21+ Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas
Christmas morning is magical, but you don’t want to spend it all in the kitchen. These breakfast ideas strike the perfect balance between festive and feasible. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want something special for the family, these recipes make the morning feel extra cozy.
From make-ahead casseroles to quick stovetop treats, there’s something here for every skill level and schedule. Plus, many of these can be prepped the night before, so you can actually enjoy opening presents instead of scrambling with measuring cups.
Cinnamon Roll Casserole
This is all the gooey, sweet satisfaction of cinnamon rolls without the hassle of individual servings. You basically tear up store-bought or homemade cinnamon rolls, toss them in a baking dish with a custard mixture, and bake. The result is a warm, pull-apart breakfast that tastes like a cross between bread pudding and classic cinnamon rolls.
It’s ridiculously easy to prep the night before, and your kitchen will smell absolutely incredible while it bakes. Perfect for feeding a hungry crowd with minimal effort.
Overnight French Toast Bake
This is the ultimate lazy Christmas morning breakfast because you do all the work the night before. Just layer thick slices of bread in a dish, pour over an egg and milk mixture with vanilla and cinnamon, and let it soak overnight. In the morning, pop it in the oven and you’re done. It comes out fluffy and custardy with crispy edges.
You can top it with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh berries. It’s comforting, crowd-pleasing, and lets you focus on coffee and presents instead of cooking.
Christmas Morning Breakfast Strata
A strata is essentially a savory bread pudding loaded with eggs, cheese, and whatever mix-ins you love. Think sausage, peppers, onions, or spinach. The beauty is in the prep—you assemble it the night before and let it chill, so the bread soaks up all that eggy goodness. Come morning, just bake it until golden and bubbly.
It’s hearty enough to keep everyone satisfied through present opening, and you can customize it based on what your family likes. Plus, it looks impressive without requiring any actual morning effort.
Gingerbread Pancakes
These pancakes bring all the warm spices of gingerbread cookies to your breakfast table. They’re fluffy, slightly sweet, and packed with cinnamon, ginger, and molasses flavor. Kids especially love them because they taste like dessert for breakfast. Serve them with maple syrup or a dollop of whipped cream for extra holiday vibes.
They come together quickly with pantry staples, so even if you’re not a morning person, you can pull these off. The aroma alone will get everyone out of bed faster than any alarm clock.
Eggnog Waffles
If you love eggnog, you’ll be obsessed with these waffles. They’re crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and infused with that classic nutmeg-and-vanilla eggnog flavor. Use your regular waffle batter recipe but swap some of the milk for eggnog—it’s that simple. They feel extra festive without requiring any special skills or ingredients.
Top them with whipped cream, fresh berries, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. These are a fun way to use up leftover eggnog and make breakfast feel special.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Pancakes
These pancakes taste like drinking hot chocolate, but in breakfast form. They’re rich, chocolatey, and have a subtle peppermint kick that screams Christmas morning. The batter comes together easily with cocoa powder and a bit of peppermint extract. Top them with whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and chocolate chips for the full experience.
Kids go crazy for these, and honestly, adults do too. They’re a fun twist on regular pancakes that makes the morning feel like a celebration.
Cranberry Orange Scones
These scones are buttery, crumbly, and packed with tart cranberries and bright orange zest. They’re not too sweet, which makes them perfect alongside coffee or tea. The combination of cranberry and orange just tastes like the holidays. You can make the dough ahead and freeze it, then bake them fresh Christmas morning.
They come out golden and flaky with crispy edges. Drizzle them with a simple orange glaze for an extra touch that looks bakery-worthy but takes seconds to make.
Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
This is a hearty, protein-packed casserole that’ll keep everyone full all morning. It’s loaded with savory sausage, melted cheese, and eggs, usually with some bread or hash browns as the base. You can assemble it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning. It’s the kind of stick-to-your-ribs breakfast that’s perfect for cold winter mornings.
Everyone can dig in buffet-style, and it reheats beautifully if you have leftovers. Simple, satisfying, and always a crowd favorite.
Santa’s Cinnamon Rolls
These are classic homemade cinnamon rolls that you can make as fancy or simple as you want. The dough is soft and pillowy, swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with cream cheese frosting. Yes, they take some time, but you can do most of the work the night before and let them rise in the fridge overnight.
Bake them fresh in the morning and watch everyone swoon. The smell alone is worth the effort, and they taste a million times better than anything store-bought.
Christmas Tree Shaped Pancakes
These are regular pancakes shaped like Christmas trees, which makes them instantly fun for kids. You can use a squeeze bottle to pipe the batter into tree shapes on the griddle, then decorate with whipped cream, berries, and powdered sugar “snow.” They’re not difficult to make, just a little more playful than your standard round pancakes.
It’s a simple way to make breakfast feel festive without adding any extra work or ingredients. Plus, kids love helping with the decorating part.
Maple Glazed Bacon
This bacon is sticky, sweet, and savory all at once. You coat thick-cut bacon strips in maple syrup and brown sugar, then bake until crispy and caramelized. It’s candy-like but still has that salty bacon flavor everyone loves. The glaze creates these amazing crispy edges that are borderline addictive.
