This year, like every year, we’re all about de-stressing during the holidays. We say yes to shortcuts and no to things that drain our energy. While the kitchen is undoubtedly the center of the holiday action, we use every hack we can find to help us spend more time around the fire with friends and family. The key to a successful Christmas? It all depends on the amount of preparation you can do in advance, starting with breakfast. To share some inspiration to get your to-dos out of the way, we’re sharing our favorite Christmas morning ideas. Because doing all the hard work beforehand makes for a fun vacation.
There’s nothing better than curling up in holiday pajamas with a big cup of coffee on Christmas morning. While the younger version of me was quick to jump out of bed at 4 am (that’s no joke) and run downstairs to enjoy the magic of the sparkling, now dense tree, I take things. muuuuu freely now as an adult. You can catch me at Christmas in my slippers, happy to walk around the house at a snail’s pace. In other words: less. Little by little.
Photo by Anastasia Pudova.
20 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Ideas
If “homemade recipes” caught your eye, I think the same might happen to you. The key to making your Christmas morning dreams come true? It’s all about preparation, y’all. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, meat or meat, healthy or… whatever you like, I have a choice. Consider this combination your ticket to morning magic and have a delicious breakfast for the whole family to eat. Just wake up, put your dish in the oven and you’re ready to dig in.
Yogurt & Granola Breakfast Grazing Board
Yogurt and granola are a classic pairing. But if you arrange it on a good board, there is nothing better. Simply chop up your fruit and separate your yogurt, granola (store-bought or homemade), and other toppings into containers the night before. Before serving, get in touch with your inner self a musician and place all your ingredients beautifully on your board. Guests will love creating their own dishes and choosing their ingredients as they go.
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
These delights are proof that crowd-pleasing cinnamon rolls can be made ahead of time and easily. This classic Christmas roll outs the softness of almost every other cinnamon roll I’ve tried. These can be made the night before, a few days in advance, or frozen cinnamon rolls whenever you want them. And on Christmas morning, you can bet it’s these Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls calling my name.
Blueberry Almond Coffee Cake
This berry almond coffee cake is a light, fluffy delight with a burst of juicy berries and a delicious, crumbly cake. Perfect for brunch, it’s a crowd pleaser to welcome a touch of fresh flavor in the heart of winter.
Small Dutch children
These little Dutch babies are as cute as they are sweet, with a crisp and cool exterior that’s perfect for filling with fresh fruit or syrup. Bonus: they’re dairy-free, making them a fun addition to any holiday dinner table, no matter what your food choices are.
Vegan Banana Muffins
Like the best coffee shop muffins you’ve ever had, omit the milk. These are super moist, perfectly nutty, and feature the tastiest crumble topping. I love making muffins for a festive meal (as you can see from the number of muffin recipes I’ve included in this roundup). You can bake and freeze them or divide your batter into muffin tins and refrigerate them the night before. In the morning, just put them in the oven and your whole house will be filled with the smell of baked bananas.
One-Bowl Morning Glory Muffins
These one-bowl morning glory muffins are packed with healthy ingredients like carrots, apples, and nuts, making them a healthy way to start your vacation. Easy to make and full of flavor, it’s the perfect balance of fun and nutrition for a fresh start before the new year begins.
Gluten Free Muffins Filled with Jam
These gluten-free jam-packed muffins are a delicious and satisfying addition to your Christmas morning spread. With a soft crumb and a pop of holiday fruity jam in the center, they’re a great way to enjoy gluten-free holiday fun. Pair them with a nice cup of coffee or tea for an amazing start to the day.
Sweet Laurel Cinnamon Rolls
These grain-free cinnamon rolls from Sweet Laurel are a great twist on a classic favorite, made with simple, nutritious ingredients. Tossed with cinnamon and topped with a creamy glaze, they’re perfect for a cozy baking session. (Which, hello, Christmas time is about.)
