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    Home » Holidays » Christmas

    35 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfasts 2024

    Modified: Nov 30, 2024 · Published: Dec 7, 2022 by Sharon Rigsby · 14 Comments

    Pinterest Christmas Breakfast pin showing a collage of six dishes including ambrosia and a strata.

    Christmas is all about spending time with those you love, and what better way to spend time together than sharing a fabulous make-ahead breakfast or brunch on Christmas morning? 

    This collection of 35 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfasts, updated for 2024, includes quick and easy make-ahead recipes and menu ideas, whether you are creating a Christmas buffet menu for a crowd or want to serve a cozy breakfast for two.

    A collage of Christmas breakfast dishes including ambrosia and a strata.

    There is something for everyone in this collection, and it includes traditional make-ahead breakfast casseroles, unique baked goods, healthy egg dishes, and even a breakfast cocktail or two. And, if you have kids or toddlers, there are also cute recipes created especially for them.

    You are sure to find just what you are looking for to create a memorable Christmas breakfast that can be prepared ahead of time so you can sit back and enjoy spending time with your family or guests.

    Easy Cast Iron Breakfast Skillet with Bacon – Grits and Pinecones

    A cast-iron breakfast skillet topped with shredded cheese and four eggs.

    The breakfast of champions, this Easy Cast-Iron Breakfast Skillet is full of delicious ingredients such as smoky bacon, diced crispy potatoes, ham, bell peppers, jalapenos, eggs, and melty cheddar cheese! 

    A stick-to-your-ribs breakfast skillet, it is perfect to serve guests for special occasions or during the holidays. 

    Cast Iron Breakfast Skillet

    Easy Eggs Benedict Breakfast Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

    Easy Eggs Benedict Casserole on a white plate with Blender Hollandaise Sauce

    Easy Eggs Benedict Breakfast Casserole with Blender Hollandaise Sauce is the answer to your make-ahead Christmas breakfast or brunch dreams! A family favorite, this creamy and decadent breakfast casserole recipe only takes minutes to prepare and boasts a short list of ingredients.

    Eggs Benedict Breakfast Casserole

    Make-Ahead Oven-Baked Caramel Soaked French Toast Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

    Oven Baked Caramel French Toast ready to eat

    The name Caramel French Toast says it all. Perfect for a Christmas breakfast or brunch, this delicious, make-ahead wonder, easy Oven-Baked Caramel French Toast Casserole, is filled with crusty french bread soaked in sweet, creamy caramel and then baked in a decadent and creamy custard sauce.

    Caramel Soaked French Toast

    Cottage Cheese Egg Bake – Grits and Pinecones

    A slice of Cottage Cheese Egg Bake with a fork in it.

    When the holidays roll around, and your house starts feeling more like a bed-and-breakfast, breakfast can quickly turn into a juggling act. Enter Cottage Cheese Egg Bake—a game-changing, make-ahead breakfast casserole that’s as easy as it is delicious!

    Cottage Cheese Egg Bake

    Sausage Gravy Breakfast Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

    Sausage Gravy Breakfast Casserole topped with biscuits in a white casserole dish.

    Old-fashioned, foolproof, and delicious, this flavorful southern sausage gravy casserole is easy to make using refrigerated biscuits. It’s perfect for cozy weekend breakfasts with the family or a holiday brunch. 

    Sausage Gravy Breakfast Casserole

    Sheet Pan Pancakes from a Mix – Grits and Pinecones

    A stack of sheet pan pancakes cut into squares topped with a berry compote.

    Get ready to discover the mouthwatering world of quick and easy Sheet Pan Pancakes from a Mix with a luscious berry compote swirled in! Say goodbye to standing over a stove, flipping individual pancakes, and hello to fuss-free, oven-baked fluffy pancakes that are the best way to feed a crowd.

    Sheet Pan Pancakes

    French Toast Bites – Grits and Pinecones

    French toast bites stacked on a plate with a pitcher of syrup.

    Start your holidays in breakfast bliss with my easy and delectable French Toast Bites. These bite-sized wonders are coated in cinnamon sugar and are a delightful fusion of classic morning favorites, cinnamon toast and traditional French toast.

