17 Christmas Breakfast Recipes to Make Christmas Morning Easy

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Christmas morning goes fast: stockings, wrapping paper everywhere, and a house full of hungry people. The best Christmas breakfasts are the ones you can prep the night before or put together while the coffee brews.

This list mixes make-ahead casseroles, sweet cinnamon rolls, festive pancakes, and a few easy showstoppers, each from a food blogger whose recipe we love. Every recipe links back to the creator for the full instructions.

How to Choose Your Christmas Breakfast

• Make-ahead the night before: overnight cinnamon rolls (No. 1), the cranberry orange French toast casserole (No. 11), and the overnight breakfast casserole (No. 17).
• Feeding a crowd: the Amish breakfast casserole (No. 5), the sausage and hash brown casserole (No. 9), or the slow cooker tater tot casserole (No. 10).
• Sweet and festive: gingerbread cinnamon rolls (No. 2), eggnog monkey bread (No. 4), or gingerbread pancakes (No. 6).
• Fast mornings: the cinnamon roll casserole (No. 12), stuffed French toast (No. 16), and the eggnog Dutch baby (No. 15).

Christmas Morning Kitchen Essentials

• A deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid: for overnight casseroles, and the lid makes fridge storage easy
• A tilt-head stand mixer: does the kneading for cinnamon rolls and monkey bread
• A 22-inch electric griddle: cooks a full batch of pancakes or French toast at once
• A 10.25-inch cast iron skillet: for browning sausage and baking a Dutch baby
• A 7-quart slow cooker: for a hands-off breakfast casserole
• A balloon whisk: for smooth custards and batters

1. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls filled with buttery brown sugar and topped with cream cheese frosting. You assemble them the day before, let them rise in the fridge overnight, and bake in the morning.

Make-ahead: That’s the whole point here. Shape the rolls the night before and bake them while the presents are opened.

Why it works: A slow overnight rise builds flavor and moves the work to the evening before.

Tools you need: a tilt-head stand mixer and a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid

👉 Get the recipe at Bake or Break

2. Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Molasses and gingerbread spices go into the dough, giving classic cinnamon rolls a holiday twist, all finished with cream cheese frosting. The creator calls them a make-ahead Christmas breakfast, and they look the part.

Swap it: The creator uses part white whole wheat flour; all-purpose works if that’s what you have.

Serve with: Hot coffee and a bowl of clementines.

Tools you need: a tilt-head stand mixer and an angled offset spatula

👉 Get the recipe at Well Plated

3. Croissant French Toast Casserole

Buttery torn croissants soak up a cinnamon-vanilla custard with berries, then bake until crisp on top and custardy inside. It feels fancy, but it is very hands-off.

Why it works: Croissants hold their flaky layers in the custard, so you get crunch and creaminess in the same bite.

Time: About 75 minutes including soaking and baking, per the creator’s card.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid and a balloon whisk

👉 Get the recipe at Natasha’s Kitchen

4. Eggnog Monkey Bread

Pull-apart monkey bread made from scratch with eggnog in the dough, rolled in cinnamon-nutmeg brown sugar, and finished with an eggnog glaze. The eggnog flavor is gentle rather than overwhelming.

Best for: A crowd around the tree. Everyone pulls off their own piece.

Time: Plan on a bit over three hours including rises, per the creator’s card.

Tools you need: a 12-cup Bundt pan and a tilt-head stand mixer

👉 Get the recipe at RecipeGirl

5. Amish Breakfast Casserole

A hearty casserole loaded with eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, cheddar, Swiss, and cottage cheese. It’s the stick-to-your-ribs option when you’re feeding a full house.

Best for: Big families. The creator’s card serves 12.

Make-ahead: Cook the bacon and sausage the day before so morning prep is just assembling and baking.

Tools you need: a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet and a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid

👉 Get the recipe at Jo Cooks

6. Fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes

Fluffy pancakes with molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, made with whole wheat pastry flour. They taste like gingerbread cookies but are hearty enough for breakfast.

Time: About 25 minutes, per the creator’s card.

Serve with: Maple syrup and a spoonful of whipped cream or Greek yogurt.

Tools you need: a 22-inch electric griddle and a balloon whisk

👉 Get the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen

7. Easy Scones

Buttery, flaky scones with a flexible base that welcomes blueberries, dried fruit, or chocolate. Swap in dried cranberries and orange zest and you have a Christmas morning version.

Swap it: Try dried cranberries and orange zest, or chopped white chocolate and crushed peppermint.

Make-ahead: Scone dough generally freezes well. Shape the scones, freeze them on a tray, and bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.

