**Fair warning before we get into it: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I get a tiny kickback if you buy something. Think of it as tipping your server, except the server is me and I am wearing an apron and watching a movie. You pay nothing extra and I get to keep doing this. Win win.**

A Very Merry Unbirthday Brunch: Our Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Board

Seventy-five years ago today, a little blonde girl in a blue pinafore chased a well-dressed rabbit down a hole and fell straight into the strangest, most wonderful world Disney ever animated. Alice in Wonderland turns 75 today, and I have been sitting on this brunch idea for so long that the notepad page I scribbled it on has gone soft at the corners. I am not exaggerating when I say this board has lived in my head for easily a year.

Here is the thing about Alice. It is chaos. It is a talking doorknob and a hookah-smoking caterpillar and a queen who wants to behead everyone before lunch. And somehow all of that nonsense is the exact reason it is the most fun movie in the world to build a food board around. Every single scene hands you a prop. Eat me. Drink me. Paint the roses red. Unbirthday cake. It is a stylist’s dream and a control freak’s nightmare, which means it is basically my personality on a lazy Susan.

So when I realized the 75th anniversary was landing on a Sunday, I finally pulled the notepad out and brought the whole Wonderland tea party to life. Matt wandered through the kitchen exactly one time while I was building it, took one look at the strawberry donuts, and I had to physically swat him away. More on that betrayal later.

*You can find all the printable tags that I made for this Alice in Wonderland Brunch at the end of this post!

If you love a good themed brunch – this is only one of MANY — find the rest of my themed brunch right here Themed Brunches. If you want the full sit-down version of this one, we have an entire Alice in Wonderland Dinner and Movie Night waiting for you in the Once Upon a Dinner and a Movie cookbook right here 👉 Once Upon a Dinner and a Movie – but stick around, because this board turned into one of my favorites I have ever styled.

Here is everything that made it onto the board.

Cheshire Cat Tails

Queen of Hearts’ Tarts

Eat Me Donuts

Painting the Bacon Roses Red

Unbirthday Parfaits Mad Tea Sandwiches

Wonderland Scones and Time for Quiche

Do You Suppose She’s a Wildflower Marshmallows

Macarons

Fresh Berries

The Drink Me Potion

This whole thing came together on one big board and I will show you exactly how below.

Cheshire Cat Tails

If you have ever wandered through Fantasyland at Disneyland and found yourself standing at a little cart holding a warm, striped, chocolate-filled pastry, you already know. Cheshire Cat Tails are one of my absolute favorite Disneyland treats, so there was never a version of this board that did not have them front and center.

The best part is they are almost embarrassingly easy. Puff pastry, a quick vanilla filling, a handful of mini chocolate chips, a twist, and a bake. Then you drizzle them in that unmistakable pink and purple so they look exactly like a Cheshire grin fading in and out of the trees. Mine came out golden and flaky with the chocolate peeking through the twists, and I stood there way too proud of a grinning cat pastry. Full easy recipe is on the card at the bottom.

Queen of Hearts’ Tarts

Okay. These are the ones. If you take nothing else from this board, take these.

I usually make everything from scratch, but every now and then Wonderland logic wins and you cut a corner on purpose. I grabbed a box of plain strawberry Pop-Tarts, iced them in vanilla frosting, and piped on the suits and numbers so each one became its own playing card. Then I found these tiny little card-guard faces on Etsy and popped them right on top, and that was the moment the whole thing clicked. To get them to stand up like a real deck of card soldiers, I tucked little jam jars behind each one so they stood at attention on the board.

They are hands down my favorite thing on this table and honestly one of my favorite things I have made in a long time. Sometimes the shortcut is the showstopper.

Eat Me Donuts

Every Alice party needs the Eat Me moment, and mini donuts were the obvious call. I grabbed pink and blue ones from Target and piped EAT ME across the tops in that classic red-and-blue Wonderland lettering.

These are also the reason my husband nearly lost a hand. Strawberry donuts are his one true kryptonite, and I had to swat him away more than once while I was styling. There is a version of this story where I turn around and half the plate is gone. We do not speak of that timeline.

Painting the Bacon Roses Red

If you know the movie, you know the card soldiers are out in the garden frantically painting the white roses red before the Queen finds out they planted the wrong ones. So obviously the savory rose on this board had to be bacon.

Bacon roses look like you fussed for hours and take almost no effort at all. You roll a strip of bacon up tight, stick two toothpicks through to hold the shape, stand them upright on a rack, and bake at 400 until they crisp into these gorgeous little red blooms. I tagged them Painting the Bacon Roses Red and felt very clever about it. They photograph like something off a brunch menu at a hotel, and they are just bacon. That is the magic.

