Feeling overwhelmed? Make-ahead Christmas brunch recipes can help you have a less stressful Christmas morning, as can menu items that use leftovers from previous days of holiday entertaining. Another option is to focus your energy on serving up a big family Christmas brunch instead of dinner. With plenty of crowd-pleasing options to look forward to on Christmas morning, you can keep your menu super simple and have a low-key Christmas dinner the night before.
No matter what direction you choose to go in, we have plenty of Christmas brunch recipes fit for your holiday menu. From delicious appetizers, Christmas cocktails, and irresistible holiday desserts, to festive twists on breakfast and lunch staples, get ready to wow your holiday brunch guests this year. Just make sure everyone comes hungry, because it's going to be a feast to remember.
Mike Garten
1 of 53
Pomegranate-Thyme Spritz
This tasty spritz can be made with alcohol for adults who enjoy drinking at brunch or nonalcoholic for the kids. All you need is orange juice, pomegranate juice, and sprigs of thyme.
The meat-eaters in your family are going to absolutely love this monstrous sandwich. Stuff Italian bread with cold cuts, cheese, and olive salad, and you've got yourself a New Orleans original.
Roasted Broccoli With Sharp Cheddar Crumbs and Honey Mustard Dip
If you're looking for a way to get your little ones excited about vegetables, this recipe is your answer. Who could possibly say no to cheese-covered broccoli with a side of honey mustard?
These may look like cinnamon rolls, but they're actually some of the best garlic rolls you'll ever have. Fill some homemade rolls with garlic and miso (or butter, if you want to keep things simple), and you won't be disappointed.
Top off your Brussels sprouts with this salty-tangy bacon vinaigrette for the best holiday veggie side dish. You can even also try the vinaigrette on green beans.
Put a healthy spin on a Mexican-style staple with bell peppers — which are packed with vitamin C, beta carotene, and antioxidants that are crucial to good immune function.
You can't forget dessert! These bars are a salty-sweet treat your family is bound to love. They'll be gone so quickly, you may want to consider making two batches.
This easy side dish perfectly complements any Christmas meal you whip up. The carrots are a a spicy-sweet knockout that your loved ones are going to want every year from now on.
You can never go wrong with tacos, and this recipe adds a few different flavors you wouldn't expect, like peanut butter. And you don't have to limit your tacos to chicken, either. This savory sauce is also delicious on pork or steak.
While the Austin-based creamery uses its blueberry compote to top off one of their many ice creams, you can use it on anything — from a biscuit to cheesecake, the possibilities are endless.
If it's cold outside, serve this mushroom soup to warm everyone right up. As an added bonus, mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and other plant compounds with antiviral properties, so this dish could help curb any wintertime sniffles.
This cashew and pumpkin seed granola tastes great atop a yogurt parfait, while also giving you some health benefits. Both ingredients contain zinc, which helps keep the immune system strong and functioning.
How could you not have Santa- and Elf-inspired treats on Christma morning? Not only are these cookies delicious, but they also make for a fun family Christmas craft.
If you prefer to keep your desserts simple but still tasty, consider making these black-bottom cheesecakes. They're the perfect easy, no-bake, bite-sized treat to finish off your brunch on a sweet note.
Sure, you can just buy a pack of bagels at the grocery store, but what's the fun in that, when you can make them yourself in less than an hour? Take your bagels to the next level with a bagel bar complete with bacon, eggs, and spreads.
Peanut butter and chocolate: A combination so good, candy companies have been making money off of it for decades. Bring smiles to your family member's faces with this fantastic duo.
Whoever says breakfast tacos aren't a thing couldn't be more wrong. These black bean and egg tacos are vegetarian, but even the most avid meat-lovers will devour them.
Tater tots and pizza might be the best combination since hot chocolate and marshmallows. Now that you know this recipe exists, you've got a new go-to brunch item.
There's that sweet and savory combo again. Two breakfast classics come together perfectly in this recipe that will quickly make you everyone's favorite cook.
One could argue these are technically desserts, but it's Christmas! Why not let your littles ones have dessert for breakfast on one special day of the year?
Your loved ones will feel like they're at an actual brunch restaurant when you serve them this spicy poblano and golden potato hash, complete with an excellent dose of protein from an egg, of course.
Potatoes are some of the most diverse foods. You can cook them in every way, shape, and form. And these stuffed twice-baked potatoes make for a delicious side dish.
Red Citrus Salad with Berries, Pears, and Pomegranates
Greek yogurt and a little bit of honey add the perfect amount of sweetness to the juicy and tart citrus that makes up this fruity salad rich in vitamin C. Serve it as a dessert or an appetizer.
Quiches are brunch favorites. This easy recipe throws in some salty ham and loads of fresh spinach, but you can fill your quiche with whatever you want — cheese, mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes… the list goes on and on.
You can make these ham biscuits as simple or involved as you'd like. If you want something quick and easy, just buy a few biscuits at your local grocery store and stuff them with ham, arugula, and anything else you want. Or, make the biscuits yourself by hand, which only takes 35 minutes.
Why give your family their waffles, bacon, and eggs separately when you can put the three together and make an epic breakfast sandwich in less than 30 minutes?
Eggs are almost as diverse as potatoes when it comes to how you can cook them, and that's saying a lot. Try a less common way of making your eggs for Christmas brunch this year with this recipe for baked eggs.
Christy PiñaDigital FellowChristy Piña is the digital fellow at WomansDay.com, where she covers women’s issues, lifestyle, and entertainment.
Jamie KravitzAssociate EditorJamie Kravitz (she/her) is the associate editor of Woman’s Day, where she oversees the brand's digital platforms and covers holidays, food, and more.
