Christmas Day brunch is a beloved holiday tradition for many families. After opening presents in the morning, a mid-day Christmas brunch allows families time to relax and enjoy a festive meal together before diving into the cooking and preparations for Christmas dinner. If you’re hosting a Christmas Day brunch this year, you’ll want to serve dishes that feel special yet don’t require too much effort. The focus should be on spending time together, not slaving away in the kitchen! Here are some delicious ideas for what to eat at your Christmas Day brunch.
Eggs, bacon, and breakfast casseroles
Eggs are a breakfast staple, so eggs Benedict, frittatas, quiches, and stratas are always crowd-pleasers at brunch. You can prepare them ahead of time and simply bake before serving. Pair eggs with bacon, smoked salmon, or ham for a protein boost. Some classic egg brunch dishes include:
- Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon on English muffins
- Vegetable and goat cheese frittata
- Crustless quiche lorraine with bacon and gruyere
- Overnight French toast casserole with cinnamon and maple syrup
If you want to get creative, incorporate holiday flavors into your egg dishes. Consider an eggs Florentine casserole with spinach and cranberries or a baked egg gratin with butternut squash and sage.
Christmas breads and pastries
Pastries delight both young and old on Christmas morning! Bake a bread wreath, coffee cake, or monkey bread the night before to serve warm from the oven. Or pickup an assortment of muffins, scones, croissants, Danish pastries, or panettone from your local bakery. Sweet breads to consider include:
- Gooey cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting
- Flaky croissants and chocolate croissants
- Cranberry orange scones
- Gingerbread muffins with lemon glaze
- Chocolate babka or stollen
For a savory twist, bake up Parmesan-rosemary bread, cheddar-chive biscuits, or savory hand pies filled with ham and Gruyère.
Fruit and yogurt
Fresh fruit makes for a lighter Christmas brunch option. Create a vibrant fruit salad or skewers with your favorite seasonal produce. Berries, grapes, citrus fruits, and tropical fruits like mango, kiwi, and pineapple are all great choices. Serve fruit with yogurt or creme fraiche for a protein and calcium boost.
Some easy fruit ideas include:
- Grapefruit brûlée with caramelized sugar crust
- Ambrosia salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple, coconut, and marshmallows
- Honeydew and kiwi fruit skewers with lime yogurt dipping sauce
- Pomegranate blueberry parfaits with vanilla Greek yogurt
For a warm fruit dish, try baked apples, poached pears, or banana bread foster. You can also serve oatmeal or granola with cold milk for a heartier fruit and grain dish.
Quiche, tarts, and galettes
What’s a brunch spread without a good quiche or tart? These eggy savory pies work for a crowd and hold up well at room temperature. Try making mini quiches in a muffin tin for individual servings. Savory tarts and free-form galettes with leafy greens, vegetables, and cheese are also simple, seasonal options.
Savory tarts and galettes to consider:
- Classic quiche Lorraine with bacon, gruyere, and chives
- Roasted veggie tart with butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and goat cheese
- Broccoli, cheddar, and roasted garlic quiche
- Caramelized onion, spinach, and blue cheese galette
- Tomato, pesto, and mozzarella tart
For sweet tarts, bake mini versions of classics like pecan pie and pumpkin pie. Fruity options like berry galettes, pear tarts, and apple crostatas are also festive options to serve.
Savory sandwiches and breads
While breakfast foods are typical, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! Savory sandwiches, sliders, and breads make easy brunch fare that feels special. Try serving:
- Smoked salmon bagel sandwich with cream cheese, red onion, capers, and dill
- Croque madame with ham, cheese, béchamel sauce, and a fried egg
- Turkey, brie, and cranberry tea sandwiches
- Pulled pork sliders with coleslaw
- Loaded nacho bread or potato skins
For lighter sandwiches, serve smoked salmon, cucumber, and dill on mini toasts or do an avocado toast bar with fun add-ons like roasted tomatoes, crispy bacon, and poached eggs.
