If you find yourself scrambling for Christmas morning breakfast ideas, look no further! We have compiled the best Christmas breakfast and holiday brunch recipes. And best of all? You likely already have all of the ingredients! Here are some of our favorite Christmas breakfast ideas the whole family will love.
1. Breakfast Casserole
Otherwise known as a crustless quiche, the breakfast casserole is the perfect way to start your holiday morning! The main ingredients are:
a dozen eggs half a cup of milk your preferred seasonings
After that, your breakfast casserole recipe can be completely customized with what you have in your fridge. Add in hash browns, cheese, peppers, sautéed mushrooms and onions, jalapeños, spinach, and whatever other veggies that you see fit. Just remember that if the vegetable is crunchy when raw, you need to cook it before adding it to your dish. Breakfast meats like bacon and sausage are also a wonderful addition that will need to be cooked prior to adding. Once you have gathered all of your ingredients, the preparation is easy. Confirm that the eggs have set and allow the finished product to cool for at least five minutes. You can also cook this egg casserole in a slow cooker! Just throw everything in on Christmas Eve and cook on low for seven to nine hours. PRO TIP: If you have picky eaters on your hands, consider using a muffin tin to make individualized orders. This ensures that everyone is satisfied while keeping the number of dishes low!
2. Holiday Banana Bread
There is something truly magical about the smell of freshly baked bread. Banana bread is a fan favorite in most households and you likely have all of the ingredients sitting in your pantry. To make banana bread you need: Three very ripe bananas
one and a half cups of flour one cup of sugar one egg quarter of a cup of melted butter a teaspoon of vanilla extract a teaspoon of salt A teaspoon of baking soda
To prepare, simply peel and mash your bananas, combine all of your ingredients, and pour the mixture into a greased 9 inch by 5 inch loaf pan. Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. To determine if the bread is done, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, it is ready to eat! Just make sure to give it some time to cool. Finally, since this is for Christmas morning, consider adding a little extra sweetness to your recipe. You can either mix in chocolate chips or you can add dollops of Nutella into the mixture as you pour it into the pan prior to cooking. This can serve as a spectacular side dish or the headliner on your brunch menu!
3. Christmas Waffles
This is another completely customizable meal that requires very few dishes, making it an easy breakfast choice. All that you will need is your favorite waffle or pancake mix, vegetable oil, water, and any other ingredients that you want to include, like blueberries or chocolate chips. We recommend Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix because it is packed with protein, meaning that everyone will stay full for the opening of presents.
4. Breakfast Popovers
Crispy, yet light and buttery. Popovers are the perfect pastry for any occasion and you likely already have the ingredients on hand. To make popovers you will need:
two large eggs one cup of flour one cup of milk half a teaspoon of salt one tablespoon of melted butter
How to Make Breakfast Popovers
In order to get the perfect puff on the top of your pastry, remember to be patient. Leave the oven door closed! Once they have popped, allow them to cool briefly and then serve with butter, jam, cream cheese, or whatever you see fit.
5. Christmas Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet, tangy, and doughy. What kid wouldn’t love waking up to this meal on Christmas Day? This recipe does take a bit more prep, but you can assemble your cinnamon roll log the day before to save yourself some time.
Cinnamon Roll Dough & Filling
For your dough, you will need to mix together: two cups of flour, two tablespoons of sugar three tablespoons of unsalted butter (softened) two teaspoons of baking soda one egg three-quarters of a cup of milk a dash of salt
This is best done by combining the wet and dry ingredients separately and then blending them together using your hands. To make cinnamon roll filling: PRO TIP: For extra gooey rolls, pour warm heavy cream over the dish before baking!
Cinnamon Roll Cream Cheese Frosting
This is the part that the kids will like preparing the most. Simply mix together four ounces of softened cream cheese, two-thirds of a cup of confectioners sugar, two tablespoons of butter, and a dash of vanilla extract. Then, spread it over your warm cinnamon rolls!
6. Christmas French Toast
This is another classic option for your Christmas breakfast! To prepare french toast you will need:
12 slices of your favorite white bread (sourdough is always a solid choice) four eggs two teaspoons of vanilla extract half a teaspoon of cinnamon one and a third cups of milk
To Prepare:
7. Gingerbread Pancakes
Is it truly Christmas time if Gingerbread hasn’t made it into your home? This quintessential holiday baked good is the perfect way to spice up your pancakes! To create these sweet, spicy, and fluffy flapjacks, ALTERNATIVE RECIPE: For those families looking for a lighter fare, consider nixing the baking soda and baking powder. This will transform your gingerbread pancakes into gingerbread crepes!
