You CAN create a wonderful make ahead Christmas brunch that will become a sweet family tradition without all the stress of morning-of preparations. Plus the printable menu makes it fun!
After getting the last recipe from our Christmas morning brunch up on the site, I thought it would be fun to put all the recipes for a make-ahead Christmas brunch together for you - along with a cute printable menu to display on a table or on each plate.
There are two reasons why I am so happy about this menu that I've come up with over the years for our brunch:
- The menu is SO yummy - every part of it has been tested by family and friends and only the best recipes made the cut for Christmas morning. The recipes are special and help to create that tradition we love about holiday foods.
- Everything is EASY and can be made ahead the day before! That means all you have to do on Christmas morning is to set the oven temp and cook in between enjoying your family and opening gifts. #love
After many years when our kids were small thinking I needed to do it all and have a brunch spread that included two of everything (two savory/egg dishes, two meats, two fruits, two sweet breads…) with new recipes every year, I simplified (which wrote about awhile ago here).
Because I realized I was crazy and wasn't enjoying this Christmas tradition I was so keen on producing. Sometimes you need to live and learn, right?
Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and start off simple - but also special and delicious.
Since I decided to go simpler (did I mention I used to decorate each plate with a wrapped candy gift that I was usually up until midnight finishing…), we've refined the menu to be the things we really love and usually only have at Christmas.
The menu stays the same now and all the recipes are made with real foods that your family will come to look forward to every year, just like we do.
Perfect Make Ahead Christmas Brunch Menu
Below you'll find all the links to the recipes included in the menu, a cooking timeline (see, I've done all the work for you!), and the printable menu.
Fruit
Slice up your family's favorite fruit and arrange on a pretty plate. I now like to sprinkle a handful of dried cranberries over the plate - they look festive and are really good with the citrus.
Eggs
Overnight Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Cheddar Cheese (or cheese of your choice) - I make these with a different cheese every year (and I also make this in a large baking pan for family weekends at the beach or snow).
Bacon
Make Ahead Peppered Maple Mustard Bacon - my son loves this so much, and I'm happy it's just a bit of natural sugar (unlike the heavily brown sugared version).
Sweet Bread
Amazing Real Food Make-Ahead Monkey Bread - this is really what everyone looks forward to on Christmas morning!
Drinks
Macchiato Style Cappuccinos or Peppermint Mochas are our tradition along with sparkling cider. Use the drinks your family would find special.
Cooking Timeline
For a 10:30 am eating time (adjust as needed for your own eating time):
- Monkey Bread out on counter at 8:00 am.
- Preheat oven at 9:20 am.
- Monkey Bread in oven at 9:35 to 10:15 am.
- Eggs and bacon into a reduced oven (325 degrees) at 10:15 for 15 to 20 minutes.
- While eggs are baking, glaze monkey bread.
- 10:30-35 - serve, eat, and enjoy!
Printable Make Ahead Christmas Brunch Menu
Click the image above to open in a new window and download the pdf to print out for your Christmas morning.
This is a full 8x10 inch printable, so you can print one and display it or you can print at a 50% ratio and print one to sit on each plate, if you'd like to get a bit fancy.
I just know it will be a LOT easier than buying and wrapping a little gift for each plate, a-hem.
Merry Christmas, friends - I'm so thankful for each and every one of you who have visited, left comments and subscribed to the newsletter. I hope you enjoy this and let me know if this menu becomes your tradition, too!
Nancy says
I made the monkey bread for the second time this year. The first time it did not turn out as well, but this year was so amazing. I think the first time I made the little balls too big. When you say cut into 64 pieces you mean it!. They seem tiny, but grow big! Yum. Only thing is it is a long Christmas morning task - 2-2.5 hours. So I baked mine the night before and heated it up in the morning and glazed it then. Perfect. Thanks Jami. Once again, your recipes are so dependable! I also made the egg dish and it is scrumptious.
Jami says
I'm so glad you gave it another try, Nancy - and that baking the night before worked for you (also that you enjoyed the eggs, too)!
Judy Christensen says
THIS IS GREAT!!!! Thank you for all your hard work to make this available. I hope we can use it for family and friends next Christmas.
Jami says
I'm glad you like this, Judy and hope you can, too!!
Natasha Sanderson says
Made you delicious cinnamon rolls last year for Christmas. Your instructions were so spot on that when they came our of the oven perfect and delicious I teared up. My success with yeast rolls had not been successful in the past. We used half for our breakfast and gave half away as part of a Christmas brunch gift. Trying your monkey bread and overnight eggs this year. Thank you for sharing your family traditions. Your blog is truly inspirational.
Jami says
Oh, this is so wonderful to hear Natasha! I am SO glad that you had success with them - that is my goal. 🙂 I hope you enjoy the Monkey Bread, too - Merry Christmas!
Lisa Stewart says
As usual, I smile when I see your posting in my inbox. This is so helpful!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Jami! I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Jami says
This makes me so happy - thank you Lisa! And Merry Christmas to you. 🙂