    French Toast Bites

    Four Cheese Strata with Zucchini and Tomatoes – From a Chef’s Kitchen

    Four Cheese Strata with Zucchini and Tomatoes in a white baking dish.

    If you’re unfamiliar with stratas, they’re a layered dish of bread, cheese, and meat or vegetables over which a mixture of eggs and milk is poured. It’s then refrigerated for several hours or overnight so that the bread can soak up the egg and milk mixture.  After sitting a spell, it’s baked.  

    This makes it the perfect make-ahead dish for your Christmas breakfast or brunch!

    Four Cheese Strata

    Breakfast Sausage Cheese Bread – Grits and Pinecones

    Breakfast Sausage Cheese Bread

    Sausage cheese bread is an excellent choice for a fabulous make-ahead Christmas breakfast or brunch. Also, this versatile, tasty, and easy-to-make bread is delicious when served as an appetizer with marinara sauce or even as a light entrée with a salad.

    Sausage Cheese Bread

    Old Fashioned Southern Ambrosia – Grits and Pinecones

    A bowl of Old Fashioned Southern Ambrosia with orange segments and coconut

    Ambrosia is a traditional Christmas dish for many southerners, and I am no exception.   I actually can’t imagine the holidays without ambrosia, and if you have never tasted it, you are in for a treat.

    Old-Fashioned Ambrosia

    Overnight Southern Biscuit, Ham, and Egg Bake – The Seasoned Mom

    Overnight Southern Biscuit Ham and Egg Bake

    For a make-ahead Christmas breakfast or a fancy brunch, this Overnight Southern Biscuit, Ham, and Egg Bake is a 10-minute crowd-pleaser! Just toss together the ingredients the night before, leave them to sit in the refrigerator, and bake the breakfast casserole in the morning.

    There’s no hassle, no stress, and no last-minute rush to get a comforting and satisfying dish on the table fast!

    Southern Biscuit Ham and Egg Bake

    Easy Southern Cheese Grits Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

    A spoonful of cheese grits casserole.

    Cheese grits are about as Southern as it gets, and my easy, oven-baked Southern Cheese Grits Casserole recipe is true to its name. It’s easy, it’s creamy, and it’s cheesy. This make-ahead wonder is not only perfect for serving at an elegant Christmas brunch, but it’s also ideal for a weekend breakfast with the family.

    Cheese Grits Casserole

    Easy Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche – Grits and Pinecones

    A crustless ham and cheese quiche in a white pie plate.

    My foolproof and flavorful, low-carb, Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche is full of silky egg custard, melted cheddar cheese, and chunks of sweet and savory ham. This crustless quiche recipe is perfect for a make-ahead Christmas breakfast and is so easy that anyone, even beginner cooks or kids, can make it. 

    Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche

    Peppermint White Chocolate Sweet Rolls – Three Olives Branch

    Peppermint White Chocolate Sweet Rolls

    The holidays are here!  I love to cook and bake things that are representative of the season, and these make-ahead Peppermint White Chocolate Sweet Rolls are a perfect treat for your Christmas breakfast or brunch!

    Peppermint White Chocolate Sweet Rolls

    Butterscotch Pecan Monkey Bread- Grits and Pinecones

    Butterscotch pecan monkey bread on a white plate.

    Sweet on multiple levels and bursting with flavor, it’s love at first bite with my irresistible make-ahead Butterscotch Pecan Monkey Bread.  Made with frozen bread dough and butterscotch pudding mix, this decadent make-ahead treat is perfect for a Christmas morning breakfast or brunch!

    Butterscotch Pecan Monkey Bread

    Breakfast Fruit Salad Cocktail with Orange Syrup

    A glass dish full of a mixed fruit salad.

    Easy Breakfast Fruit Salad Cocktail with Orange Syrup is full of fresh, luscious berries and seasonal fruit, including blackberries, peaches, grapes, and strawberries. This delicious, low-calorie fruit salad is kid-friendly and the perfect dish for a make-ahead Christmas breakfast or brunch.

    Breakfast Fruit Salad Cocktail

    Cranberry Scones – Beyond the Chicken Coop

    Cranberry Scones

    Cranberry Scones are perfect for Christmas breakfast or brunch!

