Overnight casseroles, sweet pastries and easy grab-and-go bites, these Christmas brunch recipes are the perfect way to avoid standing over the stove all morning! If you’re hosting guests this holiday season, chances are your house will be bustling on Christmas morning.
Between all of the unwrapping, stocking stuffing and refilling of coffee pots, the last thing you want is to be stuck at the stove. That’s why we’ve rounded up easy, make-ahead brunch recipes that will help you whip up a holiday feast in no time!
14. Cinnamon Raisin Breakfast Bake
Only seven ingredients go into this cozy bake, and one of them is a whole loaf of cinnamon raisin bread! Spread cream cheese on each slice, layer everything in a dish and pour over the eggs, milk and maple syrup before it chills overnight.
Weighing it down with a heavy pan helps the bread soak up every last drop. Bake it in the morning and keep the extra syrup close by.
Cinnamon Raisin Breakfast Bake
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon and maple syrup together. Butter the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Spread cream cheese onto each slice of bread. Arrange the slices in a single layer into the baking dish, tearing up the slices to make them fit. Repeat this process to form 2 layers. Pour egg mixture evenly over the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and weigh it down with another baking dish or heavy pan. Chill in the refrigerator 1 hour or up to overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove baking dish from refrigerator and bake for 55-60 minutes, until custard is set. Drizzle with additional maple syrup and sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired.
13. Breakfast Bomb with Biscuits, Eggs and Cheese
These savory biscuits are loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon and melty American cheese. You can make these biscuits using store bought biscuit dough. I love using store bought biscuit dough when I’m short on time, have a house full of people and only one oven. Brushing the tops of the biscuits with some butter before sprinkling them with everything bagel seasoning!
Breakfast Bombs
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and chives. Season with salt and pepper.
- Scramble the eggs in a frying pan over medium heat. Remove from pan and wipe the pan clean.
- Dice the bacon and put it into the frying pan. Cook until crispy. Remove from heat.
- Using your fingers, press the biscuits down to flatten them and create more surface area. Tear each slice of cheese into pieces and arrange one slice onto each biscuit.
- Divide the egg mixture and bacon bits evenly onto the biscuits. Gather the edges of the biscuit around the filling, pinching the seams together at the top.
- Place each biscuit bomb seam side down onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
- Bake 20 minutes. Enjoy warm.
12. Baked Egg White Bites with Spinach and Bacon
Made mostly out of cottage cheese and egg whites whipped until frothy with chopped spinach, roasted red peppers and crumbled turkey bacon mixed in, these are great for people that don’t want to start off the morning with carbs.
The Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top of them really makes them taste less like a diet food. They do puff up a lot while they are cooking so don’t worry if they look like they are going to over flow your dish, they settle back down as they cool.
Baked Egg White Bites Recipe with Spinach and Bacon
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a food processor or blender, combine egg whites, cottage cheese, salt, pepper and garlic powder until well blended.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped spinach, diced red peppers and diced bacon. Pour in the egg mixture and stir together.
- Pour the egg mixture into the prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle the tops evenly with Parmesan cheese. Bake 25 minutes. Allow to cool 15-20 minutes before removing from muffin pan.
11. Starbucks Egg Bites
Eggs, cottage cheese and Gruyere go into the blender until totally smooth, then into a muffin pan with crispy bacon bits. The trick is baking them low and slow in a pan of hot water, which gives them that soft, custardy texture. One batch makes 12, so there’s enough to go around plus a couple extra for later.
Starbucks Egg Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 300F degrees.
- Blend the eggs, cottage cheese, cornstarch, salt and pepper together in a blender or food processor.
- Dice the bacon. Cook the bacon bits in a frying pan until crispy. Set aside.
- Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle 1/2 of the bacon bits and 1/2 of the shredded cheese evenly into the muffin cups.
- Pour the egg mixture 1/2 of the way up each muffin cup. Sprinkle the other halves of the bacon bits and cheese.
- Place a rimmed baking sheet onto the center oven rack. Place the muffin pan onto the baking sheet. Pour boiling water into the baking sheet until it comes 1/3 of the way up the muffin pan.
- Bake the egg bites for 40 minutes. Remove the muffin pan from the oven first. Then, carefully remove the baking sheet and dump the water.
- Cool the egg bites for 20 minutes. Gently run a knife around the edges of the egg bites before removing them from the pan.
10. Cheese Danish
These pretty pastries look like they came straight from the bakery, but they’re so easy to make at home! Frozen puff pastry gets twisted into swirls and filled with a sweet cream cheese filling made with vanilla and a touch of lemon juice.
A sprinkle of raw sugar and a drizzle of vanilla glaze add just the right amount of sweetness. Serve them with a hot cup of coffee for the perfect holiday brunch treat.
Cheese Danish Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Thaw the puff pastry sheets according to package instructions.
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the cream cheese filling: Combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg yolk, vanilla and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Stir until creamy and smooth.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the first puff pastry sheet slightly. Slice the puff pastry sheet into 8 vertical strips. Seal two strips together at the ends. Starting in the center, gently twist the puff pastry strip in opposite directions. Leave about 2 inches on one end flat.
