How to Host a Christmas Brunch
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Christmas Brunch is a great way to gather your people around good food, festive drinks, easy conversation all around the Christmas tree!
Christmas Brunch is such a fun idea to do during the month of December. We all have multiple evening parties to go to – why not host a fun mid-morning fête with easy breakfast recipes and the festive lights of Christmas?
I’ll show you how to create a relaxing atmosphere with one easy recipe and a few things to pick up from the store.
I’ve also got a HUGE list of *amazing* holiday brunch recipe ideas – I’m sure you’ll find something you want to make!
First things first, let’s plan the menu.
A brunch menu needs just a few things.
- Something homemade (egg casserole or grits)
- Something bread-y (storebought is great!)
- Something fruity (storebought is great, too!)
In the photo above you see cake platters filled with doughnuts and fruity muffins, a pot filled with grits, an egg casserole.
A few recipes to get you started:
Next, let’s chat about the table.
It’s Christmas, so use what you have!!
Bring out your Christmas linens and use those on your tables.
This is the time to use all your Christmas things, and make a big impact!
If you don’t have Christmas linens, order some napkins from Amazon, and use those to make your place setting a little more festive.
Add your food to the center of the table, and let “family-style serving” be your centerpiece!
Use cake platters to pile things high, and different types of platters to give ‘movement’ to your table.
I like to use a big cutting board and place items on that in the center of the table.
How do you create a relaxing brunch?
- Turn on some Christmas music, have mimosas ready to be made by guests who walk in the door, and have some pre-thought-out conversation starters ready.
- Make a pot of coffee and have all the fixings (creamers, sugar, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, etc) out for people to help themselves to.
- To make it easy on yourself, try to have everything out and around the place in stations. A coffee station, a cold drink station, food on the table, etc. Have it all out, so you can enjoy yourself with others!
- Finally, use a Game Plan and create a timeline you can stick to. Also, it helps to be fully stocked on must-have party supplies!
You can download this in my Resource Library after subscribing to my email list. You’ll find lots of goodies there! I consider any event I’m hosting a Game Day – so get ready to slay the day!!
Christmas Brunch Recipes
This Eggnog French Toast Bake with Caramel is an easy, make-ahead holiday recipe. Filled with fluffy bread that is soaked overnight in a mixture of eggnog and spices, this casserole bakes up warm and golden. Bursting with cozy flavors, it’s the best Christmas breakfast!
Make this easy breakfast casserole recipe with either bacon or sausage! It’s the perfect make ahead of time, Christmas breakfast recipe or any day when you want something warm!
These White Chocolate Peppermint Scones are light, fluffy and bursting with flavor. Filled with hints of peppermint and topped with a white chocolate and peppermint glaze, these soft scones make the best holiday breakfast or dessert!
This super hearty cranberry sausage breakfast strata can be prepped the night before and baked the next day! Makes for a delicious breakfast the whole family will love.
There’s nothing better than waking up on Christmas morning and enjoying a delicious breakfast after opening presents. Of course, everyone is lazy since it’s a holiday. We’re still in our PJ’s and playing with toys by late morning. I’d rather watch the boys enjoy everything from Santa than cook a breakfast. This Cranberry Eggnog Bake is perfect for Christmas morning.
Sweet, buttery and flaky Almond Croissants made with store-bought croissants, almond syrup, and almond cream filling.
Sausage Gravy and Biscuits, Southern-style comfort food perfect for breakfast or brunch during the holidays. Creamy country-style sausage gravy over split warm buttermilk biscuits.
This fluffy Egg Casserole is perfect for busy mornings or serving a crowd. Add your favorite meats, vegetables or cheeses.
French Toast Casserole is made ahead with overnight soaked challah, then baked to perfection and topped with fresh berries. The perfect breakfast/brunch to feed a crowd!
Perfect for entertaining but easy enough to make for just one, these Creamy Baked Eggs in Mini Cocottes with Spinach and prosciutto are delicious, fun-size and the perfect place to dip all the buttered bread.
Keto Spinach Pie is a low carb, a keto-friendly recipe is filled with protein-packed cottage cheese and eggs, and protein-rich eggs!
These easy to make muffins give you all of the flavors of a cup of hot chocolate in muffin form. They are perfect for a quick breakfast or brunch and are freezer friendly.
Want a brunch recipe to really impress your guests? Look no further than this insanely amazing overnight crème brûlée french toast casserole. This decadent dessert has been a staple at our family brunches for years, and with this one special tweak, we’ve managed to make it even better. Read on for the details!
This easy to make punch has only a few ingredients. Looks impressive in a punch bowl and tastes delicious!
If you happen to have a low-carb dieter joining you for Christmas brunch this year, why not give these Keto almond flour pancakes a try? With a few simple additions, the taste and texture of these pancakes are elevated to another level. So much so, we love them more than traditional pancakes.
Sausage Breakfast Casserole with Crescent Rolls is an easy brunch idea that’s great for feeding a crowd! Loaded with lots of flavor from the sausage, cheese, and buttery crescent rolls, this easy recipe is filling, hearty, and so delicious!
Pandoro French Toast has become a Christmas morning tradition at our house. The perfect way to use up that leftover Pandoro!
Super easy to make and absolutely delicious breakfast casserole that you can make ahead of time and either bake or reheat right before brunch. Add some sautéed red peppers and a can of green chilies to give it a festive holiday flair!
