A Brunch of Fun

One of our favorite follows on Instagram is @theschoolofstyling -- each photo is picturesque, and their courses are some of the best for styling and entertaining (there’s online courses available too)! Leading lady, Kaitlin Holland launched The School of Styling with the intention of providing women with the tools and inspiration they need to create beautiful work, events and spaces.

By Kaitlin Holland, Founder of The School of Styling

With pumpkin spice lattes sold at every corner and the scent of pumpkin candles in the air, we can’t help but go all out for this season. We love spending the day with friends, whether it be at a pumpkin patch or enjoying a festive breakfast. One of our go-to recipes this season is homemade cinnamon pecan pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, honey, and brown sugar, paired with a tart grapefruit juice -- and one of our favorite ways to serve our dish of choice is by creating a breakfast vignette. Whether you have a lot of space to spare, or limited, creating a station with all the goodies in one place is a great way to get guests engaged and chatting in no time!

When planning and designing a fall breakfast vignette, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Contrast

Think about the way both the colors, flavors, and textures will play off one another. While our design is fairly neutral, we played off the coloring and flavor of the pancakes when choosing our toppings, drink, and backdrop. You don't want a bland looking or tasting breakfast!

Layers

One of the best parts about fall is layering clothing. Layered textiles creates a rich, warm, cozy feeling, so why not incorporate it into your breakfast too! Think about your table in planes; be sure to add a variety of heights, sizes, and colors into each plane, so when you look at the table from the front or overhead it feels dynamic and layered.

So simple, and still so fall-esque.

Seasonal

Fall is one of the greatest times of the year, so let's celebrate it! We created this simple custom backdrop by collecting leaves from outside, spray painting them, and hanging them using tape. Easy as that! It's the perfect ode to fall and this seasonal pancake, breakfast gathering!

Subscribe at theschoolofstyling.com to be the first to know about 2016 classes! Photos by Blue Barn Photography -- follow along on Instagram for more eye candy @bluebarn.

Gluten-Free Vegan Pancakes

Makes about 10 pancakes Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons maple syrup, agave, or coconut sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1 cup almond, coconut, or hemp seed milk

• 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (flax meal)

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• Coconut oil or vegan butter substitute (Earth Balance) to cook, and serve

• Fresh fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, real maple syrup, etc. to serve (optional)

How To

In a small bowl, whisk together your wet ingredients. In a larger bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients. Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, whisking until you have a smooth, lump free batter.

Heat a heavy pan or griddle over medium heat. Add a bit of coconut oil or vegan butter to your pan, and heat until melted.

Using a ¼ cup to scoop, portion out two to three pancakes at a time in your pan, making sure they have enough room to spread and cook. Cook for 1-2 minutes on the first side, until small bubbles form in the batter. Flip to the other side and cook 1-2 minutes more until golden brown and cooked through (add a minute or two more per side if needed).

To serve, top with vegan butter and a drizzle of real maple syrup, and any other toppings you like.

Note: You can also add toppings to the batter while cooking each pancake. Add a few blueberries, chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever you like to the pancakes before you flip them, while the batter is still wet.