Holiday Secret Santa Brunch
It's not every year, but I'm definitely starting to try to create an annual tradition of hosting a Holiday Brunch! December can become so busy, so I find that one of the few times you can get everyone together on a weekend is to host a brunch, rather than a dinner or cocktail party. Yesterday I hosted a Secret Santa filled with food, games, presents and laughter!
Here, I want to share pics from the party, my menu, and some of my favorite holiday recipes that my mom normally prepares for our family on Christmas! Check out details throughout the photos as I share my tips for making your friends feel special the second they arrive!
Menu
Egg Bake (recipe below)
Roasted Red Pepper + Artichoke Spread (recipe below)
Monkey Bread (recipe below)
Bagel + Lox Platter (bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomato, red onion capers)
Pesto Tomato Salad + Burrata
Red Fruit Plate (pomegranate, raspberries, strawberries + watermelon)
Drinks
Iced Coffee + Rum Chata Cocktails
Bloody Mary's
Hot Cocoa w/ Snowflake Marshmallows + Peppermint Schnaaps
Mimosas w/ Pear or Black Cherry Juice
Fremont Brewing Beer
Cucumber + Mint Infused Water
We rearranged our living room to make the edge seating so we could have a big circle for secret santa opening!
After I knew everyone who would be coming, I put together photos from big moments in everyone's year. For example, engagements, weddings, graduations, trips, times we spent together etc. Then I used Artifact Uprising and printed square black + white prints and placed them all over our apartment. From the tree to table, it was fun for guests to get to browse all of them and see themselves! There's no sweeter way to make your guests feel special!
My boyfriend Brian and I preparing the black cherry mimosas!
I loved putting the bar together for any sort of breakfast cocktail a guest could want! Also, stick with a monochromatic fruit tray for an extra-holiday touch!
The food table was filled with different options, even for our gluten-free friends! Using bamboo utensils is a fun way to stay eco-friendly too.
Egg Bake Recipe
- 10 eggs
- 1/2 c all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 pt (16 oz) small curd cream cheese
- 1 lb Monterey jack cheddar cheese - shredded
- 1/2 c butter - melted
- 2 cans (4 oz each) chopped green chillies
In bowl or mixer beat eggs until light in color. Add flour, baking powder, salt, cottage cheese, jack cheese and melted butter. Blend smoothly. Stir in chilies.
Pour mixture into well buttered 9x13 pan. Bake at 350* for 35 minutes or until top is lightly browned and firm.
Let sit before serving (10-15 min)
My beautiful friends at the party!
Roasted Red Pepper + Artichoke Spread
- 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese - softened
- 1/4 c chopped green onion tops
- 1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
- 1 c freshly grated Parmesean cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 T lemon juice
- 1/2 t ground red pepper
- 3/4 c bottled roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped
Stir together cream cheese and green onion tops, blending well. Set aside.
Stir together artichoke hearts and next 5 ingredients.
Spread one-third of cream cheese mixture on bottom of a 4-cup glass bowl lined with plastic wrap. Layer with half of chopped roasted bell peppers, 3/4 c artichoke mixture and one-third of cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers with remaining chopped roasted bell peppers, artichoke mixture and cream cheese mixture. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
Invert onto a serving plate, and remove plastic wrap. Serve with bread slices and crackers.
Monkey Bread Recipe
- 1/2 - 3/4 c chopped walnuts
- Frozen Rhodes dinner roles
- 1 box regular butterscotch pudding (not instant)
- 1/2 c butter
- 3/4 c brown sugar
Spray pam into bunting pan and place walnuts at the bottom. Use half of a bag of Rhodes dinner roles and stack rolls over nuts. Sprinkle the pudding powder over the rolls. Melt butter and brown sugar together and pour over top.
Leave uncovered on counter overnight.
The next morning, bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Invert it onto serving plate.
Putting various holiday candies in mason jars is a budget-friendly and fun way to serve desserts! Also, how cute are these star twinkle lights!
I hope you enjoyed this entertaining post and that it gave you some inspo for your own party! If it did, tag me in your Instagram post so I can check out how your interpreted these tips!
