by Tom Lingle
Not quite lunch, yet past the time for a full-fledged breakfast, brunch is the meal that comes to the rescue. This mid day meal is a collection of various dishes that offer a promise of comfort, warmth, and energy for the rest of the day. Beyond eggs, proteins, sandwiches, and fruit, there are the baked goods to consider. From muffins to breakfast breads and cookies, baked goods are the essential compliment to a brunch.
This sort of gingerbread is baked daily and more sedulously than pure wheat or rye- and-Indian in almost every oven, and finds a surer market.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
With some advanced planning, brunch can be filled with fresh-baked goods that are easily made in the home kitchen. Traditionally, banana muffins or blueberry scones are what appear upon a brunch table, however there are other ingredients to consider. Just to name a few, pumpkin, cranberries, oranges, and apricots are great options for these single serving treats.
Of course brunch wouldn't be brunch without fresh breads, cakes, or cookies. Keeping in mind that brunch should be light and not overly sweet, the baked goods should be healthful, not harmful. Decadence and richness can easily be achieved without the presence of triple chocolate cake or super sweet cookies. Topped with fresh fruit, pound cakes and sponges cakes taste fresh and bright. Cookies such as oatmeal or shortbread are sweet yet mild and everyone's favorite. As for baked breads, these can be anything from raisin, honey wheat, or challlah. Baked breads can be made a day ahead, and even be incorporated into a French toast recipe.
This hunter, who was a quite small, sunburnt man, having already carried his canoe over, and baked his loaf, had nothing so interesting and pressing to do as to observe our transit. He had been out a month or more alone. How much more wild and adventurous his life than that of the hunter in Concord woods, who gets back to his house and the mill-dam every night! Yet they in the towns who have wild oats to sow commonly sow them on cultivated and comparatively exhausted ground. And as for the rowdy world in the large cities, so little enterprise has it that it never adventures in this direction, but like vermin clubs together in alleys and drinking-saloons, its highest accomplishment, perchance, to run beside a fire-engine and throw brickbats. But the former is comparatively an independent and successful man, getting his living in the way that he likes, without disturbing his human neighbors. How much more respectable also is the life of the solitary pioneer or settler in these, or any woods,—having real difficulties, not of his own creation, drawing his subsistence directly from nature,—than that of the helpless multitudes in the towns who depend on gratifying the extremely artificial wants of society and are thrown out of employment by hard times!
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Another great goody for brunch is a fruit filled crostata. Pastry dough and fruits, like apples or pears, come together to create a free form tart that leaves the fruit visible. Upon being baked, this rustic looking pastry tastes heavenly. To gain a more formal presentation, try a French style tart that has a formed crust. The dough for a tart is easily made, however a pie crust can be bought at the store. The filling can be many things from plums and almonds to strawberries and peaches. Crostatas and tarts are best topped with creme fraiche or whipped cream.
Brunch can be wonderfully sweet with the addition of any of the baked goods mentioned above. The key to baked goods is providing a wide variety, and not over using a particular ingredient throughout the menu. If this is done, the flavor will be too prominent. With a little bit of organization and time, having fresh-baked goods for brunch is a breeze. Whether you are planning a decadent feast with tempting dishes to savor and share with friends, or a quiet meal for a couple to relax and enjoy, we have the most irresistible brunch recipes for creating truly inspired dishes. Master easy but impressive classic sweet and savory dishes with our collection of the most delicious brunch recipes; each complete with tips and techniques designed to insure your success.