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Galentine's Day Brunch Recipes I Make for My Friends Every February

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Planning a Galentine's brunch sounds fun until you're standing in the kitchen at 11 PM the night before, Googling ‘easy brunch for a group’ in a panic. This is everything I actually use to pull off a spread that looks like I tried way harder than I d...
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Mimosa Bar Supplies That Look Fancy Without the Effort

Last year I poured orange juice into random glasses and called it a mimosa bar. It was sad. These made the whole setup look like a magazine shoot in about ten minutes.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Grab these before your party. I used to serve mimosas in coffee mugs, and the second I switched to actual flutes, my friends started taking photos of the table instead of just the food.
Libbey, Champagne Flutes, 8 Oz, Set of 6 Transparent Clear
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Keep a few bottles cold the night before. Nobody wants pulpy bits floating in their mimosa at 11 AM. This one mixes clean and tastes like you squeezed it yourself.
Simply Orange Pulp-Free Orange Juice Bottle, 76 fl oz
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Toss this in the mix for friends who don't drink. One of my friends is pregnant and she said having a real glass bottle to pour from made her feel included instead of sidelined.
Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider, 25.4 fl oz, Glass Bottle

Waffle and Pancake Mixes for Feeding a Crowd Fast

I burned exactly four batches of scratch pancakes in 2023 before I accepted that a good mix is not cheating. It's survival.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Use this if you want pancakes that actually fill people up. My friend group used to demolish three batches and still raid my snack drawer. These kept everyone satisfied through two rounds.
Kodiak, Protein-Packed Power Cakes Pancake Mix
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Pair this with a waffle iron and you look like a brunch genius. I made heart-shaped waffles last year and my friends still bring it up. The batter is forgiving even if you eyeball the water.
Birch Benders Organic Classic Pancake & Waffle Mix, 16oz
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Snag a big bottle because people pour syrup like it's free. I ran out halfway through brunch once and had to offer honey as a backup. Nobody was happy about it.
Pearl Milling Company Original Syrup 24 oz Bottle

Egg Dishes That Don't Require Babysitting the Stove

Standing over a skillet flipping omelets for eight people while everyone else sips cocktails is not my idea of hosting. These let me actually sit down.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Get the 18-count, not the 12. I always think a dozen is enough and then someone wants seconds and I'm scrambling, literally. Two cartons if your group is bigger than six.
Customer reviews for Great Value Large White Eggs 18
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Throw this on top of a sheet pan egg bake and it melts into this perfect golden layer. My friend who's picky about cheese asked for the recipe, which tells you everything.
Tillamook Farmstyle Mexican 4 Cheese Shredded
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Toss these straight into your egg casserole without cooking them first. Saved me a pan, saved me time, and my health-conscious friends appreciated the turkey over pork.
Jimmy Dean Fully Cooked Turkey Sausage Crumbles
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Fresh Fruit That Actually Looks Like a Spread

A bowl of random fruit is fine. A platter that looks intentional? That's what gets compliments. The trick is buying stuff that's already prepped or easy to arrange.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Slice these in half and fan them around a plate. Took me thirty seconds and my friend literally said 'you didn't have to go all out.' I absolutely did not go all out.
Fresh Strawberries, 1 lb Container
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Keep these in a bowl on the table for people to grab. They peel in like four seconds, which means no sticky knife situations when everyone's already got a drink in one hand.
Fresh Mandarin Oranges, 3 lb Bag
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Scatter these between the strawberries on your fruit plate. They fill gaps and add color without any cutting. For anyone who wants a pretty spread but hates prep work, this is the move.
OZ Racing

Coffee and Tea Station for the Non-Mimosa Crowd

Not everyone wants champagne at 10 AM, and one year I forgot to make coffee entirely. The look on my best friend's face still haunts me.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Brew a full pot of this the morning of and your kitchen smells incredible before anyone even walks in. My friend walked through the door and said ‘okay, this already feels like a real brunch.’
Starbucks at Home, Ground Coffee, 12 oz
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Pour this over ice with some milk and you've got a drink that looks like you ordered it from a cafe. Perfect for the friend who always says 'I'll just have tea' and then eyes everyone else's drinks.
TAZO, Skinny Chai Latte, 32 oz Carton
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Set this out next to the coffee pot with a little spoon. People doctor their own cups and you don't have to play barista. Ran out once and someone actually drove to the store mid-brunch.
Coffee mate, Coffee Creamer, 32 fl oz, French Vanilla Liquid

