Birthday brunch shopping list

Planning a birthday brunch means more than buying bread and cake. You need enough food for a relaxed buffet, drinks that stay cold, and tableware for eating, serving and clearing up. This shopping list covers the practical essentials for a brunch at home, including coffee supplies, fruit and yoghurt, warm dishes, cake service and simple decorations. Check dietary requirements before you shop, then use your final guest count to adjust quantities.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Dining tablesqty 3
Chairsqty 24
Buffet table

Tableware

Dinner Platesqty 24
Small platesqty 24
Bowlsqty 24
Coffee Cupsqty 24
Water glassesqty 24
Wine glassesqty 24
Cutlery setsqty 24
Serving plattersqty 6
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving tongsqty 4
Serving Spoonsqty 4
Carafesqty 4
Cake Knife
Cake serversqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting Boardsqty 3
Chef's Knifeqty 2
Bread Knivesqty 2
Coolersqty 2

Equipment

Coffee machine
Kettle
Wireless speaker
Extension Cordsqty 2

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 3
Balloonqty 30
Birthday banner
Flower vasesqty 3
Flower arrangementsqty 3
Tealight Holdersqty 6

Cleaning

Trash binsqty 3
Vacuum Cleaner
Mop and bucket
Broom and dustpan
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- White sandwich bread - 2 loaves
- Multigrain bread - 2 loaves
- Mini croissants - 24 pieces
- Mini rolls - 30 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Strawberry jam - 1 jar
- Apricot jam - 1 jar
- Peanut butter - 1 jar
- Chocolate sprinkles - 1 pack
- Honey - 1 jar
- Young cheese - 800 grams
- Brie - 400 grams
- Cooked ham - 500 grams
- Smoked salmon - 400 grams
- Hummus - 3 tubs
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Bacon bits - 1.5 kilograms
- Mushrooms - 1 kilogram
- Cherry Tomatoes - 1 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 3 pieces
- Avocados - 6 pieces
- Mixed salad - 500 grams
- Pasta - 1 kilogram
- Pesto sauce - 2 jars
- Parmesan cheese - 250 grams
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Fresh chives - 2 bunches
- Fresh parsley - 2 bunches
- Greek yogurt - 2 kilograms
- Granola - 1 kilogram
- Strawberries - 1 kilogram
- Blueberries - 500 grams
- Grapes - 1 kilogram
- Bananas - 2 kilograms
- Apple juice - 3 liters
- Orange juice - 5 liters
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Whole milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liters
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Birthday cake - 1 cake
- Whipped cream - 2 cans
- Birthday candles - 1 pack
- Napkins - 3 packs
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll

Tips

Plan about 250–350 g of food per guest for the full brunch, including bread, toppings, fruit, yoghurt and warm dishes. Add a little extra for popular items such as pastries or eggs.
Buy or prepare two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add water, coffee and tea for the rest of the brunch. Chill drinks at least 4 hours ahead, or use cool boxes if refrigerator space is limited.
Count one dinner plate, one small plate, one bowl, one cup, one water glass and one cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. Serving dishes, tongs and serving spoons are needed in addition to guest tableware.
Order the birthday cake at least 3–5 days before the brunch, especially if it has a specific flavour or decoration. Check that you have a cake knife and enough cake servers before the day itself.
Set up the buffet table and test the coffee maker, kettle, speaker and extension cords the day before. Keep hot dishes, bread and toppings in separate serving areas so guests can serve themselves without crowding one spot.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a birthday brunch?: Allow roughly 250–350 g of food per guest across bread, spreads, fruit, yoghurt and warm dishes. For 10 guests, that is about 2.5–3.5 kg of food in total, excluding drinks and cake.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a brunch?: Buy or borrow one dinner plate, one small plate, one bowl, one coffee cup, one water glass and one cutlery set per guest. Add around 10% extra, so 11 place settings for 10 guests.
How far in advance should I order a birthday cake?: Order the cake 3–5 days before the brunch. For a custom design or a busy weekend, arrange it earlier and confirm the collection or delivery time the day before.
When should I chill drinks for a birthday brunch?: Put drinks in the refrigerator at least 4 hours before guests arrive. If there is not enough space, use cool boxes and add ice shortly before the brunch starts.

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