8. Classic Continental Breakfast
For those folks looking for Christmas breakfast recipes that are guaranteed to please, go with the basics — scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Want to dress it up? Make your eggs cheesy or go all out and cook up some hearty omelets or some healthy frittatas. You can also add in baked goods and pastries like croissants, donuts, and of course, bagels and cream cheese. These are great options when your Christmas brunch includes a large group of people and you are hoping to limit your time in the kitchen.
9. Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
This German dish makes for a delectably light holiday breakfast option that goes flawlessly with your morning cup of Joe! To make the coffee cake batter, combine the following ingredients:
two cups of flour two large eggs one stick of softened butter three-quarters of a cup of brown sugar two teaspoons of baking powder half a teaspoon of baking soda one teaspoon of vanilla extract one teaspoon of cinnamon one cup of sour cream
To make coffee cake filling and topping combine:
one cup of brown sugar (packed) two tablespoons of cinnamon one stick of softened, but not melted, butter one and a quarter cups of flour
To add in the butter, simply pinch off small sections and mix them with the dry ingredients. This will make your “crumbs”. Once these two main components are made, it is time to layer your cake. PRO TIP: When in a pinch for time, Krusteaz Cinnamon Swirl Crumb Cake is a fantastic substitute! All you need is the mix, one egg, vegetable oil, and water.
10. Christmas Monkey Bread
This is the traditional bread recipe with a little twist — switch out the raisins for dried cranberries! Not only will this be sweeter, but it will add some color to this classic comfort food. All you will need to make Christmas monkey bread is:
two packages of your favorite refrigerated biscuit dough one cup of brown sugar one cup of white sugar two teaspoons of cinnamon half a cup of butter half a cup of dried cranberries
The monkey bread should turn a beautiful golden brown when it is ready to come out of the oven. Allow it to cool for five minutes and then using oven mitts, transfer the finished result to a plate and start pulling!
11. Eggs Benedict
Another excellent brunch idea for smaller crowds is eggs benedict! This consists of a poached egg and a slice of Canadian bacon sitting on top of an English muffin. This half sandwich is then adorned with a heavenly hollandaise sauce.
Hollandaise Sauce Recipe
To make this fanciful fare, first, you must prepare your dressing. Gather the following ingredients:
four egg yolks two tablespoons of lemon juice one cup of salted butter (melted) a pinch of white pepper a dash of Worcestershire sauce
Preparing Eggs Benedict: The Eggs
Preparing Canadian Bacon
While poaching your eggs and preparing your sauce, place your Canadian bacon in a skillet and cook to your liking. During this time, you can also toast your English muffin halves. This can easily be done in a toaster or under the broiler in your oven. Lightly butter the bread once golden brown. When all is done, assemble your Eggs Benedict and serve!
12. Christmas Fruitcake
To make this classic Christmas dessert, you need a bit of forethought. This is because it is recommended that you soak your dried fruits and nuts overnight in brandy, sherry, or rum (or tea for a non-alcoholic version).
13. Christmas Bread Pudding
Similar to Monkey Bread, this recipe seamlessly pulls apart in your hands. To prepare classic break pudding you need:
one loaf of day-old bread cut into cubes (French bread is always a classic choice) two large eggs two cups of milk two cups of sugar half a cup of raisins a quarter of a cup of melted butter one teaspoon of cinnamon one teaspoon of vanilla extract
PRO TIP: For added flavor and a better texture, soak your raisins for one hour in warm water. Discard the water when done.
14. Cranberry Oat Scones
The last of our Christmas breakfast ideas comes from Scotland. These sweet and tangy cranberry scones are always a welcomed choice, especially as you look ahead to a rich and filling Christmas dinner. This quick bread recipe combines:
two cups of flour one cup of rolled oats half a cup of sugar one cup of dried cranberries three-quarters of a cup of buttermilk one tablespoon of baking powder one stick of unsalted butter (cold) one large egg a dash of salt
How to Make Cranberry Oat Scones
PRO TIP: If you want to make restaurant-quality scones, simply brush the tops of the pastries with heavy cream and sprinkle coarse sugar on top prior to baking. Additionally, a cranberry-orange relish is always a fantastic garnish to this breakfast item. For even more easy breakfast ideas you can make all year round check out our favorite Quick and Easy Weekday Breakfast Ideas!