Festive Christmas Waffles with Pomegranate-Blood Orange Syrup
Festive days call for an extra-special breakfast or brunch... Festive Christmas Waffles combine a protein-rich waffle mix with cinnamon, orange zest, and (optional) crumbled bacon, and get topped with a gorgeous pomegranate blood orange syrup and orange mascarpone cream. Truly luxurious and indulgent!
A beautiful party punch that’s easy for everyone to love! Fruity and effervescent, it goes with all types of foods and party atmospheres, from cozy holiday gatherings to cookouts and birthday parties.
Easy Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Croissant Apple Breakfast Bake
Treat your family and friends to a breakfast gift this year with this Easy Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Croissant Apple Breakfast Bake. It will be a deliciously sweet start to a very wonderful day!
This gluten-free quiche is such a treat for my family. It starts with an incredibly flaky gluten-free pie crust, and is filled with silky eggs and a savory ham and broccoli filling.
Easy Eggs Benedict Breakfast Casserole and Blender Hollandaise Sauce is the answer to your make-ahead Christmas breakfast or brunch dreams! A family favorite, this creamy and decadent make-ahead breakfast casserole recipe only takes minutes to prepare and boasts a short list of ingredients.
Packed with bacon, chives, cheese and eggs, and baked in a flaky, buttery crust that’s so easy to make – this Classic Quiche Lorraine is rich, creamy and full of incredible flavor! Can be made ahead and frozen for later too.
Moist on the inside, slightly crusty on the top, this Berry French Toast casserole is topped with loads of fresh berries. Make-ahead the night before and pop into the oven in the morning! So easy and yum!
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs are classic finger food. The addition of smoked salmon elevates them to an elegant bite perfect for entertaining, parties, brunch & breakfast.
This Weekend Breakfast Casserole Recipe is a Christmas tradition in our home. It hits the spot and feels decadent at the same time!
Cranberry Sweet Rolls are a delicious homemade cinnamon roll filled with fresh cranberries and orange zest.
Fennel Shakshuka With Feta + Tutorial {Keto, Paleo, Gluten-Free}
A simple one-pan fennel shakshuka with feta recipe aka eggs cooked in a rich spiced tomato sauce. Made entirely from pantry staples
This Gorgeous Jamaican Rum Punch is the kind of fun exotic sipper you whip up for guests and parties during the festive season. Just 5 everyday classic ingredients come together in one delicious drink that takes you back to warm Caribbean sunsets all year long.
Make-Ahead Breakfast Bakes! The perfect thing for Christmas Brunch because it can all be made the day before and all you have to do is pop in the oven and bake!
One dish Pecan Rolls with a gooey, sticky caramel sauce and a hint of cinnamon, made in just 10 minutes hands on time! You’ll love this easy Pecan Rolls recipe with a shortcut to save time and effort!
These sticky buns are everything you want on a holiday table. Soft and airy, sweet and sticky. The best part is, the recipe makes a lot, so you don't have to worry about running
Casseroles are so easy for breakfast!! This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is perfect to make for brunch!!
Apple Pie Oatmeal is a gourmet breakfast recipe. It feels indulgent when you are eating dessert for the breakfast or brunch. However, it is quick and easy to make. This vegan, dairy-free, refined-sugar free pressure cooker recipe is truly a breakfast of champions.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole loaded with bacon, cheese, and spinach is the perfect way to get a special breakfast on the table without any stress!
Tater tots and cheese! What's not to like about this delicious tater Tot Casserole? Trust me, the kids will really dig it:
Eggnog is always a favorite this time of year – and not just to drink! I use eggnog to make this amazing syrup and delicious french toast and it’s become a breakfast favorite.
Save to your favorite Holiday Pinterest Board!
Brunch is great for feeding a crowd. So many amazing options here too.
You are so right!! Thanks for popping by, Danni!
Love your post with lots of useful info on how to prepare the best Christmas brunch including all those delicious recipe!
Thank you, Julia!! Glad you enjoyed the post!
This has me so excited for the holidays! I love brunch anyway, but holiday brunches are the BEST! So many delicious tips and eats here. Thanks so much for including my breakfast strata 🙂
Thank YOU for your contribution!! Cheers to brunching our way through the holidays!
This is wonderful! I love all these recipes – looks like I’m going to have a lot of brunches to be able to serve all of these dishes!!
Right?! So many good recipes!!
So many great recipes here! I’ve always wanted to attend a fancy brunch.
Oh yeah!!! Like the ones, we saw in Gossip Girl?!
Thank you for sharing so many great tips and recipes! These will definitely come in hand this holiday season!
Yes!! It’s great time to host a brunch – Happy Holidays!
I love this idea for getting my girlfriends together. So much more relaxing!
Definitely more relaxing!! And everyone can wear yoga pants!!
Oh my, you are a marvelous hostess, Ashley. I wish I can recreate even just half of the spread you have on your table. And thanks for all the lovely choice and suggestions. I’ll be making some of those for our Christmas breakfast. 🙂
You can do it!!! Can’t wait to hear how it goes — you’ve got this!
These are some great tips! We are hosting a holiday brunch this year so I will definitely save your page for reference!
Yay!!! Thanks, Sara!! Let me know how it goes!
This is a fantastic collection of holiday brunch / breakfast ideas. Now I just have to choose one to start with. Yummy!
I know, right?! Wayyyy too many to choose from!!