Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas

Growing up, my family never put much thought into what we would be eating Christmas morning, because we were much more excited for our Christmas evening feast. We knew we'd be filling up on mac 'n cheese, potatoes, ribs, and arroz con gandules throughout the day, so we didn't want to ruin our appetites.

But every year, without fail, we'd wake up Christmas on morning hungry and scrambling to figure out what to eat. Only to have my dad run out and pick up donuts for everyone to hold us over.

While I'm not necessarily mad at our tradition, I've always wanted to be one of those families that woke up and had a casserole ready to pop in the oven or cinnamon rolls that had been assembled and stored the night before for a morning treat.

This is the type of Christmas morning I want to have in our home. One where we can look forward to having an easy, homemade breakfast ready to eat the morning of December 25th.

I've started testing out some recipes to add to our family cook book, and I'm going to share those with you today!

I've only made a few of these recipes, but I'm excited to try out some more and see who makes the final cut!

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click titles for full recipes

Buttery Breakfast Casserole by New York Times

This casserole has everything you need in a Christmas morning breakfast. It was easy to make, delicious, filling and sits in the fridge overnight so the croissants can soak in all the goodness before baking in the morning. Topped with crispy gruyere cheese and fresh green onions, it truly is a decadent holiday treat.

No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls by New York Times

I would be lying if I said I can make cinnamon rolls. I can't. I am defeated by my yeast every, single time I try. BUT I recently stumbled across a cinnamon roll recipe that involves no yeast and when I say screamed with excitement, I'm only slightly exaggerating. Instead of slaving away kneading dough and waiting for it to rise for hours on end, this recipe only takes 45 minutes and can be refrigerated or frozen for up to two days before baking. Perfect for storing before Christmas morn!

One Banana Banana Bread

Banana bread is always a "yes" for me and I can't think of an easier Christmas morning treat. If your kitchen is anything like mine, you find yourself having one random banana that you don't know what to do with more often than not. I've been using the same "One Banana Banana Bread" recipe for over a year now and I swear by it. If you have a ripe banana on hand, this is a quick and easy option for a light breakfast. Throw in the oven with some bacon and it's a perfect, light breakfast for picky eaters or anyone who doesn't want to ruin their appetite.

Chocolate Chip (or blueberry) Pancakes

Nothing says "It's going to be a great morning" quite like pancakes. (Comment below are you a pancakes or waffles person?!) There is one base recipe I use for my pancakes that's always a hit and you can add whatever variations you choose! I like to throw in some chocolate chips or blueberries and drown them in butter and syrup, of course.

Slow Cooker Oatmeal

For a healthier option, slow cooker oats are the perfect lazy Christmas morning comfort food. I like to top mine with honey, almond butter, granola, pumpkin seeds, raisins or dried cranberries. It gives me the energy I need for the day and keeps me full for quite a while. Make the oats the night before and serve in the morning with your favorite toppings.

Breakfast Frittata

Frittata's are another great option because once you have your egg mixture ready, it just sits on the stove cooking for awhile before it's ready to serve. My mother-in-law taught me how to make frittatas and her secret is: always add a little milk or cream to fluff up the eggs. Frittatas are also great because you can make them vegetarian with loads of veggies or add breakfast sausage and bacon. The possibilities are endless.

Fruit Salad

When in doubt, a delicious, seasonal fruit salad goes a long way. I think many of us are grossed out by fruit salad due to being traumatized as children with those fruit salad plastic cup things we used to eat at snack time. But the right combination of fruit, not swimming in some strange sugar sauce, is actually delicious. I imagine a perfect combination of Winter fruits would be persimmons, figs, apples and kiwi. This is a great way to get some nutrition in for the day and it's always easy to assemble!

Breakfast Nachos or Chilaquiles

While not as easy as some of the others on this list, I think breakfast nachos or a variation of chilaquiles are a great Christmas morning option. It's usually a one pot sort of dish, meaning you won't have a lot of clean up afterwards, and it can be served family style making it easy for everyone to enjoy. This is one of my favorite things to have for breakfast and it's the perfect warm and cozy dish to get everyone excited for the day ahead.

French Toast Casserole

I think we can all agree that French toast is amazing. But who has the time to stand over the stove and make God knows how many individual slices of french toast for everyone on Christmas morning?! Not I. Overnight French toast has become more popular in the last few years (or at least since Pinterest became a thing) and I think it's a great option for Christmas Day. Take your casserole out of the fridge in the morning, throw it in the oven, and it'll be done by the time the kids wake up!

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I hope this post gave you some inspiration. You'll be the most prepared home chef on the block for Christmas!

Be sure to leave a comment letting me know some of your favorite Christmas morning meals. Thanks for reading!

xo,

F.