    Cranberry Scones

    Make-Ahead Sausage and Grits Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

    Make-Ahead Sausage and Grits Casserole in a white baking dish with a serving spoon

    Make-Ahead Sausage and Grits Casserole is a very Southern breakfast or brunch entrée full of thick, cheesy grits and spicy pork sausage. This versatile, hearty, make-ahead grits casserole is then baked to perfection and perfect for a Christmas morning breakfast or brunch.

    Sausage and Grits Casserole

    Spinach and Bacon Quiche with Tomatoes – Grits and Pinecones

    A slice of spinach and bacon quiche with tomatoes on a white plate.

    Make-ahead Spinach and Bacon Quiche with Tomatoes is quick, easy to make,  and sure to impress! Fresh spinach, crisp, smoky bacon, and sliced cherry tomatoes are the superstar ingredients in this savory quiche recipe.

    Spinach and Bacon Quiche

    Cinnamon Pecan Pull-Apart Bread – Wildflower

    Pecan Pull Apart Bread

    Unlike much biscuit-variety pull-apart bread, this recipe is made with frozen rolls.  The best part is that it can be made ahead the night before in five minutes and left to rise in a cold oven.  (no joke – five minutes.)

    Cinnamon Pecan Pull Apart Bread

    Cinnamon Snowflake Bread – Pudge Factor

    Cinnamon snowflake Bread on a cutting board with Christmas decorations in the background.

    Cinnamon Snowflake Bread is the perfect breakfast for Christmas Day. While sugar plums are dancing in the heads of your family, make this amazing bread for a memorable start to Christmas Day.

    Cinnamon Snowflake Bread

    Slab Breakfast Pie – My Kitchen Love

    Slab Breakfast Pie being cut up with a knife and fork/

    There is simply nothing better than waking up to the smell of eggs and bacon cooking. I love waking up a few minutes early on Christmas to prep this dish, so when the rest of the family makes it downstairs, this pie is cooked with melted cheese and still-soft eggs.

    Slab Breakfast Pie

    Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas – Pudge Factor

    Two breakfast enchiladas on a plate topped with melted cheese and crumbled bacon.

    Make Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas is the perfect dish for your Christmas breakfast or brunch. This breakfast enchilada recipe is full of cheesy sausage and bacon goodness.

    Make Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas

    Make-Ahead Sausage Egg Breakfast Casserole – My Gorgeous Recipes

    Make Ahead Sausage Breakfast Casserole in a black and white casserole dish.

    Sausage egg breakfast casserole is a hearty and satisfying dish that can be prepared the night before and refrigerated. Just pop in the oven Christmas morning, and a heavenly golden casserole will be cooking while you enjoy your cup of tea or coffee.

    Sausage Egg Breakfast Casserole

    Stuffed Overnight French Toast Casserole – Living Sweet Moments

    Overnight French Toast Casserole with a slice cut out on a white plate.

    This delicious Overnight French Toast Casserole is stuffed with maple peanut butter and berries. Perfect for Christmas brunch, breakfast, or even dessert. Yum!

    Stuffed French Toast Casserole

    Sunrise Mimosa – Pudge Factor

    Sunrise Mimosa in two champagne flutes.

    Sunrise Mimosa is a refreshing and simple twist on a classic cocktail, making it the perfect drink for a Christmas breakfast or brunch!

    Sunrise Mimosa

    Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes with Candied Pecans – The Unlikely Baker

    Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes topped with pecans with syrup being poured on top.

    Light, fluffy, and full of the warm, cozy flavors of fall, these pumpkin buttermilk pancakes are sure to become a Christmas morning favorite! Top with candied pecans, drizzle with maple syrup, and enjoy with your favorite cup of coffee or tea.

    Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes

    Sous Vide Bacon And Gruyère Egg Cups – Pudge Factor

    Two Sous Bide Bacon and Egg Cups on a plate topped with chopped parsley.

    Sous Vide Bacon and Gruyère Egg Cups are amazingly delicious, easy to make, and quite versatile. With their velvety texture, they’re perfect for a Christmas breakfast or brunch. Also, they can be refrigerated and reheated with no loss of flavor, so they can be made ahead of the big day.

