Scrumptious Picnic Brunch Recipes

Whether you’re planning an Easter brunch picnic or a breakfast picnic to beat the summer heat, stop wondering what to take to a brunch picnic. I’ve got you covered.

Three young women enjoying a brunch picnic on the beach.

What Makes Brunch Picnics Great

Brunch is that wonderful meal that transcends breakfast and lunch, so anything goes. Whether you’re planning a mid-morning spring picnic or trying to beat the heat of summer, a brunch picnic is always a good idea.

We often consider brunch a breakfast picnic, but your menu choices can vary. You can lean into classic breakfast items or include your favorite afternoon finger foods. It’s even okay to enjoy a little tipple over brunch—mimosa, anyone?

Brunch Picnic Tips: See my tips for keeping your picnic food hot, such as toasty tarts and pies, and for keeping dishes cool, like breakfast puddings and yogurt dishes. There may even be a bottle of bubbly to consider.

Picnic Brunch Recipes

I’ve got everything from homemade granola to vegan picnic ideas, from sweet to savory.

There are elegant pastries and tarts, muffins and cakes, and ways to condense a cooked breakfast into a gorgeous bite-size package.

Smoked Salmon and Avocado Heart Shaped Sandwich

These pretty open sandwiches, topped with lightly spiced avocado and smoked salmon, are a delicious brunch option. I made them here on heart-shaped bread for a romantic picnic idea, but you can serve this recipe on wedges of toast or even in a closed sandwich, high tea style.

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Avocado and smoked salmon heart shaped sandwich topped with sprouts on a wooden cutting board.

Ricotta Asparagus Tartlets

These quick, easy, and elegant Ricotta Asparagus Tartlets are a gorgeous finger food idea for a picnic brunch and a lovely nod to spring produce – the perfect season for alfresco brunch dates.

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Slices of asparagus and prosciutto tart on a wooden board with a jar of balsamic sauce.

Crispy Air Fryer Scotch Eggs

Scotch Eggs are the quintessential British picnic food, and they have never been more at home than at a brunch picnic.

This recipe gives you the steps for a healthy air fryer version, but you can always cook them old school style by shallow or deep frying; the base recipe is the same.

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A plate with scotch eggs, one is cut in half showing the yolk.

Bacon, Egg and Tomato Breakfast Tarts

Bacon, Egg, and Tomato Breakfast Tarts are the solution to making a big breakfast portable, and a little classy.

Eggs with gruyere cheese, sweet cherry tomatoes, smokey bacon, and chives on a flaky puff pastry tart – These tarts are easy to make in a big batch and can be served hot or cold for a picnic breakfast.

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Photo credit: culinaryginger.com

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches

These pretty tea sandwiches are healthy, delicious, and oh-so-pretty finger food for a picnic brunch. You make the chicken salad in advance and assemble the sandwich in the morning.

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Stacked chicken salad sandwiches with crusts removed on a wooden board, garnished with fresh herbs.

Spring Asparagus Galette with Peas and Bacon

This easy Asparagus Galette gives your brunch picnics a touch of seasonal French elegance–a medley of spring vegetables, crispy bacon, and creamy cheese in a crispy crust.

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A cooked asparagus galette in a cast iron pan with bacon and peas.

Cauliflower Hash Browns

Light and crispy, these diet-friendly Cauliflower Hash Browns make an excellent picnic brunch addition. I like to make them cracker size for an alfresco event and serve with dipping sauces or top with whipped feta. Serve them hot or cold.

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Four cauliflower cakes on a cutting board.

Easy Olive Cheese Bread with (or without) Turkey

This Mediterranean-inspired Cheese and Olive Bread recipe is quick, easy, and loaded with bold flavor. A perfect brunch dish that can be made with whole baguette halves or as small bite-sized finger food.

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Cheese and olive bread with melted cheese and tomatoes on it.

Sweet and Healthy Spinach Banana Muffin Recipe

A delicious blend of nutritious spinach and sweet banana, these muffins are sweet, moist, and easy to make. Ready in just 35 minutes, they're the perfect grab-and-go picnic brunch treat. An instant hit with both kids and adults, you can pair them with fresh fruit or yogurt for a delicious brunch snack.

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Vegetarian Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

If you are thinking about a savory brunch platter, these stuffed mushrooms pair well with baked egg dishes, frittatas, or even as a side to a charcuterie board. Think of them as an extension of the portable version of the big breakfast.

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Stuffed mushrooms with spinach and cheese on a plate.

Roast Pumpkin and Feta Mini Frittata

Frittatas are so easy to make. They can be served hot or cold, and you can mix and match fillings as you please. For this mini frittata recipe, we have sidestepped heavy cheese and salty meats and gone with roast pumpkin and feta for a sweet and savory mix light enough for morning snacking.

