Christmas

49 Christmas Breakfast Ideas (and Christmas Brunch Recipes Too!)

Because you can’t play with all of your new toys on an empty stomach.
49 Christmas Breakfast Ideas
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton

It’s worth thinking about Christmas breakfast ideas before the big day comes since the holiday morning is always a bit of a juggle. Are there presents first, or do you need something simple to get in people’s bellies before they start unwrapping them? Does Christmas brunch need to ride in the car to Grandma’s house? Does it need to be made ahead of Christmas morning? Holiday aside, your household's standard preferences in breakfast fare come into play, as well: Do you crave festive baked goods? A drizzle of syrup? Or do you lean towardeggs, spicy sausages sandwiches, or savory casseroles layered with cheese? Below you’ll find easy Christmas brunch ideas galore so you can get back to figuring out theperfect giftsfor everyone.

  • Photo of huevos rotos baked in a skillet.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    1/49

    Smoky Spanish Potatoes and Eggs

    If you prefer savory Christmas breakfast ideas, this satisfying skillet has your name all over it. Designed for lovers of patatas bravas and huevos rotos, you get the best of both worlds with the runny yolks, crisped potatoes, chile-based sauce, and creamy mayo.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow
    2/49

    Belgian-Style Yeast Waffles

    If you're mostly focused on finding the perfectChristmas dinner recipes, you might prefer to keep your Xmas brunch ideas simple. Make this waffle batter the day before and let it chill overnight, then the ultimatecrispy waffleswill be ready in a snap.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    3/49

    Cowboy Breakfast Casserole With Sausage and Spinach

    This is another easy make-ahead favorite—the go-to Christmas brunch idea for our editor Joe Sevier's family. Assemble this easy sausage, egg, and cheese casserole at night, then put it in the oven (straight from the fridge) on Christmas morning.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    4/49

    Masa Pancakes

    Get some masa to maketamalesfor Christmas—and get enough to make these pancakes, too.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
    5/49

    Big-Batch Pancake and Waffle Mix

    With this pancake and waffle dry mix on hand, all you need to do is whisk in eggs and milk for a complete batter while the kids start seeing what Santa left them.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    9/49

    Diner-Style French Toast

    Diner cooks know three things about French toast: 1. Thick-cut challah is crucial. 2. Cinnamon and vanilla shouldn't be skimped on. 3. Syrup is welcome—but if you do it right, a dusting of powdered sugar is all you really need. Pair with coffee or get theChristmas cocktailsflowing.

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  • Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian
    10/49

    Hot Chocolate Baked French Toast

    Okay, but maybe you want more from your French toast. Maybe you want it redolent of cocoa and topped with toasted hazelnuts. Maybe you want it baked in one big batch. We've got you.

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  • Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo
    11/49

    Sourdough Biscuits

    There are no better biscuits for Christmas morning than these tangy little numbers, which are made withsourdough starter. Pile them with ham or jam—or both.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch
    12/49

    French Onion Breakfast Strata

    In this herby make-ahead brunch dish, French onion dip meets savory bread pudding. Put the strata together the night before, then bake at breakfast time.

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  • Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
    13/49

    Sheet-Pan Potato Hash with Fixins

    We love a french fry. We love ahash brown. And… we love potato chips, too. These potatoes are somewhere in between all of those, and that's a very good thing indeed.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    14/49

    Crumb-Covered荷包蛋

    A crunchy crust gives way to the tender egg inside, and the crumbs soak up the velvety yolk.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    15/49

    Spicy Egg Sandwich With Sausage and Pickled Peppers

    A sausage patty topped with feta, cilantro, sweet pickled peppers, and a sunny-side-up egg make for a hearty sandwich that will fuel a day of assembling doll houses and robotic cars.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    16/49

    Apple-Cheddar Dutch Baby

    Need an easy skillet situation for the holiday? This savory-sweet Dutch baby is your move. It's one of those simple Christmas morning breakfast ideas that pleases everyone at the table.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    17/49

    Glazed Cinnamon-Cardamom Buns

    These cardamom-scented rolls are briochelike and streaked with a sweet, buttery cinnamon filling.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou
    21/49

    Cocoa Brioche Morning Buns

    These chocolaty pastries have the attributes of a gloriously flaky croissant on the top, a sticky bun on the bottom, and a rich chocolate-studded brioche in the middle.

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  • Photo and Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
    22/49

    Sourdough Crepes

    These crepes are a great solution for using up discarded sourdough starter. Tender and a little bit tangy, they make an ideal blank canvas for sweet or savory toppings like jam, crème fraîche, demerara sugar, or lox.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    23/49

    Swirl Spice Cake

    The layer of streusel in this holiday-worthy marbled loaf cake gets a complex punch of flavor from a coffee spice blend that includes dried orange peel, cardamom, and fennel seeds. Serve it to wrap up your brunch, alongside a citrus salad. A glass ofeggnog, too? Sure, why not?

