20 Festive Recipes for Christmas Brunch

Buttery, fruit-flecked Italian panettone is a holiday favorite and makes an excellent base for a French toast-style brunch casserole. Simply layer bread slices with beaten eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and optional orange extract or zest the night before for stress-free baking in the morning.

Bake up the ultimate Christmas morning treat and impress holiday house guests with this delicious and decorative recipe for spiced, sticky cinnamon rolls in a festive wreath shape. Prepare the dough the day before for popping into the oven, and glazing on Christmas morning.

Gingerbread French toast has cinnamon, spice, and everything nice for the holiday season. Assemble ingredients the night before, cover the dish, and place in the fridge, for easy baking in the morning when guests descend for brunch.

Decadent pancakes that taste like a mug of peppermint hot chocolate make a fantastic stomach-warmer on cold holiday mornings. Top with chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and peppermint candies for the ultimate breakfast-dessert mash-up.

A colorful Christmas breakfast casserole with ham, bacon, tater tots, and bell pepper bits is hearty and easy to make ahead when you have a house flul of guests. Simply bake when ready to serve.

Cater to health-conscious holiday guests with this spinach and egg white frittata that's lower in calories, but doesn't skimp on flavor or texture. Toss in cherry tomatoes, spinach, and broccoli for a baked omelette with wonderful holiday color and plenty of nutrients.

Quiche is a popular brunch dish, and this flavorful, eggy recipe is a great way to use up leftover Christmas ham. Fold in Swiss or any other cheese you like for this quiche and make preparation easy with a store-bought pastry crust. Serve plated with lightly-dressed salad greens, for a delicious, bistro-style brunch.

The Bloody Mary is a popular, grown-up brunch drink that delivers a full serving of veggies—along with a shot of vodka, of course. It's the Worcestershire sauce and spices that make this drink special. This essential recipe tells you just how much to add for the best cocktail.

Take your French toast game to the next level with this brunch-ready recipe. Stuff sweet, egg-soaked brioche slices with everyone's favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread, then top with fruit, powdered sugar, and a generous helping of whipped cream. It's no doubt an indulgent Christmas morning treat.

Smoked salmon is a popular ingredient at holiday time and always welcome at brunch. Fresh herbs, ricotta cheese, and tart lemon juice add wonderful brightness and texture to wild-caught smoked salmon in this elegant crostini appetizer.

Bursting with tangy tomatoes, Spanish-style baked flamenco eggs with sausages and vegetables are incredibly tasty and easy to make in about 30 minutes. Start the dish in an oven-proof skillet on your stovetop, moving it to the oven to finish baking, before topping with seasoned breadcrumbs.

This lemon bundt cake is the perfect dessert to serve at brunch when you crave something sweet, but not too rich, to end the meal. Decorate it with a simple lemon glaze and sprinkle with lemon zest for a pretty centerpiece to add to your holiday brunch table.

Satisfy sweet cravings around the brunch table with this easy cinnamon and brown sugar streusel-topped coffee cake. Make it up to a week ahead for the fridge (or freeze up to three months) for easy reheating anytime you crave a treat.

Adorable Rudolph reindeer pancakes are an inspired Christmas brunch idea for kids and the young-at-heart. Arrange cooked pancakes on the plate to resemble Santa's reindeer friend, adding marshmallows and chocolate chips to create the eyes and a maraschino cherry for that famous nose.

The mimosa is a delightful champagne cocktail that makes a wonderful brunch tipple. You only need three ingredients for this easy drink that needs no shaking or stirring. The champagne bubbles do the mixing for you!

Warm up a cold Christmas morning with these wonderful-smelling spiced pumpkin waffles. Top them with the included cinnamon caramel syrup—you'll want to pour on everything, from pancakes to ice cream and brownies.

Sophisticated breakfast crepes filled with delicious vanilla-flavored cream cheese and cranberry jam topping are a great way to make a fabulous impression at Christmas brunch. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a pretty presentation.

Fluffy blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes are a special treat on Christmas morning. Ricotta cheese adds a wonderful sweetness and lightness to these gorgeous berry-studded pancakes, which are topped with a zesty lemon syrup.

Cute cupcakes made with pancake batter and topped with sweet maple frosting are a tasty hand-held brunch treat for kids and grown-ups alike. Bake them in holiday-themed muffin-tin liners and top with a little cinnamon-sugar or maple-bacon crumbles.

Cardinal punch is a fruit-filled mocktail kids can enjoy. Prepare the juice mixture ahead in a pitcher and store in the fridge. Add ginger ale just before serving in glasses topped with orange slices, or maraschino cherries on stems.