60 Christmas Morning Breakfast Recipes That Are Santa-Approved
There’s a time and place for heating up frozen waffles. That time is not Christmas. A holiday (or any special occasion, really) calls for a standout meal to kick off the day, and when you can use it as an excuse to feast on delights like Nutella pancakes and eggs Benedict, why not take advantage? Here, 60 Christmas morning breakfast recipes that are a step above the ordinary (and, yeah, they’re Santa-approved).
RELATED: 45 Christmas Dessert Recipes That Can Get Anyone in the Holiday Spirit
1. Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Muffins
These savory muffins are pretty epic (and surprisingly simple to make). Ready thy jumbo muffin pan.
2. Nutella Pancakes
This is what happens when breakfast and dessert collide. Psst: If you’re not already going all out on Christmas morning, here's your chance.
3. Ricotta Berry French Toast Casserole
Creamy ricotta cheese mixed with pillows of buttery dough and berries in every bite. Need we say more?
4. Baked Eggnog French Toast
Whether you’ve got store-bought or homemade eggnog hanging around, use the leftovers to make this breakfast confection.
RELATED: 10 Unexpected Things You Can Make With Leftover Eggnog
5. Chilaquiles with Poached Eggs and Spicy Honey
The eternal breakfast question: sweet or savory? On Christmas Day, it can be both.
6. Breakfast Nachos
The breakfast we didn’t know we needed. (Don’t tell anyone, but it starts with frozen waffles.)
7. Giant Cinnamon Roll
This is one instance where more is definitely more. Start with store-bought crescent roll dough and never look back.
8. Cheater’s Croissants
These flaky, doughy, indulgent croissants require a little more effort than the kind from the can, but the results are so worth it. Everyone will think you’re some kind of pro pastry chef.
9. Swedish Pancakes
One reason they’re superior to an average pancake? They’re ultra thin, so you can eat more of them.
10. Waffle Bread Pudding
Top this masterpiece with maple syrup and a dollop of whipped cream, set out some spoons and watch it disappear.
11. Eggs Benedict with Easy Hollandaise Sauce
Poached eggs topped with homemade hollandaise (we whip up the sauce in a blender to make it foolproof) is as special as breakfast can get.
12. Bacon, Kale and Egg Grandma Pie
If there ever was a day to make pizza for breakfast, Christmas would be it.
13. Dutch Baby Pancake
This German gem is basically a cross between a pancake and a popover—light and airy with a touch of sweetness and a custardy center.
14. Spinach and Cheese Strata
FYI, you can easily make this guy ahead of time. Just store it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
15. Breakfast Sliders
We love breakfast sandwiches and all things mini. Therefore, these are genius.
16. Peanut Butter Crumble Yogurt Parfaits
Ohhh, this is fancy. Plus, it’s almost like eating ice cream for breakfast.
17. Bacon-Wrapped Eggs
If it includes bacon, we’re all in. File this one under “breakfast of champions.”
18. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Three of our favorite things (cinnamon rolls, pancakes, cream cheese frosting) coming together in breakfast harmony.
19. Kale Quiche With Cheddar-Rice Crust
Got gluten-free breakfast eaters? No problem. This quiche looks and tastes fancy, but it requires just 30 minutes of prep (and the crust is flour-free).
20. Kaiserschmarrn (Austrian Shredded Pancake)
What’s kaiserschmarrn? Only the light, fluffy, easy-to-make Austrian dessert-breakfast of your dreams.
21. Croque Madame Dutch Baby
It’s a little sweet, a lot savory and practically begging to be doused in homemade béchamel sauce.
22. Sunday Morning French Toast
Pass the maple syrup—we’re helping ourself to a second serving.
23. Joanna Gaines’s Asparagus and Fontina Quiche
Swap the asparagus for any in-season green vegetable. Kale or Swiss chard would be delightful.
24. Broiled Citrus Ricotta Toast
It looks like something you’d find on the menu at a fancy restaurant, but it only takes 20 minutes to make.
25. Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust
If regular pie crust is intimidating, swap it for layers of sweet potato slices that crisp up beautifully in the oven (and happen to be gluten-free).
26. Sheet-Pan Pancakes with Chocolate Chips
Feeding a crowd? Don’t stand by the stove flipping pancakes; bake them in the oven instead. (You’re supposed to be opening presents right now anyway.)
27. Sugared Holiday Bread
The name pretty much says it all. This bread is pillowy-soft and sweet (and any leftovers would make excellent French toast…if you don’t devour the whole loaf all at once).