- Press the flat end down a little. This will be where you put the cheese filling. Then, slowly twirl the pastry twist in a circular motion around the flattened piece. Tuck the opposite end under. Gently transfer the pastry onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with remaining pastry strips and second sheet of puff pastry.
- Place 1 Tbsp. of cream cheese filling in the center of each pastry. Apply the beaten egg to the pastry using a pastry brush. Sprinkle with raw sugar.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over cooled danish.
9. Cinnamon Scones with Maple Glaze
These flaky, buttery scones are loaded with a double dose of cinnamon flavor. Cinnamon chips and ground cinnamon go right into the dough, and heavy cream keeps them moist and tender. Freeze the wedges ahead of time and bake them straight from frozen when guests start waking up. Don’t skip the maple glaze, because it’s so good you’ll want to drink it!
The BEST Cinnamon Scones Recipe with Maple Glaze
Ingredients
Method
- In a food processor, pulse the flour, white sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon chips and ground cinnamon together until just combined. Cut the butter into cubes and add it to the flour mixture. Pulse until the pieces of butter are the size of peas. Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl.
- Take 2 tbsp. of heavy cream out of the 1 cup and set aside. Pour the remaining cream into the bowl and mix together until a very shaggy dough starts to form. Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it comes together. It will be quite dry.
- Form the dough into a large disc that is 1 inch thick. Slice the disc into 8 wedges. Place onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze on the baking sheet for 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove the scones from the freezer and brush the scones with the reserved 2 Tbsp. of heavy cream. Sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar. Bake 25-27 minutes, until scones are golden brown on the bottom. Cool on the baking sheet before glazing.
- To make the glaze, whisk all ingredients in a small bowl and drizzle onto the scones.
8. Bacon Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches
Nothing beats a bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich on a holiday morning! Featuring melty American cheese, crispy bacon and fluffy eggs on top of your favorite bagel. Serve with a hashbrown patty for an extra crispy crunch.
This easy recipe can be made for one or a whole batch on a sheet pan. Pair with your favorite smoothie or a cup of coffee for a crowd pleasing holiday breakfast!
Bacon Egg and Cheese Breakfast Bagel Sandwich
Ingredients
Method
- Cook hashbrowns according to package directions. Keep warm.
- While the hashbrowns are cooking, fry the bacon and set onto a paper towel-lined plate.
- Coat a large pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the pan over medium heat. Beat the eggs, 2 at a time, in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour beaten eggs into the pan and use a spatula to shape them into an oblong rectangle. Let the eggs cook until they are soft-set. Place two slices of cheese on top of the eggs and let them melt slightly.
- Slice a bagel in half and place the halves down over the beaten eggs. Using a spatula, flip the eggs and bagel over in the pan.
- On the top half, place 2 strips of bacon. (Break the strips into smaller pieces to make them fit). On the bottom bagel slice, place a hashbrown patty.
- Using a spatula, flip the top half of the bagel over the bottom half. Remove bagel sandwich from pan. Enjoy warm.
7. Banana Bread French Toast
Banana bread French toast is an easy breakfast favorite! The slightly drier texture of banana bread makes it the perfect bread for soaking in a custard.
If you don’t have any day old banana bread on hand, a store-bought loaf will work just as well. Slices of banana bread are dipped in a sweetened cinnamon custard, then pan fried in butter until golden and cooked through on medium-low heat.
Banana Bread French Toast
Ingredients
Method
- Slice the loaf of banana bread into 10-12 slices.
- Beat eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a shallow bowl.
- Soak bread slices in the egg mixture, pressing so that it absorbs as much as possible.
- Melt 1-2 Tbsp. of butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Cook the bread in the melted butter until golden brown on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Add butter to the pan as necessary.
- Serve French toast warm with maple syrup.
6. Cracker Barrel French Toast
Thick slices of sourdough bread make this restaurant copycat French toast an absolute dream. The bread soaks up an eggy cinnamon and vanilla custard and cooks low and slow until golden brown.
Sourdough has an awesome texture and a slight tang that pairs beautifully with sweet toppings. Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with warm maple syrup and add a side of crispy bacon or sausage.
Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe (with Sourdough)
Ingredients
Method
- Beat eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a shallow bowl.
- Soak bread slices in the egg mixture, pressing so that it absorbs as much as possible.
- Melt 1-2 Tbsp. of butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Cook the bread in the melted butter until golden brown on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Add butter to the pan as necessary.
- Serve French toast warm with maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar.
5. Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Frosting
These homemade cinnamon rolls taste just like the giant ones from the mall. Soft, fluffy dough gets rolled up with buttery cinnamon sugar and slathered in a thick vanilla frosting while the rolls are still warm.
Make them the night before and refrigerate them overnight, so all you have to do in the morning is bake. One pan makes 15 rolls, which is perfect for feeding a full house.
Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the yeast, 1/2 tsp. of sugar and warm water in a small bowl. Stir and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the milk, 1/3 cup sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs. Stir in the yeast mixture. Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, and beat until a sticky dough forms.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Dump the dough out onto a floured surface and knead 5-7 minutes, until smooth. Place in a buttered bowl and cover loosely with a damp towel. Turn the oven off. Place the bowl in the warm oven for 45 minutes, until the dough is doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Combine the cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar and melt 1/2 stick of butter.
- Punch the dough down and roll out on a floured surface. Form a rectangle measuring 13×19 inches. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle generously with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Start rolling from the long end, jellyroll style. Cut into 15 pieces.
- Melt the other 1/2 stick of butter pour into a 9×13 baking dish. Coat well. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Place the rolls in the pan, making sure there is a little space between them. Cover with a dish towel and let rise for 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover the pan loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 15-20 minutes.
- While the rolls are baking, combine all frosting ingredients except for the water in a small bowl. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Spread frosting over warm rolls.
4. Gingerbread Monkey Bread
Warm, gooey and full of cozy spices, this gingerbread monkey bread is the ultimate Christmas morning treat! Pillsbury Grands biscuits get cut into pieces, rolled in a homemade gingerbread spice blend and baked in a bundt pan with a buttery brown sugar sauce.
A simple vanilla glaze on top adds that final special touch. Get the whole family involved, because everyone can have a job!
Gingerbread Monkey Bread using Grands Biscuits
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a bundt pan thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves in a medium bowl. (Alternatively, place the mixture into a large plastic food-storage bag.)
- Cut each biscuit into quarters and roll each piece into a ball. Coat the dough balls in the gingerbread spice and arrange in the bundt pan. (Alternatively, place the biscuit pieces into the plastic food bag, seal and shake gently to coat.)
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar. Whisk until the sugar dissolves. Pour melted butter evenly over the biscuit dough.
- Bake for 1 hour, until top is golden brown. Cool completely before inverting onto a serving dish.
- Before serving, make the vanilla glaze: Whisk sugar, milk and vanilla together in a small bowl. Drizzle over the monkey bread.
3. Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
Skip the line at the restaurant and make the famous cheesy hashbrown side right at home. This copycat version bakes in a single dish, which makes it a total lifesaver when there’s a crowd to feed. Every scoop is packed with tender shredded potatoes and plenty of cheese. Pair it with eggs and sausage for a classic country-style brunch.
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed hashbrowns, melted butter, soup, sour cream, diced onions, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, salt and pepper.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake 55-60 minutes, until the top is slightly browned and bubbling. Serve warm.
2. Everything Bagel Casserole with Smoked Salmon
This make-ahead casserole tastes just like your favorite bagel and lox, and it’s easy enough for a busy holiday morning. Toasted everything bagels soak overnight in a creamy custard with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers and fresh chives. Top it with slices of Swiss cheese and bake until melted and bubbling. It’s a fun and fancy twist on the classic breakfast casserole.
Everything Bagel Casserole Recipe with Smoked Salmon
Ingredients
Method
- Cut the bagels into cubes. Arrange them on a baking sheet and toast them at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bagel pieces into the baking dish.
- Place the eggs, cream cheese and half-and-half in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat them together. There will still be chunks of cream cheese, which is okay. Stir in the smoked salmon, capers and chives.
- Pour the salmon mixture over the bagels. Cover with plastic wrap and weigh down with another baking dish. Refrigerate overnight or at least 1 hour.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the casserole and top with slices of Swiss cheese. Bake 40-45 minutes.
- Cool at least 20 minutes before slicing into squares. Garnish with additional fresh chives and fresh ground black pepper, if desired.
1. Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Eggs and Sausage
If there’s one recipe made for a house full of overnight guests, it’s this one. Eggs and breakfast sausage bake up into a warm, hearty casserole that’s big enough to feed the whole crew. Put it together the night before, and Christmas morning gets a whole lot easier. Serve it with a big bowl of fruit for a sweet and hearty spread.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes. (You are just drying out the bread slices. You can skip this step if you have day-old bread.) Allow to cool and then butter each slice on one side with 2 tbsp of the butter.
- In a nonstick pan, cook sausage over medium heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Once sausage has begun to brown, add 2 Tbsp. of butter and the shallots. Saute sausage and shallots for one more minute, until shallots become translucent. Add mushrooms and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, until mushrooms are soft. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
- Add wine to the pan and raise the temperature to medium-high. Allow the wine to reduce slightly while scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, reduced wine and parsley.
- Butter a 9×13 baking dish with the remaining 1 tbsp of butter. Arrange half of the bread slices along the bottom of the baking dish in a single layer. Sprinkle half of the sausage mixture and 1 cup of cheese evenly over the bread slices. Repeat with the rest of the bread, sausage and additional 1 cup of cheese. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread. Cover with plastic wrap, weigh down with another baking dish and refrigerate overnight (or at least several hours).
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle the 1 remaining cup of cheese over top. Bake for 55 minutes, or until edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.
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