Picture this: it's Christmas morning. The tree lights are on, there's wrapping paper all over the floor, and everyone is still in their pajamas. Then someone asks, "What's for breakfast?" and suddenly you're whisking eggs in the kitchen while everyone else opens presents.
A good Christmas brunch shouldn't take you away from the best part of the day. These Christmas brunch ideas are mostly made the night before, so the morning stays slow and cozy.
You'll find sweet bakes, easy savory dishes, festive bites for the table, something fresh, something sweet, and a warm drink station everyone can share.
Which sweet Christmas brunch dishes can you make ahead?
Make-ahead bakes are the heart of a relaxed Christmas brunch. You do the work the evening before and simply bake in the morning.
1. Overnight cinnamon roll casserole or cranberry orange French toast
Arrange sliced cinnamon rolls in a baking dish with a simple egg and cream mixture, then refrigerate overnight. Bake in the morning and drizzle with icing while warm. Prefer something fruity? Layer bread with cranberries, orange zest and a lightly spiced custard instead.
cinnamon rolls
2. Gingerbread pancakes and cranberry orange muffins
Add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and a little molasses to pancake batter, and serve with maple syrup, yogurt and sliced pears. Bake cranberry orange muffins a day ahead, warm them briefly and place them in a lined basket with butter and marmalade.
pancakes
What savory dishes work for Christmas brunch?
One or two savory dishes keep everyone full until the afternoon.
3. Croissant egg and cheese bake
Tear croissants into a dish and add eggs, cheese, herbs, and cooked ham or vegetables. Assemble it the night before. It's rich enough to be the main savory dish.
4. A smoked salmon brunch board
Arrange smoked salmon, bagels, cream cheese, cucumber, capers, lemon and dill on one large board. Guests build their own plates, so there's no extra cooking.
smoked salmon brunch
5. Baked eggs with spinach and feta, or eggs on toast
Bake eggs in small dishes with spinach, feta and a spoonful of cream. For an even quicker plate, serve fried eggs on toasted sourdough with ham and a sprinkle of chili flakes, next to a bowl of fresh berries.
baked eggs with spinach
Which festive bites look beautiful on the table?
A few playful bites make the table feel like Christmas, and most of them take only minutes to put together.
6. A caprese Christmas wreath
Thread cherry tomatoes and mini mozzarella balls onto small skewers and arrange them in a circle on a bed of fresh basil. Drizzle with olive oil just before serving.
7. Salami Christmas trees and a festive brunch board
Fold salami slices onto a skewer in a tree shape, add a pickle as the trunk and a cheese star on top. Build a board around them with cheese, figs, grapes, crackers and breadsticks. For extra fun, shape a cheese ball into a snowman or stack crisps into a little tree.
8. Star sandwiches and brie toasts with pomegranate
Cut ham and cheese sandwiches with a star cookie cutter and decorate the plate with rosemary sprigs. Next to them, serve toasted baguette slices with warm brie, pomegranate seeds and a little honey.
What fresh and sweet dishes finish a Christmas brunch?
9. Winter fruit, a citrus salad and yogurt parfaits
Use clementines, pears, grapes, kiwi and pomegranate for a colorful fruit platter. Toss blood oranges with avocado, soft cheese and pomegranate seeds for a bright salad, or serve roasted carrots on whipped feta. Layer yogurt, granola, fruit and honey in small glasses for easy parfaits.
10. Festive sweets: a pavlova wreath, a cranberry bundt cake and Santa hat brownies
Bake meringue the day before and top it with whipped cream, berries, pomegranate and rosemary just before serving. A glazed bundt cake with sugared cranberries looks stunning with very little effort, and brownies with a strawberry and cream "Santa hat" make children (and grown-ups) smile.
How do you set up a Christmas drink station?
11. A Christmas coffee and hot chocolate station
Set out coffee, hot chocolate, milk, marshmallows, cinnamon and crushed candy cane, with a gingerbread cookie on the side. A tray of festive mugs and spoons lets everyone refill their own drink.
hot chocolate with marshmallows (yummm)
A brunch that leaves room for the morning
You don't need a huge buffet. One sweet bake, one savory dish, something fresh and warm drinks make a complete Christmas brunch. Choose your favorites from this list and prepare as much as you can the night before.
Serve everything family-style and let the morning move slowly. The best part of brunch is having time to sit down with the people you made it for. There's no better feeling than that! :)
Hosting more over the holidays? These 12 Easy Christmas Appetizers for Stress-Free Holiday Hosting are just as simple to prepare. And for a cozy home to host in, see 19 Small Apartment Christmas Decor Ideas That Save Space.