Casseroles and hot dishes
For heartier fare, casseroles are always crowd-pleasers! Think outside the box by making savory bread puddings, stratas, potatoes, or stuffed bread dishes. Comfort foods like these are perfect on Christmas morning:
- Overnight French toast casserole
- Breakfast enchiladas with eggs, cheese, and salsa verde
- Baked oatmeal with apples and cinnamon
- Potato and sausage breakfast casserole
- Monkey bread stuffed with scrambled eggs and bacon
- Spinach, goat cheese, and roasted red pepper bread pudding
For a lighter hot dish, a baked oatmeal bar with fun toppings like toasted nuts, coconut, and fresh fruit is easy and festive. You can also keep it simple with a hot queso or spinach and artichoke dip served with bread and crackers.
Christmas sweets and desserts
Finish off your Christmas brunch with holiday sweets! You can’t go wrong with classics like:
- Gingerbread cookies
- Sugar cookies decorated with royal icing
- Spiced chocolate pecan pie
- Yule log cake
- Panettone bread pudding
For mini desserts, serve an assortment of Christmas cookies, lemon bars, macarons, chocolate-dipped pretzels, rum balls, and peppermint bark. A hot beverage bar with cocoa, cider, and flavored coffees also makes a festive ending to your brunch.
Beverages
Beverages are an important part of any brunch! Coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are musts. You can also serve:
- Spiced cider or mulled wine
- Sparkling cranberry mimosas
- Festive bellini cocktails with peach nectar and prosecco
- Bloody mary bar with fun garnishes
- Irish coffee bar with whiskey, coffee, and whipped cream
For non-alcoholic options, consider setting up a hot cocoa bar with add-ins like peppermint sticks, chocolate shavings, marshmallows, and whipped cream. Juices like orange, grapefruit, and pomegranate are also festive brunch beverages.
Sample Christmas Day Brunch Menus
When planning your menu, aim for a balance of sweet and savory dishes, lighter and heartier foods, and easy-to-serve items. Here are some sample Christmas Day brunch menu ideas:
Classic Christmas Brunch
- Mimosa bar
- Smoked salmon, cucumber, and cream cheese sandwiches on croissants
- Crustless spinach and gruyere quiche
- Cinnamon roll monkey bread
- Ambrosia fruit salad
- Assorted Christmas cookies
Nostalgic Brunch
- Hot cocoa bar
- Baked French toast casserole with maple syrup
- Sausage and cheddar bread pudding
- Hash brown casserole
- Yule log cake
- Clementines and pomegranate seeds
Modern Brunch
- Blood orange mimosas
- Avocado toast bar with toppings
- Baked eggs in avocado with hot sauce
- Berry, goat cheese, and almond tart
- Cinnamon roll pancake bites
- Peppermint mocha bars
Kid-Friendly Brunch
- Hot chocolate bar
- Mini quiches
- Scrambled eggs
- Hash browns
- Chocolate chip monkey bread
- Clementines and banana slices
Tips for Hosting Christmas Brunch
Hosting a special Christmas Day brunch doesn’t have to be stressful. Keep these tips in mind:
- Make ahead as much as you can – Casseroles, breads, desserts, and beverages can all be prepped in advance.
- Keep the menu simple with make-ahead dishes, store-bought items, and easy-to-serve foods.
- Set up a fun DIY beverage bar for coffee, mimosas, bloody mary’s, etc.
- Bake a breakfast pastry or bread to make the house smell festive.
- Use holiday dishes and linens to decorate the table.
- Have guests pitch in by assigning dishes to bring.
- Focus on spending time together as a family before the dinner rush.
Christmas Day brunch allows you to carry on beloved traditions with less stress. Keep the menu casual, make time for lingering over coffee, and savor the holiday spirit. What you eat is secondary to who you share it with. With close friends and family, anything tastes merry and bright!
