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Make-Ahead Christmas Brunch Recipes

December 06, 2016
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Enjoy Christmas morning with these make-ahead holiday brunch recipes that are perfect for a large group or family breakfast. From egg casseroles to sweet eggnog coffee cake, let these festive flavors fill your house with the scents of the season. Most of these recipes can be made the night before; you'll just need to bake them in the morning. A few can be made days or even weeks in advance and frozen or stored in air-tight containers until Christmas morning. With these make-ahead Christmas brunch recipes, you'll be able to relax with family and sip on your coffee stress-free while watching the paper and bows fly.
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Make-Ahead Christmas Brunch Recipes

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Cinnamon-Orange Pinwheels

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Cinnamon-Orange Pinwheels

There's no need to spend Christmas morning with your mixer; these orange-scented pinwheels freeze beautifully, reheat in just 25 minutes, and make your kitchen smell fantastic. Recruit little ones to help make the icing and spread over the rolls just before serving. To round out the morning meal, serve the rolls with a simple fruit salad and a frittata or soft-scrambled eggs.

To Freeze: Cool unfrosted rolls completely. Remove from baking dish; wrap together in foil. Wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze up to one month.

To Reheat: Remove plastic wrap. Bake in foil at 350°F for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Prepare icing as directed in step 7, halving the amount if icing just one pan.

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Spinach, Bacon, and Gruyère Breakfast Strata

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Spinach, Bacon, and Gruyère Breakfast Strata

This dish has fewer than 20g of total carbs—about half of what you'll find in classic bread-based casseroles. Greek yogurt, eggs, and cheese pack a mighty protein punch, while a touch of bacon seasons to perfection. The strata is best if allowed to soak overnight. Not only does this build in make-ahead convenience, it also allows the bread to fully absorb the egg mixture—yielding a creamy texture inside, while the top bread pieces get delightfully crisp.

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Eggnog Coffee Cake

Photo: Justin Walker
View Recipe: Eggnog Coffee Cake

Families and grandparents will love Eggnog Coffee Cake. Make a second cake for gifting, or package individual slices.

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Sweet Potato and Sausage Strata

Photo: Linda Pugliese
View Recipe: Sweet Potato and Sausage Strata

Hand over the reins: Let the kids assemble this savory-sweet oven-baked treat. If you make this dish ahead, bring it to room temperature before baking so it will reheat evenly.

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Baked Marzipan Donuts

Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Baked Marzipan Donuts

Bake these the night before and either decorate with your guests or beforehand. Marzipan is easy to use as an ingredient in baked goods and decorating. Theses donuts are the perfect sweet bite on Christmas morning as the festive decorations are endless. Look for marzipan on the baking aisle in large supermarkets or in specialty baking stores.

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Artichoke and Spinach Strata

Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Artichoke and Spinach Strata

Thaw the artichoke hearts according to microwave directions or in the refrigerator for 2 hours. You can also place artichoke hearts in the baking dish and bake at 375° until thawed, then remove from the pan and continue the recipe. Try swapping artichokes and spinach for 1 (14-ounce) bag thawed frozen broccoli florets and Monterey Jack for cheddar cheese.

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Almond Coffee Cake Muffins

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Almond Coffee Cake Muffins

These sweet muffins are an ideal dessert or an indulgent breakfast. Whichever you choose, you'll love them for their nutty flavor and sugary topping.

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Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

This make-ahead dish is like enjoying an omelet stuffed with spinach, Swiss cheese, and mushrooms, with hearty sides of bacon and hash browns, all in one package.

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Spiced Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Glaze

Photo: Ditte Isager
View Recipe: Spiced Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Glaze

Delicata squash is a great choice for dessert recipes. It is characterized by yellow flesh that tastes similar to sweet potatoes. Roasting it in this recipe intensifies the sweet flavor. If you can't find delicata, substitute butternut.

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Butternut Stratas with Gruyère

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Butternut Stratas with Gruyère

If you don't have individual ramekins, you can bake the strata in an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray for 25 minutes.

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Christmas Granola

Photo: Jamie Vespa
View Recipe: Christmas Granola

Our homemade granola is infused with a wealth of holiday flavor and hits every note on the salty-sweet-chewy-crunchy spectrum. Use any combination of nuts you like – though we love the pop of green from the pistachios. Fresh rosemary adds a rustic edge and earthiness, while silky molasses adds depth of flavor and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of gingerbread. This festive granola is the perfect edible gift when wrapped in a holiday bag or piled high in a mason jar. One serving boasts a hearty 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of plant-powered protein. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving!

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Streusel-Topped French Toast Casserole with Fruit Compote

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Streusel-Topped French Toast Casserole with Fruit Compote

If you like bread pudding, you'll love this creamy, custard-rich treat. For a special finishing touch, dollop with whipped topping.

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Artichoke and Goat Cheese Strata

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Artichoke and Goat Cheese Strata

To make this scrumptious strata ahead of time, prepare through step 2, cover, and chill. Before baking, let bread mixture stand at room temperature 10 minutes while the oven preheats, then assemble and bake. The cook time will increase by about 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley.

