Vegan mother’s day recipes selected by my actual mom! My mother is my biggest supporter. She also has strong opinions about food, which is to say she has good opinions about food. So when I started building a Mother’s Day brunch roundup, I figured I’d skip guessing what moms want and just hand the list to her.
These are the brunch recipes she picked. Some are obvious classics. Some are deep cuts I forgot were even on the site. A few are recent. A couple are from 2008. They’re all her favorite. Enjoy.
The lineup is built to mix and match. You can pull together a full brunch spread (an eggy thing, a stack of pancakes, a couple sides, a scone, a salad because they’re delicious), or just pick one or two recipes that sound right for your own mom (or your own self, no rules here). Remember to brew her favorite coffee, too.
There’s everything from the savory and substantial to the sweet and bakery-leaning, plus the kind of in-between things that round out a real table. Biscuits and gravy next to waffles, breakfast nachos alongside a kale caesar. Some are quick. Some are projects. All are made with love and all mom-approved.
Mother’s Day is May 10. Print this, save it, send it to whoever’s cooking for you. Or send it to mom and tell her to pick the ones she wants. Easily the best gift ever.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, the people who mom for someone, and the people who miss their moms. <3
Eggy Things
Chickpea Frittata with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach
A custardy chickpea-flour frittata loaded with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Set in the oven, sliced into wedges, eaten with abandon. A nice gluten-free and soy-free option.
Tofu Frittata with Asparagus & Sundried Tomato
A spring classic from Vegan with a Vengeance that mom has been eating for twenty years and counting. Mashed tofu, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, basil. No blender, no big deal.
A fun little project to fool your friends and your mom and your mom’s friends. It look and tastes like a fried egg!
A genuine fold-it-over omelet, fillable with whatever you’ve got. Choose your veggies. Mushrooms, spinach, peppers, vegan cheese. Mom’s pick for a brunch where everyone gets their own.
The OG. The one that started it all. Still the best. Customize to mom’s heart’s content.
Pancakes & Waffles
Ripe bananas blended right into the custard. Crisp deep amber edges around a soft interior, finished with more banana on top because more bananas never hurt.
The original PPK French toast, on the site since forever. Stale bread, vanilla custard, a hot skillet. Sunday morning math.
Matcha Waffles with Berries & Cream
Crisp, fluffy, naturally green matcha waffles topped with whipped coconut cream and a pile of fresh berries.
A bit crispy from the oatmeal, bursting with caramelized blueberries. Mom said yes immediately.
Fluffy pancakes infused with fun flavors: bergamot and warming chai spices. Tea and breakfast, in one stack. SO MOM.
Pancakes with the protein built in. Light, nutty, and a really pretty pancake with great texture.
Brunch Classics
Fluffy buttery biscuits under a peppery cashew gravy. Southern brunch, vegan style.
Stone-ground grits topped with garlicky sautéed mushrooms and chickpeas. Comforting, savory, completely satisfying.
Tender potato dumplings, browned in a pan with butter and onions. Mom’s pick because, well, mom.
Tortilla chips piled with black beans, a tofu scramble, avocado salsa, and all the fixings. Brunch as a stadium event. These are great for sharing.
Sides
Smoky, salty tempeh strips with crisp edges. A perfect addition to the vegan brunch spread.
Brooklyn Diner Style Home Fries
Crispy potatoes with green bell pepper and onion. We kept it simple in the best borough. Mom approved on the first bite and she is a second generation Brooklyn native.
Little potatoes that look like deviled eggs. Just the cutest little things to snack on. Pop several in your mouth.
Hearty homemade vegan sausage links (maybe not links? Big links, anyway) with white beans and seitan. Pan-fry for the perfect brunch protein.
Crispy, golden potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream alongside. Yes, latkes belong at brunch. Mom wrote that part.
Succulent, flavorful crab cakes with a crisp golden crust and the best lumpy texture inside. So amazing with remoulade and/or tartar sauce.
Salads
Strawberry Feta Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing
Spring greens, juicy strawberries, almond feta, and a maple-dijon dressing that brings everything together. Bright spring flavors, fresh and delish.
Kale Caesar with Brussels Sprout Croutons
Massaged kale, a sharp lemony tahini-based caesar, and roasted brussels sprouts standing in for croutons. Crunchy, savory, mom’s idea of “the green thing.”
Sweet Bakes
Buttery scones bursting with blueberries, finished with a tangy lemon glaze. Gratitude in scone form.
Tender vegan scones with bursts of jammy blackberries and a whisper of culinary lavender. Mom said these seem fancy.
Hearty bran muffins with real maple syrup and fresh blueberries. The breakfast muffin, not the dessert muffin. Bake a batch and freeze half for her.
Soft homemade bread layered with cinnamon sugar and raisins, swirled and baked. Toast a slice with butter and cinnamon sugar and it is pure heaven. Don’t forget to Instagram it.
Ok, if you can make cinnamon rolls you can and should make babka instead. There, I said it. And mom agrees. Soft enriched dough swirled with chocolate and twisted into a loaf. If you really love your mom you will make her this.
Tart rhubarb under a buttery crumb topping. Spring brunch in a single slice. So amazing freshly baked.
Rosemary Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
A grown-up banana bread with rosemary and dark chocolate chips. Mom requested it specifically, and mom doesn’t request lightly.
Where are the tempeh sausage crumbles? And the casserole with scrambled tofu, potatoes and the sausage crumbles? SO MANY GREAT BRUNCH CHOICES!!
I need to add them back. A lot of stuff went missing when I redesigned. Thanks for the heads up!
Love these ideas! I always struggle to get creative with breakfast/brunch beyond a tofu scramble. Thanks for the list. I’m sure moms will love them!
OMG that’s so funny. i just made the Kale and Brussels Caesar salad early this morning, like 3am. I know I know. I love this salad from I can Cook Vegan…and, drumroll. both my kids tried it this morning and had frickin salad with their breakfast and liked it! I’m feeling like a pretty good mom today!