    Sous Vide Bacon Gruyere Egg Cups

    Ricotta Orange Pancakes with Cranberry Sauce – Berry Maple

    Ricotta Orange Pancakes stacked on a plate topped with cranberry sauce.

    A fantastic combination of juicy orange, creamy ricotta, and tart cranberries makes these pancakes a perfect festive breakfast dish.

    Ricotta Orange Pancakes

    Orange Cranberry Coffee Cake – A Turtles Life for Me

    Orange Cranberry Coffee Cake

    This orange cranberry coffee cake has so few ingredients; it almost seems like a mistake. Trust me, though, resist the urge to throw in anything extra. This is exactly as it should be, and you will not regret it. Not for one second.

    Orange Cranberry Coffee Cake

    Christmas Breakfast Danish – Kitchen Gidget

    Christmas Breakfast Danish

    Try this festive Christmas Breakfast Danish – cherry cheese pastry in the shape of a candy cane! This gorgeous candy cane danish is easy to assemble with crescent rolls, cherry pie filling, and sweetened cream cheese. It’s a fun Christmas breakfast treat to make with kids!

    Christmas Breakfast Danish

    Christmas Tree Waffles – Little Sunny Kitchen

    Christmas Tree Waffles

    Christmas Tree waffles for a festive Christmas breakfast!

    Christmas Tree Waffles

    Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Pancakes – Kleinworth and Co

    Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Pancakes topped with a sugar glaze and crushed peppermint.

    There are so many wonderful ideas for breakfast & Christmas morning is the perfect time to enjoy them. I came up with these Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Pancakes that are FABULOUS. Chocolate & peppermint are the perfect match – especially this time of year.

    Peppermint Chocolate Truffle Pancakes

    Caprese Quiche – The Life Jolie

    A slice of Caprese Quiche being removed from the while quiche.

    Caprese Quiche is an easy breakfast or brunch recipe. This is simple, feel-good food at its finest, with mouthwatering tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. It’s great to make ahead or eat right away and perfect to whip up for Christmas Morning!

    Caprese Quiche

    Overnight Cinnamon Rolls – Pudge Factor

    A platter of cinnamon rolls topped with white icing.

    Twas the night before Christmas when visions of cinnamon rolls were twirling in everyone’s head. Could Santa load some on his sleigh for a perfect ooey gooey wake-up treat? Of course, with Overnight Cinnamon Rolls! They are the perfect make-ahead breakfast when your sweet tooth craves a sugary start to the day.

    Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    What will you be serving for breakfast on Christmas morning?

    Our traditional Christmas breakfast menu includes Make-Ahead Oven-Baked Caramel French Toast Casserole, Old Fashioned Southern Ambrosia, and longtime family favorite, Breakfast Sausage Cheese Bread. If we are having guests, I might also include another make-ahead favorite, Butterscotch Pecan Monkey Bread.

    What’s a traditional Southern Christmas breakfast?

    A Christmas breakfast in the South would definitely include either Cheese Grits or a make-ahead Cheese Grits Casserole. It might also include Southern Ambrosia, cooked bacon or sausage, and maybe Sweet Potato Biscuits or Cornmeal Biscuits.

    What recipes or menu ideas are best for a Christmas brunch?

    It really depends on how many folks you will be feeding and whether you plan to serve it family-style or on a buffet. You will also want to offer a combination of both sweet and savory dishes, and of course, make-ahead recipes are essential.

    On the savory side, I like to serve a Baked Ham with Pineapple and Cherries along with my make-ahead Eggs Benedict Breakfast Casserole along with either my Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche or Spinach and Bacon Quiche.
    For something sweet, nothing beats my Oven-Baked Caramel French Toast Casserole or Butterscotch Pecan Monkey Bread.

    For sides, I would serve either Southern Ambrosia, Baked Pineapple Cheese Casserole, Old-Fashioned Frozen Fruit Salad, or Breakfast Fruit Salad with Orange Syrup. And, of course, festive Mimosas are always a welcome addition.

