‘Barefoot Contessa’: Ina Garten’s 4 Best Brunch Recipes for a Crowd
Ina Garten has a dish for every occasion and brunch is no exception. For fans who long to wake up at her East Hampton home and have breakfast and coffee (made by Jeffrey Garten) with the celebrity chef, Garten’s brunch recipes are the closest they’ll ever get.
As a bestselling cookbook author, the Barefoot Contessa has plenty of brunch recipes. Most of which can be scaled up or down depending on the number of guests. Here are a few Barefoot Contessa brunch recipes perfect for feeding a crowd.
1. Ina Garten’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake is a fan favorite
Reviewed more than 540 times on Food Network’s website at the time of publication, Garten’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe has a 5-star rating. Originally featured in her second-ever cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Parties!, this is a classic Garten brunch recipe.
Using a selection of pantry staples and classic baking ingredients — cake flour is the only thing that might require a trip to the grocery store — Garten’s recipe involves a streusel topping and a “really easy to make” maple syrup glaze.
There’s also a ribbon of the streusel running through the center of the cake for an added layer of sweetness. The key ingredients to the recipe are “good” vanilla extract and sour cream to make the cake “really moist,” according to Garten.
2. The Barefoot Contessa’s Potato Basil Frittata is a savory option for brunch
Take it from Garten and avoid making individual egg dishes when serving brunch to a crowd. She once made omelets for a brunch she hosted and never left the kitchen. The experience was so stressful it put the Barefoot Contessa off hosting for an entire year.
Instead, make Garten’s Potato Basil Frittata. It’s a savory dish made of eggs perfect for serving a crowd. This recipe calls for basil, potatoes, and cheese but when making it on Barefoot Contessa, Garten shared she’ll often use leftovers from dinner to flavor the dish.
Mix the potatoes and egg mixture together in a pan, cook for about an hour, and have brunch ready to go. As the Barefoot Contessa says, how easy is that?
3. Ina Garten’s Homemade Granola Bar recipe has 5 stars on Food Network’s website
Another popular Garten brunch recipe is cooking show host’s Homemade Granola Bars. They have a whopping 427 reviews at the time of publication. Reviewers call them “fantastic” and “addictive.” Unlike some of the Barefoot Contessa’s other brunch recipes, these need to be made well in advance.
After baking for about 30 minutes, the granola bars have to cool for a minimum of two hours before being cut into squares. Besides being a vegetarian option, these granola bars are meant to be served at room temperature making them a great addition to any brunch spread.
4. Ina Garten’s Banana Crunch Muffins are a hit with ‘Barefoot Contessa’ fans
Like Garten’s chocolate cake or her Perfect Roast Chicken, there are some Barefoot Contessa recipes the celebrity chef’s fans just can’t get enough of. An OG recipe, Garten’s Banana Crunch Muffins were originally featured in 1999’s The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. Ready in less than an hour, they average five stars.
Tips from Garten for making delicious Banana Crunch muffins? Don’t overmix the batter or risk getting tough muffins. Use “good” vanilla extract. Brush the top of the muffin pan with oil so they do pop out easily once they’re baked.
