If your family celebrates the Easter holiday, you know that costs add up quickly. From bonnets and bow ties to baskets filled with goodies, it can easily become a pricey holiday. But the true message of Easter has nothing to do with dropping tons of cash. This year, keep your holiday simple and affordable using these easy money saving Easter Brunch ideas!
1. Host a Potluck
Perhaps easiest of all, hosting a pitch-in or potluck helps you defray the cost of what could become an expensive meal. Help those who will attend wrap their mind around what dishes to bring by building a framework. Choose the items you’ll be willing to cover and provide broad options like desserts, breads, or veggie side items. It’s better not to dictate specific dishes or recipes. Allow your guests to bring their A-game to the table instead. An online platform like Sign Up Genius prevents duplicate dishes, too.
2. Create a Waffle Bar
Everyone loves waffles. Odds are good you have what you need in your pantry to make plenty without spending a single dime. To save time and your sanity, consider making the waffles in advance and then reheating them in your oven on Easter Morning. If you’d like to make them fresh or allow your guests to make their own, at least make the batter in advance. Pro tip: find a recipe that folds in egg whites to the batter at the end of making them. This Homemade Belgian Waffle Recipe is fantastic.
Set up an area for extreme waffle customization. Some toppings include: Fresh Fruit, Whipped Cream, Sprinkles, Chocolate Chips, Nuts, a Variety of Butters, and Speciality Syrups. You may want to even want to consider a small amount of Easter Candy. Yum!
3. Decorate With Food
Easter is one of the best holidays to allow the food to become your table’s centerpiece. Skip the disposable decorations and fancy displays. Instead, fill a large glass carafe with orange juice and place it on the table. Or slice strawberries and place them in a see through serving dish. From a freshly baked (or store bought) Angel Food Cake to a beautiful ham, adorn your table with the goodies you’ll devour. You can also easily use dyed Easter eggs, plastic eggs, and even candy to make a visual effect without torching your budget. Pull out your glass bowls, mason jars, pitchers and more and make your table shine.
4. Use Your Smallest Plates
This tip is good both for your budget and your waistline. Rather than pulling out the largest pieces of fine china you have, choose smaller plates for your guests. We typically fill our plates to full on holidays. Using smaller plates stretches your food further and also helps you control portions, too.
5. Shop Your Pantry First
Before you head to the store and begin picking up every item in site, clear through your pantry, fridge, freezer. You’ll want to look for any boxed cake mixes you could use. Or check to see if you could make delicious and nutritious smoothies with frozen fruit you already have.
6. Maximize Sales
Over the next week, we’ll see the lowest prices of the season on spring favorites like ham, eggs, asparagus, strawberries, candies, and more. When you’re shopping if your budget allows, pick up duplicate items to freeze or use over the next few weeks. Don’t forget to check your store’s app or website for additional coupons and special deals, too. Your Easter shopping trip should be strategic and intentional. Don’t shop on the fly. Make a plan to maximize sales and deals.
7. Keep the Meal Plan Simple
The Side Dish Trap is a real temptation for me (and probably you, too!). Rather than running down a meal planning rabbit trail, keep your meal plan for the special day simple. Focus on a main dish, a veggie, a fruit, a bread, and a dessert. Again, if you’re hosting a potluck, you can allow your guests to fill in the gaps or build out the plan a little more.
8. Frozen Muffins
Easter mornings can be hectic. Especially for young families, excitement is at an all time high. Most of us need quick and easy solutions to feed hungry bellies in a flash. Whether you whip your favorite muffin recipe up from scratch or purchase a pre-packaged option, think about making muffins a few days or even a week in advance. They thaw quickly (toss them on the counter the night before) and don’t need to be served warm. I love this Basic Muffin Recipe that can be easily modified to make several different varieties.
9. Dress Up A Simple Classic
One of my favorite desserts is a childhood classic – Rice Crispy Treats! I love the fact that this affordable fan favorite can be dressed for the holiday by adding food color or pastel sprinkles. I typically use an entire 12 oz. box of cereal instead of the 6 cups recommended on the official recipe. This makes for a thicker, less sticky treat. Add a few drops of food coloring to the marshmallows to change the tint of your dessert. Do note that you may end up dying your hands when you do this. When you’re done preparing the treat, go wild with your favorite sprinkles or colored sugar. You can also try this with your favorite cookie or cake recipes, too!
10. Get Creative with Candy
Everyone loves Easter Candy! This year, switch up your candy game by taking seasonal classics to the next level. I love this idea to make your own Chocolate Covered Peeps. Plus, I’m certain we’ll be making this Easter Candy Popcorn recipe this year.
No matter what you make, remember sharing a meal with family and friends is never about how much you spend. Treasuring time together creates memories that truly last. Fight the temptation to get carried away and focus on the experience instead.
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