Easter Brunch Menu 2026: Complete Menu With Shopping Lists (Delivered to Your Door)

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Easter is April 5, 2026. Here's a complete menu for 8–12 people, organized by category, with a full shopping list you can order via Amazon Fresh or Instacart for delivery by April 4.

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The Menu: Full Easter Brunch for 8–12

Savory Main Dishes

• Glazed spiral ham (centerpiece)
• Egg strata (make-ahead overnight casserole)
• Smoked salmon board with crème fraîche and capers

Sides

• Roasted asparagus with lemon and parmesan
• Spring pea and mint salad
• Warm croissants with compound butter
• Fingerling potato hash with fresh herbs

Sweet

• Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
• Lemon poppy seed muffins
• Fresh fruit platter with honey yogurt dip

Drinks

• Mimosa bar (prosecco + juice options)
• Sparkling lemonade (non-alcoholic)
• Coffee station

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Complete Shopping List

Proteins and Dairy

• 1 spiral-cut ham (8–10 lbs) — pre-glazed or with glaze packet
• 8 large eggs (for strata)
• 4 oz smoked salmon (Nova or wild-caught)
• 8 oz cream cheese (for strata and carrot cake frosting)
• 4 oz crème fraîche (smoked salmon board)
• 2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half (strata + coffee)
• 1 cup whole milk (baking)
• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• ¾ cup sour cream (carrot cake)
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (fruit dip)

Produce

• 2 lbs asparagus
• 2 lbs fingerling potatoes
• 1 bag spring peas (fresh or frozen)
• Fresh mint (1 bunch)
• 1 lemon + 2 limes
• 3–4 lbs mixed carrots (roasting + cake)
• 1 shallot
• 1 head garlic
• Fresh dill (smoked salmon board)
• Chives (garnish)
• Seasonal fruit: strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pineapple chunks

Pantry and Dry Goods

• 1 baguette or sourdough loaf (strata base)
• 6 croissants (bakery section)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda + 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon + 1 tsp nutmeg
• Poppy seeds (½ oz jar)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (carrot cake)
• Capers (smoked salmon board)
• Dijon mustard (potato hash)
• Olive oil, salt, pepper, parmesan

Drinks

• 2 bottles Prosecco or Cava (mimosa bar)
• Fresh orange juice (32 oz)
• Grapefruit juice (for grapefruit mimosa variation)
• Sparkling water or sparkling lemonade
• Coffee beans or ground coffee

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How to Order It All for Delivery

Amazon Fresh (Prime Members)

Amazon Fresh delivers same-day or next-day for Prime members on orders $35+. The full Easter brunch shopping list runs $80–120 at Amazon Fresh prices depending on your region — well above the free delivery threshold.

What to get on Amazon Fresh:

• Spiral ham (pre-glazed, ready to heat)
• Dairy: eggs, cream cheese, heavy cream, butter
• Produce: asparagus, fingerling potatoes, carrots, fresh fruit
• Pantry staples: flour, sugar, olive oil
• Bakery: croissants, sourdough

Tip: Amazon Fresh stocks Whole Foods Market items for Prime members at select locations. The Whole Foods bakery croissants and artisan breads are worth the slight upcharge for Easter entertaining.

Place your order by April 3 at the latest — delivery windows on April 4 (the day before Easter) book fast in most metro areas.

Instacart

Instacart lets you shop from your specific local grocery store — which matters for regional brands, sale prices, and in-stock specialty items like certain hams or artisan breads.

Best use for Instacart:

• When you have a specific store preference (Trader Joe's, Costco, Wegmans, etc.)
• When you want same-day delivery on April 4 and Amazon Fresh slots are booked
• When you need alcohol delivered (Instacart supports alcohol delivery in most states)

Instacart's first delivery is free for new users (code may be required — check the current offer on their site).

Ordering timeline:

• March 28–April 1: Order shelf-stable items (flour, canned goods, pantry) ahead of time
• April 3–4: Order fresh produce, dairy, and baked goods for April 4 delivery

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The Make-Ahead Timeline

Easter brunch is stress-free when you do the prep work earlier in the week. Here's the ideal schedule:

Wednesday (April 2)

• Make carrot cake layers and freeze or refrigerate
• Shop for non-perishables if not ordering delivery

Thursday (April 3)

• Make lemon poppy seed muffins (refrigerate, reheat day-of)
• Make compound butter (herb + shallot butter for croissants)
• Prep strata: assemble in baking dish, cover, refrigerate overnight

Friday (April 4)

• Receive grocery delivery
• Make cream cheese frosting, frost carrot cake, refrigerate
• Prep smoked salmon board components (don't assemble yet)
• Prep asparagus (trim, toss with oil and lemon, refrigerate on sheet pan)

Easter Morning (April 5)

• 9:00 AM: Ham in the oven (most spiral hams reheat at 325°F for ~15 min/lb)
• 9:15 AM: Strata in the oven (bake 45–55 minutes)
• 10:00 AM: Roast asparagus (15 minutes at 425°F)
• 10:15 AM: Fingerling potato hash (stovetop, 20 minutes)
• 10:30 AM: Assemble smoked salmon board, fruit platter
• 10:45 AM: Warm croissants (5 minutes at 350°F)
• 11:00 AM: Serve