Tools you need: a Microplane zester and a half sheet pan with cooling grid

👉 Get the recipe at Love and Lemons

8. Cinnamon Coffee Cake

A moist sour cream coffee cake with a thick layer of brown sugar cinnamon streusel. It slices cleanly for a buffet and is just as good with afternoon coffee.

Make-ahead: Bake it the day before. Coffee cake keeps well covered at room temperature.

Best for: Brunch buffets where people serve themselves.

Tools you need: a 5-speed hand mixer and glass mixing bowls

👉 Get the recipe at Inspired Taste

9. Christmas Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Hash Browns

Layers of hash brown patties, breakfast sausage, red and green peppers, eggs, and cheddar are topped with fresh mozzarella. The red and green peppers make it look naturally festive.

Why it works: Hash brown patties form a sturdy, crisp base, so slices hold together.

Time: About 80 minutes, per the creator’s card.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid and a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet

👉 Get the recipe at The Endless Meal

10. Crockpot Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater tots, sausage, peppers, green chilies, and two cheeses cook low and slow in the slow cooker. That keeps the oven free for cinnamon rolls.

Best for: Hosts juggling multiple dishes. The slow cooker does the work.

Time: Plan on several hours on low, per the creator’s card, so start early.

Tools you need: a 7-quart slow cooker and a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet

👉 Get the recipe at Carlsbad Cravings

11. Overnight Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole

Day-old bread soaks overnight in a maple-cinnamon custard with fresh cranberries and orange zest, then bakes under a buttery streusel. It’s bright, festive, and ready when you wake up.

Make-ahead: Assemble the night before; the long soak is what makes it custardy.

Why it works: Tart cranberries and orange keep a sweet breakfast from tasting heavy.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid and a Microplane zester

👉 Get the recipe at Kristine’s Kitchen

12. Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Refrigerated cinnamon rolls are cut up and baked in a cinnamon-honey custard, then drizzled with icing. It’s the easiest Christmas breakfast on this list.

Best for: Busy mornings and beginner bakers.

Swap it: Use maple syrup instead of honey, as the creator notes.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid and a balloon whisk

👉 Get the recipe at The First Year

13. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Fluffy, spiced cinnamon pancakes swirled with a brown sugar cinnamon filling and topped with cream cheese icing. They taste like cinnamon rolls without the yeast and rising time.

Time: About 30 minutes, per the creator’s card.

Why it works: Piping the cinnamon swirl onto each pancake gives you the classic roll look in minutes.

Tools you need: a 22-inch electric griddle and disposable piping bags

👉 Get the recipe at Cooking Classy

14. Crustless Spinach Quiche

Sautéed onion, peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes bake in a creamy egg custard with mozzarella and Parmesan. With no crust, it’s lighter and naturally low-carb.

Best for: Gluten-free or low-carb guests at the table.

Make-ahead: Bake it the day before and rewarm slices, or serve at room temperature.

Tools you need: a 9-inch glass pie plate and a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet

👉 Get the recipe at Jessica Gavin

15. Eggnog Dutch Baby

A puffy oven pancake made with eggnog, baked in a hot skillet until the edges climb and turn golden. Dust it with powdered sugar and bring it straight to the table.

Why it works: A very hot skillet makes the batter puff dramatically, so it looks impressive with little effort.

Serve with: Berries, a squeeze of lemon, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Tools you need: a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet and a balloon whisk

👉 Get the recipe at Baker by Nature

16. Strawberries and Cream Stuffed French Toast

Brioche French toast stuffed with a sweet cream cheese filling and fresh strawberries, then finished with maple syrup. It’s a restaurant-style breakfast ready in about 30 minutes.

Time: About 30 minutes, per the creator’s card.

Best for: A smaller Christmas morning for two to four people.

Tools you need: a 22-inch electric griddle and glass mixing bowls

👉 Get the recipe at Cafe Delites

17. Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Bread, sausage, sharp cheddar, and parsley soak overnight in an egg and half-and-half custard. In the morning you just bake. It’s a reliable crowd-pleaser that frees up your morning.

Make-ahead: Assemble the night before and bake in the morning.

Serve with: Fresh fruit salad and mimosas.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid and a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet

👉 Get the recipe at Once Upon a Chef

Tips for an Easy Christmas Morning

• Prep on Christmas Eve. Brown the sausage, chop the vegetables, and assemble casseroles so the morning is just bake and serve.
• Food safety: egg casseroles are done when the center reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, and assembled casseroles should stay refrigerated until baking. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
• Balance sweet and savory. Pair one sweet bake with one egg dish and a bowl of fresh fruit.

Pick one make-ahead recipe and one fun extra, and Christmas morning will mostly take care of itself. Click through to each creator’s full recipe for exact amounts and steps.

You might also like: Christmas bread recipes, homemade eggnog, leftover ham recipes, sugared cranberries, and Christmas drinks.