It’s incredibly easy to make and feels way fancier than regular bacon. Make extra because people will fight over the last piece—it’s that good.
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
This casserole is loaded with crispy hash browns, eggs, cheese, and often some bacon or sausage. It’s comfort food at its finest and feeds a crowd easily. You can prep it the night before and bake it Christmas morning while everyone’s opening stockings. It comes out golden and crispy on top with a creamy, cheesy interior.
It’s the kind of hearty breakfast that keeps everyone happy and full. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to mess up, which is always a win.
Festive Fruit Salad
This is a lighter, refreshing option that balances out all the rich, heavy breakfast foods. Use seasonal fruits like pomegranate seeds, clementines, kiwi, and strawberries for a colorful mix. You can toss everything with a little honey and lime juice to brighten the flavors. It’s healthy, naturally sweet, and looks gorgeous on the table.
It takes maybe ten minutes to throw together, and you can make it the night before. It’s a nice palate cleanser between bites of cinnamon rolls and bacon.
Snowman Donuts
These are store-bought powdered donuts stacked and decorated to look like snowmen. You use frosting or melted chocolate to add faces and buttons, plus pretzel sticks for arms. They’re adorable, require zero baking skills, and kids can help assemble them. It’s a fun activity that doubles as breakfast or a snack.
They’re sweet, playful, and perfect for a Christmas morning that’s more about fun than fancy cooking. Plus, cleanup is basically nonexistent, which is always appreciated.
Candy Cane Coffee Cake
This coffee cake has a tender, buttery crumb with a ribbon of cinnamon sugar running through the middle. The candy cane twist comes from adding crushed peppermint to the batter or streusel topping. It’s not overly sweet but feels special and festive. You can bake it the night before and just warm it up in the morning.
It pairs perfectly with coffee or hot chocolate. The peppermint flavor is subtle enough that even people who aren’t huge peppermint fans will enjoy it.
Christmas Morning Quiche
A quiche is elegant, versatile, and can be customized with whatever fillings you like—cheese, veggies, ham, bacon, you name it. The custardy egg filling bakes up fluffy and flavorful inside a flaky crust. It’s impressive-looking but actually pretty straightforward to make. You can bake it ahead and serve it warm or at room temperature.
It’s a nice option if you want something that feels a little more sophisticated than a casserole. Plus, it slices beautifully for serving.
Gingerbread Muffins
These muffins are soft, spiced, and perfectly portioned for grab-and-go breakfast. They’re packed with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, so they taste like gingerbread cookies in muffin form. You can make them a day or two ahead and they stay moist and delicious. They’re great for busy Christmas mornings when people are eating at different times.
Add a cream cheese frosting or just a dusting of powdered sugar to make them feel extra special. They’re also freezer-friendly, which is a bonus.
Chocolate Chip Peppermint Scones
These scones combine rich chocolate chips with cool peppermint for a flavor combo that’s totally Christmas. They’re buttery and crumbly with pockets of melted chocolate in every bite. The peppermint isn’t overwhelming—just enough to make them feel festive. You can make the dough ahead, freeze it, and bake them fresh in the morning.
They come out best when served warm with a little butter or a drizzle of chocolate glaze. They’re a treat that feels indulgent but comes together quickly.
Holiday Breakfast Skillet
This is a one-pan wonder loaded with eggs, potatoes, sausage, peppers, and cheese. Everything cooks together in a big skillet, so cleanup is a breeze. It’s hearty, savory, and fully customizable based on what you have on hand. You can cook it on the stovetop or finish it in the oven for a crispy top.
It’s perfect for feeding a crowd because you can make a huge batch in one go. The best part is everyone can dig in straight from the pan for a casual, cozy vibe.
Red Velvet Pancakes
These pancakes are fluffy, slightly tangy, and have that signature red velvet flavor with a hint of cocoa. They’re bright red, which makes them fun and festive for Christmas morning. Top them with cream cheese glaze or whipped cream for the full red velvet experience. They come together just as easily as regular pancakes—you just add cocoa powder and food coloring to the batter.
They’re a showstopper that tastes as good as they look and feel way more special than plain pancakes.
Eggnog French Toast
This is classic French toast but made with eggnog instead of regular milk. The result is richer, creamier, and packed with those warm nutmeg and cinnamon flavors. It’s an easy way to make French toast feel more festive without changing your routine too much. You can use any bread you like—thick slices of challah or brioche work especially well.
Top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh berries. It’s comfort food that tastes like a hug on a plate.
Christmas Morning Breakfast Pizza
This is a fun twist on traditional breakfast. You use pizza dough or crescent rolls as the base, then top it with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage, or veggies. Bake it until golden and crispy, then slice it up like regular pizza. It’s interactive, customizable, and always a hit with kids.
You can prep the toppings ahead and assemble it quickly in the morning. It’s casual, crowd-pleasing, and makes breakfast feel like a party. Plus, who doesn’t love pizza for breakfast?