    A nice assortment of baked goods, such as Sausage Cheese Bread, Sour Cream Apple Bread, Easy Orange Cinnamon Rolls, or Apple Cranberry Muffins, would round things out nicely.

    More Christmas recipes:

    • Beef tenderloin, green beans and cranberry cake.
      30+ Easy And Elegant Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas and Recipes
    • A collage of six different christmas appetizers including cranberry brie bites.
      48 Make-Ahead Christmas Appetizers 2024
    • Five Christmas desserts including a cranberry cheesecake, gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread cake.
      40 Best Christmas Dessert Recipes 2024
    • A collage of four edible Christmas gifts wrapped in festive packaging.
      27 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts – 2024

    For more recipes and menu ideas, you can find all of my Christmas-themed recipes here.

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones, and Merry Christmas!

    More Christmas Recipes

    • A stack of five Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate and Pecan Cookies on a cutting board.
      Big Chewy Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate and Pecan Cookies
    • Mini Oreo cheesecakes topped with whipped cream and crushed Oreos on a serving platter.
      Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes (No-Bake)
    • A slice of White Chocolate and Strawberry Cheesecake topped with strawberry sauce on a white plate.
      White Chocolate and Strawberry Cheesecake (No-Bake)
    • A serving of ham and scalloped potatoes with a crock pot in the back ground.
      Ham and Scalloped Potatoes in the Crock-Pot

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Amelie

      December 11, 2017 at 3:07 pm

      Wow, such a great post! This gives me lots of inspiration and new recipes to try during the Christmas holidays. Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade

      December 10, 2017 at 5:06 pm

      What a great collection of recipes! I’ve got several from this list pinned, and planning to make. I can’t decide which to start with, so I guess I’ll have to begin with the Sunrise mimossa 🙂

      Reply
    3. Anne Murphy

      December 09, 2017 at 5:06 pm

      What a wonderful collection! I particularly like all the hearty, savory casseroles. (Well, I love sausage in anything…)

      Reply
    4. Helene

      December 08, 2017 at 10:31 am

      Your blueberry pancakes caught my eye the other day on pinterest too. The shot is epic Sharon! Also, I am a huge fan of Danish, it’s my secret addiction and if i get a hand on a few slices, I would not be able to stop myself. Time to plan our Christmas breakfast!

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        December 08, 2017 at 1:24 pm

        Thank you so much, Helene! I actually just attended a photography workshop with Lindsay at Pinch of Yum and took the blueberry photos there! I liked them so much I developed a recipe to go with it!

        Reply
    5. Megan

      December 08, 2017 at 9:50 am

      Perfect timing. I was just thinking this morning that I need to come up with some ideas for brunch on Christmas!

      Reply
    6. Analida Braeger

      December 07, 2017 at 9:06 pm

      These all look so good! I love getting up Christmas morning and just hanging out and whipping up something easy and sipping a mimosa or two!

      Reply
    7. Erica Acevedo

      December 07, 2017 at 3:35 pm

      I THOUGHT I knew what I wanted for Christmas breakfast…now I see I’m going to have to reevaluate the old standard! Fab list here, lady!

      Reply
    8. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

      December 06, 2017 at 7:09 pm

      Oh my goodness look at the display of goodness in here! Cannot decide which are my favorites, will have to make pretty much all of them! 🙂 Thanks!

      Reply
    9. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

      December 06, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      Wow. What a great roundup. Every single one of these recipes looks so delicious!! The french toast looks so divine!! I think that’s my first recipe to try!

      Reply
    10. Ben Myhre

      December 06, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Oh, this is such a great roundup. I love the pizza up there. pizza is just the perfect food!

      Reply
    11. Veena Azmanov

      December 05, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      Such a delicious collection !! I love them all. I would not be able to decide what I want this Christmas. Saving for later. LOVE this!

      Reply
    12. Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen

      December 05, 2017 at 4:58 pm

      What a great assortment! I love breakfast at any time of day – and this collection definitely has me craving it for dinner tonight!

      Reply
    13. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

      December 05, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      SOOOO many delicious things on here from sweet to savoury. I would even use some of these for “breakfast for dinner” too. Happy Holidays….ENJOY all the foods of the season.

      Reply

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, content creator, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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