Food Holidays & Occasions Christmas 32 Merry Christmas Brunch Recipes Curate your holiday morning spread with seasonal babka, breakfast casseroles, berry syrup, and more. By Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 2, 2024 Close Cinnamon-Apple Babka. Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Christmas morning can be filled with anticipation and excitement, and what better way to kick it off than with an impressive brunch spread? From a pillowy Dutch baby to sticky morning buns, and luscious breakfast egg cups to cheese-encrusted biscuits, our festive recipe roundup hits all the mouthwatering notes from sweet to savory. Read on for those recipes and more dishes you can add to your Christmas brunch menu. 01 of 32 Lobster Eggs Benedict Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali If you already thought eggs Benedict was a luxurious dish, this recipe takes it to the next level by adding lobster — and we're pretty sure lobster is on your Christmas wish list. We like using toast here instead of English muffins since it holds all of the lobster meat easily in one even layer. Get the Recipe 02 of 32 Croissant Breakfast Casserole with Lemon Curd and Berries Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Tricia Manzanero / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle Stuffed with lemon curd and cream cheese and baked in a cardamom-infused custard, this elegant breakfast casserole makes use of day-old croissants in the tastiest way possible. Get the Recipe 03 of 32 Bacon, Cheddar, and Onion Quiche Food & Wine / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Jean-Georges Vongerichten adds crème fraîche and chopped fresh dill to elevate typical breakfast ingredients — eggs, bacon, and cheese — in this holiday-worthy quiche inspired by tarte flambée. Get the Recipe 04 of 32 Ginger Spice Cake Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Made entirely in a blender, this tender spice cake is a no-brainer for your Christmas brunch spread. It features chopped fresh ginger, molasses, and warm baking spices to create an effortless and versatile gingerbread-like cake with a moist, quick bread-like crumb. Get the Recipe 05 of 32 Swiss Chard Frittata Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Chef April Bloomfield dollops mint-flecked yogurt into a savory mixture of egg, onion, and Swiss chard before slipping the skillet into the oven. It’s a move that adds tangy pops of flavor to this simple vegetable frittata. Get the Recipe 06 of 32 Orange-Cardamom Morning Buns Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman These soft, tender morning buns are made from a honey-and vanilla-scented yeast dough. Honey goes into the buttery filling as well, which is flavored with orange zest, cinnamon, and cardamom. The filling is not only rolled up into the dough, but brushed on the baked buns as well, creating a delightfully gooey and sticky topping. Get the Recipe 07 of 32 Cinnamon-Apple Babka Cinnamon-Apple Babka. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Close your eyes, and imagine a giant cinnamon bun stuffed with apple pie and baked in a cast-iron skillet, complete with caramelized edges and a snow-white glaze. Welcome to this incredible apple babka. Get the Recipe 08 of 32 Shakshuka (Tomato-Pepper Stew with Poached Eggs and Harissa) Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali Freshly cracked eggs are gently poached in a tomato-pepper stew enhanced by aromatic seasonings like smoky paprika and earthy ground coriander seeds; chef Michael Solomonov adds harissa for an extra kick of flavor. It's equally wonderful served with warm pita as it is crusty bread. Get the Recipe 09 of 32 English Muffins Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Make Model Bakery's famously oversized, pillowy English muffins at home, thanks to baking expert Rick Rodgers’ The Model Bakery Cookbook. Get the Recipe 10 of 32 Hashbrown Casserole Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Enriched with a generous amount of cheddar and sour cream, this savory potato casserole has just enough eggs to hold it together and make it creamy. Add cooked and crumbled bacon or sausage for a heartier dish, or chopped jalapeños for an extra kick of heat. Get the Recipe 11 of 32 Orange Soufflé Coffee Cake James Ransom / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless Ruth Reichl marries the flavors of chocolate and orange in each bite of this rich yet light bundt. Eggs and sugar are beaten until fluffy and thick for an airy, moist cake fragrant with orange zest and juice. A silky chocolate glaze amplifies the orange notes in the cake for a sweet, delicate treat that's perfect for Christmas brunch. Get the Recipe 12 of 32 Crêpe Monsieur Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Milwaukee chef Joe Muench’s playful crêpe riff on a Croque Monsieur sandwich features a filling of nutty, rich Alpine-style cheese studded with savory pieces of ham. To serve, each crêpe is garnished with a drizzle of a zippy Dijonnaise sauce and chopped dill pickles for a balancing, tangy bite. Get the Recipe 13 of 32 Overnight French Toast with Cranberries and Pecans Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman Irresistibly custardy and nearly effortless, this make-ahead French toast is perfectly accented with tart, juicy cranberries and crunchy pecans — add a touch of bourbon to the egg mixture if you're feeling fancy. Get the Recipe 14 of 32 Polenta Dutch Baby with Ham and Swiss Gregory DuPree A large-format pancake with a light, airy interior, this ham-and-cheese Dutch baby is a wonderful choice for your Christmas brunch menu. Make the batter and prep the toppings the night before to keep things easy in the morning. Get the Recipe 15 of 32 Brown-Butter Pancakes with Sheet-Pan Berry Syrup Andrea Slonecker For this elevated version of a classic breakfast, browned butter infuses the barely sweet batter, which fries up into fluffy, lacy-edged flapjacks. The sheet-pan fruit syrup comes together quickly; frozen berries burst in the oven, releasing their juices to mingle with caramelly brown sugar and a touch of lemon. Get the Recipe 16 of 32 Huevos Rabo de Mestiza (Poached Eggs in Tomato-Poblano Rajas Sauce) Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Victoria Granof / Prop Styling by Thom Driver Huevos Rabo de Mestiza is a hearty brunch recipe that packs a punch. Charred poblanos, canned tomatoes, and sautéed onions form the base for eggs that poach directly in the sauce, while crumbles of cotija cheese add savory richness. Serve this saucy dish with warmed corn tortillas or toast on the side. Get the Recipe 17 of 32 Aebleskivers with Raspberry Jam Ebelskivers With Raspberry Jam. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Round, pillowy, and slightly sweet, these tiny jam-filled Danish pancakes are a Christmastime tradition. You’ll need a cast-iron aebleskiver pan to make them. Get the Recipe 18 of 32 Cheddar-Scallion Biscuits Greg DuPree "The buttermilk dough bakes atop a pile of grated cheddar, bringing not just a wonderfully caramelized flavor, but a clever textural element in the form of crisp, lacy 'feet' that form around the bottom of each biscuit," Food & Wine's Kat Kinsman writes of this recipe from Megan Scott. "Add a hefty amount of chopped scallion into the mix and it's a savory, joyous match for the ages." Get the Recipe 19 of 32 Breakfast Egg Cups with Parsley Gremolata and Mushrooms Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners These elegant, savory herb-topped eggs bake up in a muffin pan, so it's easy to make brunch for a group. Use a semi-soft cheese like Brie or Taleggio, which stays creamy when baked. Get the Recipe 20 of 32 Bakewell Coffee Cake Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This no-fuss treat features the hallmarks of an English Bakewell tart: buttery pastry, rich frangipane, jam, and toasted flaky almonds. It's made in a 13- x 9-inch baking pan and easily serves a crowd — so it's perfect for Christmas brunch entertaining. Get the Recipe 21 of 32 Crêpes Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Kay Clarke This basic crêpe recipe is our light, delicate go-to for brunches and a sure crowd pleaser with a topping or filling bar for guests to customize their sweet or savory treat. Get the Recipe 22 of 32 Pesto-and-Cheese-Stuffed Brioche Scrolls with Bacon-Tomato Jam Pesto-and-Cheese-Stuffed Brioche Scrolls with Bacon-Tomato Jam. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver These savory cousins to cinnamon rolls feature buttery brioche scrolls filled with nutty pesto and salty Asiago cheese. After baking, top the still-warm scrolls with a dollop of homemade tomato-bacon jam for a touch of smoky, syrupy sweetness. Get the Recipe 23 of 32 Buttermilk Crumpets Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer and Paige Grandjean / Prop Styling by Christine Keely "What makes a crumpet a crumpet are the unique holes throughout the finished product, which form during cooking as a result of the leavening process," says Food & Wine editor Melanie Hansche. "It affords a texture that's chewy and a little spongy on the inside, crispy on the bottom. The sponginess is instrumental in soaking up butter, which is the crumpet's inherent purpose." Get the Recipe 24 of 32 Japanese Soufflé Pancakes Gregory DuPree These high-rise soufflé pancakes require a bit more attention than your typical flapjack, but it is Christmas, after all — and these are oh so worth it. Start with cold egg whites, which whip more slowly than room-temperature ones to form stronger, more uniform bubbles; whipping them on medium speed incorporates more air. Piping the batter in one swift pass creates even more height. Get the Recipe 25 of 32 Chocolate Cream and Orange Brioche Buns Chocolate Cream and Orange Brioche Buns. Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver Tender and lightly sweet, these rich, buttery brioche buns are the perfect canvas for the bold flavors of orange and chocolate. Chocolate-dipped candied orange slices are an optional but fun topping. Get the Recipe 26 of 32 Sausage and Red Onion Sheet Pan Quiche Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee At Convivial in Washington, D.C., Cedric Maupillier's foot-long quiche takes this breakfast classic to the next level. Our version, prepared in a rimmed baking sheet, makes plenty for the whole family. Get the Recipe 27 of 32 Sourdough Buttermilk Waffles Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland These delightfully tangy waffles call for sourdough starter discard — collect it in a bowl in the fridge, adding to it until you have enough for the recipe. Serve them with a pat of softened butter and a simple drizzle of maple syrup. Get the Recipe 28 of 32 Chocolate Babka © Con Poulos Pastry chef Melissa Weller's amazing chocolate babka gets extra flavor in the swirl from chocolate cookie crumbs. As a bonus, the tender-crumbed babka is topped with a thick and luscious chocolate glaze. Get the Recipe 29 of 32 Brown-Butter Banana Bread Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee You'll need three cups of mashed banana for this recipe; 2020 F&W Best New Chef Lena Sareini insists on waiting until your bananas are extremely ripe — very speckled and mushy — for the ultimate banana flavor. Brown butter imbues the loaf with a deep, caramel-like note of nutty richness. Get the Recipe 30 of 32 Christmas Morning Casserole © CHRISTINA HOLMES Chef Bryan Voltaggio's classic baked bread-and-egg casserole features bites of pepperoni, mushrooms, and gooey cheese. Assemble it the night before, then simply bake it off in the morning. Get the Recipe 31 of 32 Christmas Morning Biscotti John Kernick "These biscotti spiced with cocoa nibs and anise seeds are my Italian interpretation of biskotso, a Filipino twice-baked cookie I grew up eating with hot cocoa," says chef Merrin Mae Gray about these cookies. Get the Recipe 32 of 32 Sesame Bagel Breakfast Casserole © Christina Holmes This breakfast-sandwich-inspired casserole with sesame bagel pieces is best assembled the night before, allowing the bread to soak up the egg custard. Simply pop in the oven the next morning and sip on mimosas while it bakes. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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