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Mini pumpkin frittata with thyme on a plate.

Chocolate Coconut Granola

No one said granola had to be boring. Crunchy chocolate coconut granola with toasty almonds, coconut oil, honey, and a dash of cinnamon – this homemade granola recipe has it going on. Besides a little bit of chocolate (dark is best for this recipe), it's also pretty good for you.

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Photo credit: feastingnotfasting.com

Rustic Ricotta Spinach Quiche

This Ricotta Spinach Quiche is an easy 1-hour recipe with a whole wheat crust and creamy spinach ricotta filling. There are even surprise baked eggs inside – a winning brunch quiche in my book.

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Photo credit: happykitchen.rocks

Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones

These Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones might be crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. They're filled with cheese and bacon and chives and are delicious with a big dollop of butter or cream cheese, but they are also one of the prettiest scones to grace the picnic blanket.

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Photo credit: bakeandbacon.com

Crispy Cheese Pastry Rolls (Sigara Boregi)

These cheesy, flaky Turkish-inspired Cheese Pastry Rolls are a simple yet elegant brunch dish. Serve them as part of a savory brunch platter.

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A basket full of fried cottage cheese pastry rolls in a basket with a napkin.

Easy Mushroom Quesadillas

Add Mexican flair to your brunch menu (or even make it a Mexican picnic), with these delicious Mushroom Quesadillas. Serve them finger food style with dipping sauces. You can cook them at home, wrap them in foil, or build them and cook them fresh on a BBQ hot plate.

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A plate of freshly cooked mushroom quesadillas with dipping sauces.

Savory Cake

A gorgeous make-ahead savory cake perfect for a brunch picnic. With olive oil, black olives, cheese, and herbs, this recipe lends itself to a brunch charcuterie board or served in slices with a dollop of whipped feta. A no-fuss dish you can adapt easily to your taste.

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Photo credit: scienceandcrumbs.com

Easy Whipped Feta Dip

I love this dish for so many reasons. It is one of the easiest dips to make and lends itself to so many dishes. Serve it for a brunch picnic with something like the savoury cake above, add it to a charcuterie board, or drizzle it with honey and serve it with chopped fruit like melon slices and figs.

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Bowl of whipped feta dip with bread slices.

Peach Chia Pudding

Fruity, creamy, and light with just a touch of ginger spice, this Peach Chia Pudding is a fabulous make-ahead picnic breakfast idea. Loaded with sweet summer peaches (you can choose your fruit) and a touch of maple syrup, you can prepare this vegan pudding in individual serve containers for a very portable sweet brunch dish.

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Photo credit: throughthefibrofog.com

Cranberry Orange Biscotti

Want a serious dunking biscuit? Cue biscotti every time. This Cranberry Orange Biscotti Recipe recipe gives biscotti a fresh and fancy makeover and a citrus flavor boost with bright orange zest and chewy dried cranberries.

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Photo credit: shugarysweets.com

Best Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins with Streusel Topping

Muffins are a great grab-and-go breakfast, so it makes sense they would also be a great addition to a picnic brunch menu. Soft and fluffy buttermilk muffins bursting with blueberries and topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel are a must-have.

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Photo credit: bigdeliciouslife.com

Sourdough Coffee Cookies With Mascarpone Filling

These sourdough coffee sandwich cookies are irresistibly soft and chewy, filled with a luscious mascarpone cream. They capture the essence of tiramisu and its rich flavors in a convenient, easy-to-enjoy cookie.

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Photo credit: apinchofzest.com

Low Carb Pumpkin Muffins

Muffins always take center stage for on-the-go breakfast ideas, and these healthy low-carb pumpkin muffins are no exception. Whip these up in under an hour, and choose your topping from dark chocolate to nuts or cinnamon sugar.

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Keto pumpkin spice muffins on a wooden board.

Lavender Biscuits

The classic homemade buttermilk biscuit has a delightful twist – a dash of sweetness and the floral essence of lavender. This unique combination takes the humble biscuit to a new level that's very much at home on a brunch menu.

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Photo credit: livetosweet.com

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

For a quick, healthy, and super portable granola solution, look no further than these no-bake granola bars. Sweet and chewy with crunchy almonds, this Chocolate Granola Bar recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes.

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Homemade chocolate oat bars with almonds and oats on a wooden cutting board.

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Deliciously moist and lightly spiced, this carrot cake cupcake recipe is a breeze to whip up. Topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes are a nice alternative to a whole carrot cake for a picnic breakfast.

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A carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting topped with a walnut.

Cardamom Oatmeal Cookies

A healthy but delicious cookie, these cardamom oatmeal cookies are sweet, spicy, full of crunch, and very, very portable. A great addition to a picnic brunch in anyone's book.

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Photo credit: throughthefibrofog.com