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
    24/49

    Deep Dish Quiche With Garnishes

    Made with crème fraîche and chives, this quiche is good enough to be eaten plain. But a buffet of garnishes—smoked salmon, avocado, braised leeks—make this Christmas breakfast truly memorable.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Molly Baz
    25/49

    Cheesy Kale and Mushroom Strata

    How do you get anyone (really, anyone) to eat kale and mushrooms? Layer them with toasted bread cubes and cover with Gruyère and Parmesan.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    26/49

    Croque Madame Casserole With Ham and Gruyère

    This easy casserole is another great use for extra ham. Serve with a crisp green salad and fresh orange juice.

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  • Photo by Melina Hammer
    27/49

    Breakfast Nachos

    Is there anything more fun than nachos for breakfast? These nachos lend themselves to customization and are an excellent place to use up little bits of leftovers (extra black beans, crumbled sausage or bacon, roasted vegetables—or a random radish or extra scallion).

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Styling by Ali Nardi
    28/49

    Banana-Stuffed French Toast

    French toastis great. Stuffed French toast feels even more special, though. And a dusting of powdered sugar feels like the prettiest Christmas snow.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    29/49

    Spanish Frittata With Herby Yogurt and Greens

    This recipe calls for potatoes, but it would be just as good with any leftover cooked veggies.

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  • Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo
    30/49

    Mashed Plantains With Fried Eggs (Mangú de Plátanos)

    These Dominican mashed plantains are creamy, hearty, and full of flavor, while still tasting fresh and light. They have a mellow, tropical earthiness that becomes a canvas for colorful toppings like pickled red onions and avocados.

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  • Photo by Tara O'Brady
    31/49

    Spinach and Cheese Slab Biscuits

    Epi contributor Tara O'Brady's family calls this Christmas Bread, though it's not a bread exactly. Think of these as a biscuit-meets-foccacia tray-baked wonder. Pop them in the oven, carve off pieces to stave off hunger—and when more relatives arrive, you can even griddle them and top with fried eggs.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    32/49

    Sheet-Pan Cider-Ricotta Pancakes With Pear Compote

    Pancakes for all, with none of the flipping fuss.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    33/49

    Overnight Waffles

    Resting yeast-raised waffle batter overnight enhances their flavor and makes their texture wonderfully crisp and fluffy. Don't have awaffle makeryet? Now you know what to ask for for Christmas…

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li
    34/49

    Trout Toast with Soft Scrambled Eggs

    A luxurious, restaurant-style brunch, all in the coziness of your own home. Crème fraîche is the secret ingredient for a custardy scramble, and high-quality smoked fish and good bread are worth the splurge when you're making this dish; they make all the difference in flavor.

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  • GENTL AND HYERS
    35/49

    Raspberry Jam Buns With Crème Fraîche Frosting

    These buns employ raspberry jam spread on top of the rolled-out dough so that when you roll it up, the jam is spiraled
    throughout the individual buns.

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  • Photo by Tara O'Brady
    36/49

    Blueberry-Ginger Slab Biscuits

    These pillowy tray biscuits are perfumed with blueberry jam, citrus, and candied ginger, but you can use any combination of preserves, dried fruit, or nuts that you have on hand.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    37/49

    Oven-Baked Sheet-Pan Bacon

    Not only does this oven method free you from needing to constantly tend the bacon while it cooks, but it also produces superior results.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    38/49

    椰奶法国Toast With Pineapple Syrup

    A dredge in coconut milk and a saucy canned pineapple reduction gives this brunch classic a tropical vibe—and you can make it even if the fridge is totally bare.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    39/49

    Breakfast Grilled Cheese With Soft Scrambled Eggs

    What's the secret to the silkiest scrambled eggs ever? A dollop of cream cheese stirred in right at the end. Piling them onto a sandwich with melted American cheese takes them even further over the top.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    40/49

    Chilaquiles With Bacon, Eggs, and Cheese

    Leave a handful of chips undressed to tuck into this breakfast skillet just before cooking. Their salsa-free points add the perfect layer of crunch.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    41/49

    Citrus-and-Dill Gravlax

    It's a good thing that you're looking at this list of the best Christmas morning breakfast ideas now, since it does require a little advance planning. But while many gravlax recipes will instruct you to drain, turn, and babysit the fish while it cures, this one is set-it-and-forget-it. Three days later it will be done. Pair with dark bread, with bagels, blini, or whatever toast you like.

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  • Photo by Jeremy Liebman
    42/49

    Baked French Toast with Pecan Crumble

    The pecan crumble makes this baked French toast feel more holiday-appropriate. Don't skip the fruity syrup, made with a combo of maple syrup and frozen blackberries. This is the ideal Christmas brunch idea for a crowd.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    43/49

    English Muffin Toasting Bread

    This yeasty, coarse-textured breakfast loaf makes the best toast ever. Slather it with jam or turn it into an egg sandwich.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    44/49

    Savory Dutch Baby

    Pillowy baked Dutch baby pancakes can be topped with countless combinations of your favorite savory brunch ingredients.

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