwich topped with a fried egg. What really makes the dish shine is the rich bechamel sauce and gruyere cheese.

For the Croque Madame recipe, click here.

If you want to jumpstart the new year with some extra pizzazz, try baking a pear and cranberry streusel tart. The process is simple enough for beginner bakers and uses few ingredients but still yields a beautiful result.

For the Streusel Topped Cranberry Pear Tart recipe, click here.

Why have just a few slices of French toast when you can have an entire casserole? This sweet recipe is one of the reasons brunch is a crowd favorite.

For the Maple Glazed French Toast Casserole recipe, click here.

We get it, it's the first day of 2021 and you want to start off on a healthy note. If that's the case, try out this green smoothie. Packed with spinach, apples and chia seeds, this drink will give you that morning glow, without sacrificing any yummy flavor.

For the Green Smoothie recipe, click here.

There are plenty of different ways to incorporate potatoes into your brunch feast, but for lovers of the starch, potato casserole is king. This recipe mixes together potatoes, bacon, gruyere cheese and scallions to make a cheesy mess that oozes with flavor from start to finish.

For the Bacon Gruyere Mashed Potato Casserole recipe, click here.

If you want to make yourself an elegant brunch, but you're not a fan of cleaning up a bunch of eggy or syrupy pots and pans, this one-pan shakshuka is a no-brainer. Just don't forget plenty of bread to sop up the extra sauce.

For the Red Shakshuka recipe, click here.

Once you get your morning pot of coffee brewing, making these blueberry lemon scones is a logical next step. The dense, flaky treat takes less than one hour to make and the result is a chewy delight of sweet blueberries and tart lemons.

For the Blueberry Lemon Scones recipe, click here.

This colorful mix of fruit, cream cheese and almond milk looks like something you'd find on the brunch menu of your favorite restaurant, but in reality, it takes just five minutes to prepare.

For the Cherry Cheesecake Smoothie Bowl recipe, click here.

You might not be able to gather with your loved ones this New Year's Eve, but this fluffy, powdered sugar topped confection will make your day sweeter. Serve the dish with maple syrup during brunch and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.

For the Brioche Bread Pudding recipe, click here.

If you need to use up a lot of eggs, a frittata is a good way to do it. This ham and cheese frittata takes 12 eggs and is ready in just 30 minutes. The fluffy, protein-packed mixture of ham, cheese, tomatoes and spinach is a light and tasty way to kick off the new year.

For the Ham and Cheese Skillet Frittata recipe, click here.

If you're still recovering from your New Year's Eve celebrations, you might not be in the mood for a boozy brunch. Enter great mocktail recipes. This sparkling beverage uses clove and cinnamon for a dose of wintery spice.

For the Sparkling Sangria Mocktail recipe, click here.

Another great mocktail to pair with a carb-loaded brunch is a simple booze-free Moscow mule. Use club soda in place of vodka and serve the tangy, carbonated drink with a slice of lime and mint leaves. This refreshing cocktail pairs with all of the best brunch recipes, ever.

For the Moscow Mule Mocktail recipe, click here.

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