Few things sound as relaxing and decadent to a mom than staying in bed and eating a fresh-cooked breakfast in bed like a Downton Abbey aristocrat. Serving Mom — or any woman who fills that role in your life — breakfast in bed is a lovely way to show her how much you appreciate all she does for you. What you don’t want to do, though, is mess up her kitchen and leave it for her to clean up. We’ve gathered some ideas for breakfast in bed that combine maximum taste with minimum mess — so you spend more time with her than in the kitchen afterward.
Mother’s Day breakfast-in-bed ideas and recipes
Ham and Swiss croissants
Simple, quick and delicious, a ham and Swiss croissant seems very fancy and French, but it takes only minutes to make. Just flatten out store-bought crescent roll dough, then lay a piece of ham and a slice of Swiss cheese on each triangle. Roll it up and bake according to package directions.
Ricotta honey toast
Just sweet enough without being cloying, ricotta honey toast is super-easy but special enough for an occasion like Mother’s Day. Mix 1/3 cup ricotta with 1/2 teaspoon of honey, then spread it on two pieces of multigrain bread. Top it with a handful of berries, drizzle with a little more honey, and sprinkle some sea salt on top. So good!
Sparkling fruit salad
Start Mom’s morning off with a little tipple! The flavors in this fruit salad meld together using champagne instead of juice. Cut up her favorite fruits — strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, peaches and blackberries work best — and top them off with a sprinkle of sugar and a dousing of champagne. Let it sit overnight, and serve it up in a beautiful bowl in the morning. For extra brownie points, serve it with a glass of champagne mixed with some of the juice from the salad.
Instant Pot steel-cut oats
Appease your mom’s health-conscious side with steel-cut oats. Use This Old Gal’s Instant Pot recipe to cook it in a snap! Combine a cup of steel-cut oats with 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, a pinch of sea salt and 1-1/2 cups water. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, then allow a 10-minute natural pressure release. Once it’s done, you can mix in a little cream and whatever other goodies you’d like. Fresh blueberries, dried cranberries and chopped pistachio nuts are delish!
Soft-boiled egg with toast sticks
A soft-boiled egg mashed onto a piece of toast is a bit too messy to eat in bed, but it’s much neater if you bring the toast to the egg rather than the egg to the toast. Place the cooked egg in a pretty egg cup and slice a piece of toast into several pieces longways — perfect for dipping into the warm yolk! Make sure to place the salt and pepper shakers on her tray, too.
Granola yogurt parfait
This breakfast wins for prettiest presentation with minimal fuss. Layer Greek yogurt and granola in a tall, clear cup. Garnish with a strawberry or raspberry and a sprig of mint.
A stack of breakfast classics
Combine the best of all breakfast foods into one glorious tower. Stack two waffles (each topped with maple syrup), a few slices of bacon, and a fried egg in your mom’s favorite style.
Fruity pancake tacos
Make an extra-large pancake, fold it in half like a taco shell, and stuff it with fresh fruit (the sparkling fruit salad above would be tasty, too!). Drizzle with a little crème fraiche.
Fruit kabobs
This is so easy, your toddler could help you make it. Just skewer fruit pieces! If you want to get fancy, use a small cookie cutter to cut firm fruit like cantaloupe into hearts. Dust with powdered sugar, or drizzle with crème fraiche.
Say it with slow-cooked millionaire bacon
You’ll have to get up pretty early to make this in time for Mom’s breakfast, but it is so worth it! Lay out 1/2-inch thick slices of applewood-smoked bacon on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with black pepper and cayenne pepper. Cover the bacon entirely with light brown sugar (thickly enough that you can’t see any bacon underneath), then shake some red pepper flakes on top. Bake at a low 250F for four hours. Yes, you will have to get up insanely early. May we remind you of all the times your mother operated on zero sleep after staying up all night taking care of you?