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Cinnamon Rolls with Dates

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Cinnamon Rolls with Dates

Embrace the warm and cozy aroma of cinnamon in your kitchen. These rolls deliver hints of sweet citrus and notes of dark, delicious raisins and dates.

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Ham and Cheese Strata

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Ham and Cheese Strata

The longer this sets before baking, the more custard-like the consistency will be. Trust us, it's worth the wait.

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Gingerbread Loaf

Photo: Jan Smith
View Recipe: Gingerbread Loaf

This aromatic, spice-filled gingerbread loaf cake is even more moist the next day, so it's well suited to make ahead for a bake sale.

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Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

Assemble this tasty dish the night before, then pop it in the oven about an hour before you want to eat.

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Double Berry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

Sara Tane
View Recipe: Double Berry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

Rise and shine to a thoroughly red, white, and blue breakfast. This lower-sugar recipe is a great way to use up slightly hard baguette and any berries you have roaming around your produce drawer. You don't have to let it sit overnight, but a few hours in the fridge will only make the casserole creamier.

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Mushroom & Bacon Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Davick
View Recipe: Mushroom & Bacon Casserole

Very few things embody comfort food like this hearty, warming mushroom and bacon casserole.

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Bananas Foster Breakfast Strata

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Bananas Foster Breakfast Strata

Take care when adding the rum to the hot pan—it flames up immediately. You can also add the rum off the heat, and then carefully light it with a long match.

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Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Sausage and Cheese Fall Breakfast Casserole

Pop this cheesy casserole in the oven and let it bake while you sip coffee. Find turkey breakfast sausage in the freezer section of the supermarket with other breakfast meats.

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Breakfast Coffee Cake

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Breakfast Coffee Cake

If you're freezing the cake for later enjoyment, skip the frosting. But you won't want to skip it altogether. Prepare it after thawing—it's too good to miss.

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Sausage and Polenta Breakfast Casserole

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Sausage and Polenta Breakfast Casserole

Creamy and savory collide in a wonderful way—everyone gathered around your holiday breakfast table will love this one.

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Apple-Stuffed Strata

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Apple-Stuffed Strata

A layer of sweet, baked apples and crunchy pecan topping helps this breakfast bread pudding shine. Last-minute prep couldn't be simpler: Just add a dusting of sugar and nuts.

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Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole

Photo: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole

This breakfast casserole is not only low-fat and easy to prepare, but it's also a great make-ahead breakfast or brunch dish. Prepare the casserole overnight, then bake in the morning for a hearty and piping hot meal.

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Pear and Gruyère Strata

Photo: Nina Choi
View Recipe: Pear and Gruyère Strata

Think of this as stuffed French toast in a casserole. Here, sweet cinnamon bread meets juicy pears and the savory bite of Gruyère cheese. You want a pear variety that will hold its shape and won't exude too much moisture as the strata bakes—we liked Anjou and Concorde.

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Make-Ahead Shakshuka

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Make-Ahead Shakshuka

These individual shakshukas are easy to make and assemble ahead of time. Be sure to pierce the yolks (without breaking them) so they won't burst when microwaved.

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Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

For those concerned about losing flavor when baking with whole-wheat flour, rest assured. Brown sugar sweetens the filling of this breakfast treat, and powdered sugar dissolves into a milky glaze that's drizzled over the top. Your mind might think you have something to feel guilty about after indulging in one of these.

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Marmalade French Toast Casserole

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Marmalade French Toast Casserole

Grapefruit or mixed fruit marmalade will work just as well as the orange marmalade called for in the recipe. Serve the casserole with honey or pancake syrup warmed with orange rind and a splash of orange juice (add one teaspoon rind and two tablespoons juice per 1/2 cup syrup). This easy casserole can be assembled in less than 15 minutes and stored in the refrigerator overnight.

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Bundt Coffee Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Bundt Coffee Cake

If you like coffee cakes, you'll love this recipe. It's a moist, light cake with a surprise middle layer of nuts and cinnamon. Prepare it up to one month ahead, and freeze. Defrost at room temperature 24 hours before serving.

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Walnut Coffee Cake

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Walnut Coffee Cake

Great for a midmorning pick-me-up, this classic cake has a sweet streak of brown sugar and warm cinnamon with the nutty crunch of walnuts inside. Chop the walnuts to the size of small peas to ensure they are evenly distributed in the cake. Substitute pecans for walnuts, if desired.

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Cranberry-Apple French Toast Casserole

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Cranberry-Apple French Toast Casserole

This prep-ahead casserole, which turns extra dinner rolls and cranberry sauce into a brunch or dessert treat, is especially welcome if you are entertaining houseguests for the long holiday weekend. While we enjoyed the tartness of the Granny Smith apples, any baking apple will do. Serve with apple wedges.

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Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Serve this buttery cake for a make-ahead brunch dish or at the end of a casual meal.

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