Unbirthday Parfaits

The Mad Hatter and the March Hare taught us that any day you are not having a birthday is a very merry unbirthday, and that is a philosophy I can get behind, especially at brunch. These parfaits were my nod to the unbirthday cake, layered up in little glass jars so all the pretty shows through.

I used strawberry yogurt as the base and layered it with granola and fruit. I went with blueberries this time, though strawberries in yogurt are always a good idea in my book. A little more yogurt on top, then the crowning touch: a blue flower marshmallow and a tiny golden candle so every single guest gets their own unbirthday to celebrate. I actually grabbed those flower marshmallows from HomeGoods a while back with absolutely no plan for them, and they turned out to be exactly what this needed. Sometimes you buy the whimsical thing and trust that Wonderland will find a use for it.

Mad Tea Sandwiches, Wonderland Scones, and Time for Quiche

Every tea party I have ever been to has scones, so those were non-negotiable. I added mini quiche too, because the White Rabbit is always late and quiche always feels right, and honestly they were both really good. I tagged the quiche Time for Quiche because I could not help myself. I got both of these at Target – easy peasy.

For the tiered tray, I had grand plans for three different Mad Tea Sandwiches. As I was building it, the board told me it was too much, so I edited down to two, which is the kind of restraint that does not come naturally to me. The first is a strawberry cream cheese sandwich, cut into little hearts with a cookie cutter, strawberry cream cheese on white bread with sliced strawberries and a drizzle of honey. Simple and pretty and gone in one bite.

The second is a breakfast slider that happens to be one of Matt’s all-time favorite things I make. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese piled into Hawaiian rolls, brushed with a butter and maple mixture, then baked until the tops go golden and the cheese melts into everything. I stuck little card-suit picks in each one to keep them squarely in Wonderland. The quick version is here and the full recipe is on the card at the bottom.

Do You Suppose She’s a Wildflower Marshmallows

The garden of talking flowers gave us one of the prettiest sequences in the whole film, so I filled a footed glass with pink and blue flower marshmallows and tagged them straight from the flowers’ own snooty little question: Do You Suppose She’s a Wildflower. They add exactly the soft, dreamy pastel pop the corner of the board wanted.

Macarons and Fresh Berries

The very top tier got macarons in pink and green, because a tea party without macarons is just a snack, and a teacup of fresh berries because you always need one thing on the board that is not sugar or bacon. The berries in the little floral teacup ended up being one of my favorite quiet details, all deep reds and blues tucked in beside all the pastels.

The Drink Me Potion

Every trip to Wonderland starts with a choice: get bigger, or get smaller. For the finishing touch I made the Drink Me potion in a little heart bottle with a purple ribbon and a Drink Me tag. For this board I actually just used blue Powerade left over from my Freaky Friday board, because a good stylist wastes nothing. If you are making this for a grown-up date night version, a splash of blue curaçao with prosecco or champagne will absolutely do the trick.

The Whole Wonderland Table

When it all came together in front of the TV with the movie rolling, I honestly just stood back and grinned like the Cheshire Cat. The tiered tray, the standing playing cards, the glowing potion, the flowers, the little tags for every single dish. This is exactly the kind of over-the-top, story-on-a-lazy-Susan project that reminds me why I love doing this. It turned out so whimsical and so fun, and it is easily one of my favorite boards I have ever styled.

A quick heads up for anyone recreating this: a few of the decorative touches, like the little card-suit picks and toothpicks in the bacon roses, are not edible and get pulled off before anyone actually digs in.

Bring the Whole Movie to the Table

This board is the brunch. The full Alice in Wonderland Dinner and Movie Night, with the complete menu and every recipe, lives in the Once Upon a Dinner and a Movie cookbook, and every one of our themed dinners is bundled together in the Epic Bundle so you can host a different movie night any night you want.

Get the Once Upon a Dinner and a Movie cookbook here 👉 Once Upon a Dinner and a Movie Cookbook Grab the Epic Bundle with all ten cookbooks here 👉 Epic Movie Night Bundle

If you loved this one, we have a whole shelf of brunch boards to fall down the rabbit hole with. Come see the👉 Sleeping Beauty brunch board , the Toy Story brunch board 👉 the Cars brunch board 👉the Tangled brunch board 👉 , and the Monsters Inc brunch board .