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Recipes: The Three You Actually Need

Overnight Egg Strata (Make Thursday Night)

A strata is essentially a savory bread pudding — it comes together in 10 minutes, sits overnight, and bakes without any attention. It's the perfect anchor for a brunch where you're also managing ham and sides.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups cubed sourdough bread (day-old is better)
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups milk or cream
• 1½ cups shredded gruyère or sharp cheddar
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh chives or parsley
• Salt, pepper, pinch of nutmeg

Method:

1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish
2. Layer bread cubes in the dish
3. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg
4. Pour over bread, top with cheese and shallot
5. Cover and refrigerate 8–24 hours
6. Bake at 350°F for 45–55 minutes until puffed and golden
7. Rest 5 minutes before serving

Glazed Spiral Ham (Hands-Off)

Pre-glazed spiral hams from the grocery store are already fully cooked — you're just reheating and caramelizing the glaze. No real cooking required.

Method:

1. Remove ham from packaging, place cut-side down in roasting pan
2. Cover tightly with foil
3. Bake at 325°F for approximately 12–15 minutes per pound
4. Remove foil the last 20 minutes, brush with glaze packet or make your own (brown sugar + Dijon + apple cider vinegar)
5. Increase heat to 400°F for last 10 minutes to caramelize glaze
6. Rest 10 minutes before slicing

Glaze upgrade (2 minutes): Mix 3 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp Dijon, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp honey. Better than the packet.

Mimosa Bar Setup

The key is offering 3–4 juice options so guests can customize. Standard setup:

Bottles:

• 2 bottles Prosecco (or Cava for a better value)
• Keep cold; open as needed

Juice options (set out in small pitchers or decanters):

• Fresh orange juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Peach nectar (for Bellinis)
• Pineapple juice (tropical variation)

Garnishes: Strawberry slices, orange half-wheels, fresh mint

Pour Prosecco first (⅔ glass), add juice of choice (⅓ glass). Don't stir.

Non-alcoholic version: Sparkling lemonade or club soda + juice in the same ratios.

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Serving and Table Setup

What to Order from Amazon for the Table

Beyond food, a polished Easter table makes the whole brunch feel special. Available on Amazon with Prime delivery:

• Tiered serving stand — keeps the table organized when you have multiple dishes, ~$25–35
• White ceramic serving platters — reusable, dishwasher-safe, look like catering-quality
• Small bud vases — fresh tulips or daffodils from the grocery store in small vases down the center of the table
• Cloth napkins (spring pastels) — more elegant than paper, reusable
• Champagne flutes (8-pack) — for the mimosa bar

Fresh Flowers

Spring flowers complete the Easter aesthetic. Best options (in-season, easy to find):

• Tulips — most accessible, any grocery store, $6–12/bunch
• Daffodils — iconic spring flower, $5–8/bunch
• Ranunculus — higher-end look, Whole Foods or farmers market
• Cherry blossom branches — dramatic centerpiece option

Order through Amazon Fresh's flower section for delivery, or pick up at Trader Joe's for the best price-to-quality ratio.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How far in advance can I order Easter groceries for delivery?

You can schedule Amazon Fresh and Instacart deliveries up to 2 weeks in advance. For April 4 delivery slots, book by March 28–29 to ensure you get your preferred window — holiday weekends fill up fast.

Q: How much does Easter brunch for 12 people cost?

Expect $100–150 for the full menu, depending on your region and store. The spiral ham is the biggest single cost ($25–40 for a good one). Budget ~$30 for drinks, ~$40 for produce and dairy, ~$15 for pantry items.

Q: Can I make the carrot cake ahead of time?

Yes — carrot cake actually improves with time in the fridge. Bake the layers 2–3 days ahead, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, refrigerate. Frost 1 day ahead. The moisture from the carrots makes it even better the next day.

Q: What if I have vegetarian guests?

The egg strata, smoked salmon board, all sides, and the desserts are all vegetarian-friendly. The ham is obviously not. With this menu, vegetarians eat well without requiring a separate dish.

Q: What's the best ham for Easter brunch?

Bone-in spiral-cut half hams (7–9 lbs) offer the best presentation and flavor. Look for: Kirkland Signature (Costco), Boar's Head, or Honey Baked Ham. Pre-glazed options are reliable; bone-in has better flavor than boneless.

Q: How do I keep food warm during a longer brunch service?

For the strata: bake in a cast iron or heavy ceramic dish that retains heat. Tent loosely with foil off the heat. For ham: slice at the table rather than pre-slicing — it stays warmer longer. For croissants: wrap in a clean kitchen towel in a bread basket.

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The Bottom Line

Easter brunch doesn't have to be an all-day kitchen project. With the right menu (make-ahead strata, hands-off spiral ham) and delivery from Amazon Fresh or Instacart, most of the work happens Thursday and Friday — leaving you free on Easter morning to actually enjoy the holiday.

Order your groceries by April 3. April 4 delivery slots fill fast in most cities.

Happy Easter — and happy brunching.

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Also see: Easter Basket Ideas for Adults 2026 | Best Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids 2026 | Easter Gift Guide 2026