28. New Orleans-Style Beignets
There’s no deep fryer required for these fluffy beauties. Put on a pot of coffee and queue up the jazzy Christmas tunes.
29. Sweet Potato Rösti with Fried Eggs and Greens
If a sweet potato and a latke had a very delicious baby, this would be it. The egg on top is optional, but highly recommended.
30. Mini Citrus Monkey Bread
No flour, no yeast, no problem. These cuties are made with store-bought pizza dough, so you can spend less time making them and more time eating them.
31. Swedish Cinnamon Rolls
These kanelbullar have so many more layers and swirls than the American version—ideal for a Christmas morning indulgence.
32. Apple-Cider Pear Spelt Cake
Cake for breakfast? This one is practically healthy, so yes. We’re going there.
33. Brown-Sugar Pear Puff Pastries
They’re just like the pretty treats in the display case at a bakery…only better, because you made them.
34. Mini Cranberry, Pistachio and Chocolate Panettone
It’s a Christmas tradition, so you should probably have seconds (or thirds).
35. Pecan Pie Scones
They’re hefty, buttery and mega flaky, thanks to layers of real pie crust folded into the dough. Swoon.
36. Overnight Cinnamon Roll Bread with Chai Frosting
They say a picture’s worth 1,000 words, and this one has us drooling all over the place.
37. Champagne Doughnuts
We found a use for your flat, leftover Champagne. This calls for a toast.
38. Cookie Butter-Swirled Banana Bread
We’ll always have a place in our heart for classic banana bread, but, um, maybe not when this one is around.
39. Everything Bagel Tomato Galettes
They’re quick, easy and ready to eat right out of the oven—not to mention darn cute.
40. Slow-Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Place everything into the slow cooker on Christmas Eve, then reap the rewards when you wake up the next day. That is, if Santa doesn’t get to it first.
41. Sheet Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill
You won’t catch us standing by the stove on Christmas morning, but we’re still making eggs for a crowd. The secret? A trusty sheet pan.
42. Gingerbread Pancakes
We’re not saying you can’t eat gingerbread cookies for breakfast. We’re just saying you should make these cookie-inspired pancakes to go with them.
43. Swedish Cinnamon Buns Topped with Salted Caramel
All we want for Christmas is to smell these sweet-and-salty treasures coming out of the oven (with extra caramel sauce, please and thanks).
44. Mashed Potato Fritters with Smoked Salmon and Chives
We have some exciting plans for Christmas Eve's leftover mashed potatoes.
45. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka
Both babka and banana bread deserve a spot on the table, so we wrapped them into one fabulous loaf.
46. Sweet Crepes with Caramelized Pears
Here’s a make-ahead secret: The batter can be kept in your fridge for up to two days.
47. Whole-Wheat Feta Tart with Caramelized Onions and Herbs
A savory pies is always a good idea (and even better if it’s filled with creamy cheese).
48. Earl Grey Buns
Serve these with a steaming pot of tea (or coffee) and watch them disappear.
49. Layered Smoked Salmon Dip with Mini Bagel Chips
The only thing better than a bounty of cream cheese–slathered bagels and smoked salmon is all that in a dippable format.
50. Sheet Tray Pancakes with Peaches and Strawberries
These pancakes never need to be flipped. Just pour the batter into a sheet tray and let your oven do all the work.
51. Eggs in a Basket
Fact: You truly can't go wrong with crusty bread and runny eggs.
52. Braided Apple Danish Loaf
Let the kids help you whip up the dough on Christmas Eve so it has time to rise for breakfast on the big day.
53. Cinnamon-Sugar Waffles
One bite and you'll want to add this waffle-doughnut hybrid to your regular rotation.
54. Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Frittata
Drop all the ingredients in the Crock-Pot, set it, forget it and devour.
55. Leek, Kale and Goat Cheese Strata
Eggs, bread, cheese: What more could you want? (Well, maybe a side of home fries...)
56. Croissant Bread Pudding
The two-ingredient chocolate sauce really seals the deal.
57. Waffle Breakfast Sandwich with Chorizo
In case you can't decide between waffles and eggs.
58. French Toast Sticks
The egg custard and honey-vanilla syrup make this recipe slightly more sophisticated (but no less kid-friendly than the original).
59. Sausage-and-Egg Breakfast Dumplings
Choose between soy-mustard and sriracha-ketchup dipping sauces. Heck, it's Christmas: Serve 'em both.
60. Cranberry Apple Danish
If your guests want to think you bought these at a fancy neighborhood bakery, so be it.
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