Baked Goods You Can Prep the Night Before

The whole point of a Galentine's brunch is hanging out with your people, not being elbow-deep in dough while they're laughing without you in the next room.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Pop these in the oven right when your first guest arrives. By the time everyone has a drink, the kitchen smells like a bakery and you look like you woke up at dawn. You did not.
Pillsbury Flaky Grands! Cinnamon Rolls with Cinnabon
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Bake this the night before and slice it in the morning. It sits on a plate looking elegant and nobody needs to know it took you six minutes of actual effort.
Krusteaz Meyer Lemon Pound Cake and Glaze Mix 16.5 oz
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Use this for friends who skip the savory stuff and go straight for chocolate. I cut them into small squares and put them on a tiered plate. Suddenly it's a dessert course.
Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies Mix with Chips

Table Decor That Sets the Mood Without Breaking the Budget

I spent way too much on decorations one year and realized nobody cared about the balloon arch. A few simple touches go further than a Pinterest explosion.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Scatter these down the center of your table with some tea lights. Costs almost nothing and makes the whole setup feel warm. My friend said it felt like a dinner party, except at noon.
Mainstays Clear Glass Rectangular Votive Candle Holder
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Swap your regular napkins for these and the table instantly looks intentional. I fold them under the forks and it takes the setup from ‘Tuesday morning’ to ‘I planned this.’
Way to Celebrate! Valentine's Party Napkins 24 Ct 6.5" x
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Stick three of these in a mason jar and you have a centerpiece. Real flowers die and cost more. These looked so real my friend tried to smell one, which was honestly the best compliment.
Artificial Roses Flowers for Floral Arrangement

Savory Sides That Round Out the Whole Spread

Pancakes and fruit alone leave people hunting through your fridge an hour later. A couple savory options keep the table balanced and everyone full.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Heat these up and serve them in a nice bowl. Sounds weird for brunch but trust me, a scoop next to eggs makes the plate feel like a real meal. My friends requested it again this year.
Bob Evans Gluten-Free Original Mashed Potatoes
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Spread this on toast and slice a tomato on top. Five-minute appetizer that disappears first every single time. For anyone who wants avocado toast without the hassle of mashing and seasoning.
Taylor Farms Avocado Ranch Salad Delivery or Pickup
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Throw these on a sheet pan, season with garlic powder and paprika, and roast until crispy. They cook while you're setting the table. Last year they were gone before the waffles.
Ore-Ida Shredded Hash Browns Frozen Potatoes

Charcuterie Additions for Grazing Between Courses

People show up at different times and you need something on the table immediately. A little board with snacks buys you time to finish cooking without anyone standing around hungry.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Tear these open and arrange the contents on a board. Instant charcuterie without slicing a single thing. Perfect for when your first guest arrives early and you're still in pajama pants.
Sargento® Balanced Breaks® White Cheddar Cheese
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Pile these next to your cheese and they disappear. Sturdy enough to hold a spread without crumbling everywhere. My friend who's gluten-free was thrilled because she could actually eat the crackers for once.
Crunchmaster Original Multi-Seed Crackers
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Roll these into little tubes and stand them up on the board. Takes two minutes and suddenly your snack plate looks like something from a wine bar. People always ask how I made it look so good.
Boar's Head Whole Pepperoni

Drinks Beyond Mimosas to Keep Things Interesting

A mimosa-only menu gets old fast, especially if people are hanging out for three hours. Variety keeps the energy up and gives everyone something to sip on.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Bring these out mid-brunch when people are slowing down on the heavy stuff. Light, refreshing, and the watermelon flavor is subtle enough that nobody thinks it tastes fake.
Hint Watermelon Flavored Water, 16 fl oz, 12 Pack Plastic

Cleanup Supplies So You're Not Stuck Scrubbing All Night

The part nobody talks about when they post their brunch photos. I learned the hard way that hosting without a cleanup plan means you're washing dishes at midnight.

 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Use these instead of your real plates. Seriously. I washed dishes for an hour after one brunch and swore never again. These hold up under syrup, eggs, and even hash browns without buckling.
( 2 Pack ) Hefty Everyday Plates Soak Proof 8.875 In.
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Spray this on whatever pans you did use and let them sit while you say goodbye to everyone. By the time you come back, the baked-on egg just wipes off. Wish I'd found this three Galentine's ago.
Dawn, Powerwash Spray, 16 Fl Oz
 
Alessandra Laurent profile picture
Grab the big ones. Between the plates, napkins, juice bottles, and all the packaging, you'll fill a bag faster than you think. I doubled up once and it saved me from a bag-splitting disaster.
Glad, Trash Bags, Tall Kitchen, 13-Gallon