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a very important date. We’re all mad here, and I wouldn’t have this brunch any other way.

Copycat Cheshire Cat Tails

Bring a little Wonderland to your kitchen with these colorful Copycat Cheshire Cat Tails. Flaky puff pastry is filled with creamy vanilla pastry cream and mini chocolate chips, then twisted, baked until golden, and finished with bright pink and purple icing. They’re the perfect sweet treat for an Alice in Wonderland party, brunch, or Disney-inspired dessert table.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

• Pastry 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed 1 large egg 1 tablespoon water ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Vanilla Filling 1 3.4-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix 1 cup cold whole milk ¼ cup heavy cream
• Icing 1 cup powdered sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons milk Pink gel food coloring Purple gel food coloring

Instructions

• Step 1: Prepare the Filling. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix, milk, and heavy cream until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate while you prepare the pastry.
• Step 2: Prep the Puff Pastry. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour your work surface and unfold the thawed puff pastry. Roll it into approximately a 10 x 12-inch rectangle.
• Step 3: Fill the Pastry. Spread the vanilla filling evenly over one half of the pastry, leaving about a ½-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips evenly over the filling. Fold the empty half of the pastry over the filling to create a rectangle. Gently press around the edges to seal.
• Step 4: Cut and Twist. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 6 equal strips. Carefully twist each strip 2 to 3 times, allowing a little of the filling to peek through the twists. Transfer the twists to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
• Step 5: Bake. Whisk together the egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush each pastry lightly with the egg wash. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed and deep golden brown. Allow them to cool completely before icing.
• Step 6: Decorate. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Divide the icing between two small bowls. Tint one bowl bright pink and the other purple with gel food coloring. Transfer each color to a piping bag or zip-top bag with a small corner snipped off. Drizzle both colors over the cooled pastries to create the iconic Cheshire Cat stripes. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

Notes

Don’t overfill the pastry. A thin layer of filling helps prevent leaks while baking. Gel food coloring creates the brightest colors without thinning the icing. These are best enjoyed the day they’re made while the pastry is crisp and flaky. For extra sparkle, sprinkle with edible glitter before the icing sets.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best texture, reheat in a 300°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.

Recipe Tips

Keep the puff pastry cold while working with it. If it becomes too soft, refrigerate it for 10 to 15 minutes before twisting. Mini chocolate chips work best because they stay inside the pastry more easily than regular-sized chips. If a little filling escapes during baking, don’t worry, the pastries will still be delicious.

Nutrition

Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary based on the specific ingredients used.

Mad Tea Breakfast Sliders

These easy breakfast sliders are one of Matt's favorites and they come together in no time. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and melty cheese baked into sweet Hawaiian rolls with a maple butter glaze on top

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

• Pastry
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed
• 1 egg beaten
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• Vanilla Cream Filling easy version
• 1 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup cold whole milk
• ¼ cup heavy cream optional, but makes it richer like Disney
• OR use homemade pastry cream if you prefer.
• Icing
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• Pink gel food coloring
• Purple gel food coloring

Instructions

• Make the filling
• Whisk the pudding, milk, and heavy cream until thick.
• Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes.
• Prepare the pastry
• Roll the puff pastry into roughly a 10×12-inch rectangle.
• Spread a thin layer of vanilla cream over half the pastry, leaving a ½-inch border.
• Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
• Fold the pastry over like a book.
• Press gently to seal.
• Cut and twist
• Using a pizza cutter, cut into 6 strips.
• Twist each strip 2-3 times so little pockets of cream and chocolate peek out.
• Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake
• Bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes, until puffed and deep golden.
• Cool completely.
• Decorate
• Mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
• Divide into two bowls.
• Color one bright pink.
• Color one purple.
• Drizzle both colors back and forth over each pastry.

Disney Trick

Don't overfill them.

The filling should barely peek through the twists. Too much cream will ooze everywhere during baking. That's the biggest difference between homemade versions and the park version.

My Fairytale Foodie Upgrade ✨

For your Alice brunch, I'd make them even more whimsical:

I actually think these would become one of the visual stars of your board. Between these, the Queen of Hearts Pop-Tarts, and the White Rabbit quiche, you'd have three instantly recognizable Alice references that are also genuinely delicious.

Add a tiny pinch of almond extract to the vanilla filling.Use hot pink and electric purple icing.Finish with edible glitter or pearl dust.Serve them standing upright in a teacup or tucked into your “Eat Me” display so they really resemble the Cheshire Cat's striped tail disappearing into Wonderland.