Chai Spice Buckwheat Granola
Granola is a complete, versatile breakfast. The meaning? It can be enjoyed in almost any way imaginable. Eat with milk, top yogurt, top pancakes and waffles, or throw in a few handfuls. I like to bake a few pans of granola the night before, store them in airtight containers, and put them out at the breakfast bar in large bowls for guests to serve. From there, the possibilities are endless.
Whole Lotta Good Stuff Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Just when you think you’ve seen everything, along comes a healthy version of your favorite delicious breakfast. If pandemic baking has shown how comforting banana bread can be, there’s no better way to meet loved ones on Christmas morning. I also love, that this banana bread specifies that it is “healthy” which means we are not cutting any corners here. There is still more to discover.
Anti-Inflammatory Berry + Turmeric Muffins
If you’re already committed to your New Year’s resolution to feel your best by 2025, these muffins will help you in your efforts. They are packed with anti-inflammatory superstar turmeric and other nutritious ingredients like walnuts, chia seeds, oats, raspberries, and blueberries. I don’t know about you, but I will be baking a double batch for the new year and beyond.
Banana Walnut Bread with Espresso Mascarpone
This walnut banana bread takes a classic recipe to the next level with its rich, nutty flavor and perfectly moist texture. Topped with a sumptuous espresso mascarpone, it’s a great hearty Christmas breakfast.
Almond Kringle
Does your perfect Christmas breakfast consist of something warm and delicious served alongside a cup of strong coffee? Then this is the recipe to make. If you know and love the smell of almond filling wafting through the kitchen as much as I do, then you’ll be happy to see that this recipe requires three steps: almond paste, sliced ​​almonds, and almond extract. How can you go wrong?
Cranberry Orange Muffins
It’s Christmas Eve, and you can bet I have dreams of these muffins dancing in my head. I love the pairing of bright, fresh oranges with tart and jammy cranberries. These are great on their own, but to send things up a notch, I recommend enjoying your muffins with a little butter and orange glaze.
Chai Challah French Toast
Spice up your Christmas breakfast with rich and fluffy French challah bread—a comforting recipe perfect for holiday mornings with the family.
Cardamom Pear Porridge
Simple, energizing, and able to keep you full for hours, porridge is a great option for a healthy Christmas breakfast. The porridge base can be made in a slow cooker or instant pot on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, just heat up and set out bowls full of mix-ins and toppings (yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit are good) for people to mix and match to their liking.
Banana-Cashew Baked Oatmeal
If your run-of-the-mill, weeknight oats don’t seem special enough for the Christmas festivities, it’s time to make this recipe. Bananas, cinnamon, maple syrup, peanut butter, and honey make these super oats. They are fresh, healthy, and a creamy and dreamy dish. What don’t you like?
Creamy Pumpkin Overnight Oats
I’m a big fan of overnight oats here. And while it may not seem like fun at first, one spoonful of these oats and I can guarantee you will change your tune. As for flavor, these oats are like pumpkin pie in breakfast form. And as someone who has been known to indulge in a pie breakfast during the holidays, this is like a dream come true.
Veggie-Packed Quiche
Quiche has the ability to taste delicious indulgence while feeling light. Not only that, but this recipe brings a healthy dose of both color and nutrition to your Christmas breakfast table. (Besides the addictive seasoning, who can argue with that?) This dish combines everything we love: a crisp, flaky crust, a rich and creamy custard, and a rainbow of vegetables. To make it ahead of time, simply follow the recipe all the way through, let it cool, and refrigerate. You are also welcome to make the entire assembly ahead of time and bake it when you are ready to serve.
Vegetarian Scramble Burrito
Burritos may not be your typical Christmas morning breakfast, but I’d argue it’s time to make them a part of your culture. The tofu scramble can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When it’s time to serve, simply reheat on the stove and add all the fixings. Guests can line up to assemble their own burritos at their leisure. Bonus: These are vegan, so everyone can enjoy!