The Thanksgiving feast may be over, but your houseguests will still be hungry. Don't stress yourself out by being a short order cook. Most of these brunch recipes can be made in advance, and all of them have some serious "wow-factor."
Golden caramel, buttery challah and custard spiked with Grand Marnier -- what's not to love? This French toast casserole is the ideal company-for-brunch dish because you assemble it the night before, let it sit in the fridge overnight, then just pop it in the oven when you're ready to eat.GET THE RECIPE
In this refreshing fall fruit salad, oranges, grapefruits and pomegranate arils are soaked in their own juices. The fruit soaks up the sweet syrup -- and the syrup is so good you'll want to drink it straight from the bowl. GET THE RECIPE
Frittatas are often dry and tough but this one is delicate and creamy, almost like a crustless quiche. GET THE RECIPE
This elegant brunch strata -- really a savory bread pudding with spinach, cheese and cubes of bread baked in custard -- is perfect for entertaining because you can prepare it the day before. The next morning you simply turn the oven on, place the strata in, and effortlessly wait for brunch to emerge. GET THE RECIPE
Packed with sweet strawberries, these tender muffins with crisp, golden tops are perfect for a special breakfast or brunch. The secret is adding a lot of berries to the batter -- which gives the muffins an intense strawberry flavor and keeps them very moist -- along with a touch of almond extract to complement the fruit. GET THE RECIPE
This gem of a cake comes from Marcy Goldman's much-loved cookbook, A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking. It's tender with tremendous depth of flavor -- there's coffee, orange juice and booze in it! -- and the taste of honey shines through. GET THE RECIPE
Bread pudding doesn't have to be sweet. This savory version, brimming with pork sausage and sharp cheddar, is deeply flavored with a crisp, golden crust and tender creamy interior. I love it for entertaining because it can be made ahead of time and feeds a crowd. GET THE RECIPE
This fruit-packed smoothie is a little sweet, a little tart and a whole lot of healthy. GET THE RECIPE
Another main dish that can be prepared ahead, this elegant quiche is made with a generous layer of buttery leeks and a rich custard flavored with Parmesan cheese. GET THE RECIPE
These are the perfect cinnamon buns: light and tender on the inside, golden and caramelized on the outside and -- best of all -- quick and easy to make. GET THE RECIPE