8 Holiday Breakfast Ideas for a Delicious Christmas Morning
Christmas morning has its own kind of magic. The house is cozy, coffee is brewing, presents are waiting, and everyone eventually makes their way to the kitchen looking for something warm and delicious.
Whether your tradition calls for a slow Christmas brunch or something easy to enjoy between opening gifts, a special breakfast makes the morning even sweeter. From festive eggnog pancakes and gooey monkey bread to homemade sourdough rolls, savory breakfast sandwiches, and classic waffles, these holiday breakfast ideas offer a little something for everyone.
Choose one family favorite or mix and match a few to create a Christmas morning breakfast worth gathering around.
Festive Eggnog Pancakes
It doesn’t get much more festive than snowflake-shaped pancakes on Christmas morning.
These Eggnog Pancakes bring classic holiday flavor to the breakfast table with eggnog and a touch of nutmeg. Cooked in the Falling Snowflake Pancake Pan, each pancake comes out with a cheerful snowflake shape that makes an everyday breakfast feel made for the season.
Top them with butter and maple syrup, then serve them warm while everyone settles in for the morning.
Cinnamon Caramel Pull-Apart Monkey Bread
Some holiday breakfasts are made for sharing, and Cinnamon Caramel Pull-Apart Monkey Bread is one of them.
This easy Christmas breakfast starts with refrigerated biscuit dough tossed in cinnamon sugar, then gets covered in a buttery brown sugar caramel sauce before baking. The Poinsettia Pull-Apart Pan gives the finished bread a festive presentation that’s ready for the center of the breakfast table.
Serve it warm and let everyone pull off their own gooey, cinnamon-coated piece.
Sourdough Orange Rolls
For a Christmas breakfast that feels a little extra special, homemade Sourdough Orange Rolls are well worth the effort.
Soft, pillowy sourdough is swirled with butter, brown sugar, and fresh orange zest, then topped with creamy icing. The bright citrus flavor is a welcome addition to a holiday table full of warm, rich flavors. The rolls bake together in the Cardamom ™ 7″ x 11″ Rectangular Baker until lightly golden.
The recipe also includes an optional overnight ferment, making it easier to divide the work between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.
Sourdough Everything Bagels
If your family leans savory at breakfast, add a batch of homemade Sourdough Everything Bagels to the holiday menu.
Made with just six ingredients and everything bagel seasoning, these sourdough bagels bake up with a chewy interior and golden crust. The Simply Sourdough Bagel Pan helps create a consistent bagel shape and even browning right in the oven.
You can also use the recipe’s optional overnight ferment to do some of the preparation ahead of time.
Already making those sourdough bagels? Turn them into a hearty Christmas brunch with Bacon and Spinach Egg Bagel Sandwiches.
The colorful egg filling combines bacon, spinach, red bell pepper, mozzarella, and chives and bakes right on a sheet pan. Once baked, simply cut the eggs into rounds and layer them onto bagels with cheese and sliced avocado.
Prep the bagels ahead, bake the eggs in one batch, then let everyone build a breakfast sandwich just the way they like it.
Cinnamon Swirl Santa Loaf Cake
Bring a little extra Christmas cheer to the breakfast table with this Cinnamon Swirl Santa Loaf Cake. A tender sour cream loaf cake is layered with a sweet cinnamon-sugar swirl, creating a cozy holiday treat that feels right at home alongside Christmas morning coffee or brunch. Baked in the Santa’s Sleigh Loaf Pan, the cake comes out with a festive Santa design that’s ready to serve and share.
With just 10 minutes of prep and 40 to 45 minutes in the oven, it’s also an approachable option when you want something festive without an elaborate morning bake.
Pancake Bundt with Brown Sugar Maple Glaze
Pancakes meet Bundt cake in this fun twist on a breakfast favorite.
The Pancake Bundt with Brown Sugar Maple Glaze transforms pancake-inspired batter into a beautiful, sliceable Bundt made for sharing. After baking in the Jubilee Bundt® Pan, the warm cake is brushed with maple syrup and finished with a rich brown sugar maple glaze.
Bring the whole Bundt to the table and slice it up alongside coffee for a holiday brunch centerpiece that feels both familiar and unexpected.
Bacon French Toast Bake
Hosting a full house for the holidays? Put the Bacon French Toast Bake on the menu.
This sweet-and-savory breakfast bake layers challah bread with crispy bacon, cream cheese, and a custardy egg mixture. Everything bakes together in the Naturals® Nonstick 9″ x 13″ Rectangular Cake Pan, and the finished recipe serves 12 to 14.
Serve it warm with fresh berries and maple syrup for an easy-to-share breakfast fit for a crowd.
Classic Homemade Waffles
Sometimes the simplest traditions are the ones everyone looks forward to most.
These Classic Waffles are light, versatile, and made on the stovetop using the Original Stovetop Belgian Waffler. Serve them sweet or savory, or set out toppings like fresh fruit, maple syrup, whipped cream, butter, and chocolate sauce so everyone can make their own.
It’s a simple Christmas morning breakfast that can become a tradition year after year.
Tips for Planning an Easy Holiday Breakfast
A memorable holiday breakfast doesn’t mean making everything on the table from scratch Christmas morning. A little planning can keep breakfast special without taking you away from the festivities.
Mix Sweet and Savory
Balance sweeter favorites like eggnog pancakes, orange rolls, and monkey bread with something savory like egg bagel sandwiches. This gives everyone something they’ll enjoy and makes a larger brunch spread feel complete.
Do Some of the Work Ahead
Choose at least one recipe that lets you get a head start. Both the Sourdough Orange Rolls and Sourdough Everything Bagels include optional overnight fermentation instructions, so part of the process can happen ahead of your morning bake.
Think About How Many You’re Feeding
For a larger family gathering, choose a breakfast that serves easily from one pan. The Bacon French Toast Bake makes 12 to 14 servings, making it a particularly useful option when there are more people around the table.
Make It Feel Festive
Christmas breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special. Snowflake-shaped pancakes, a beautiful Bundt, warm pull-apart bread, or simply bringing breakfast to the table in a favorite Nordic Ware pan can turn a familiar recipe into a holiday tradition.
Make Christmas Morning Delicious
However your family spends Christmas morning, good food gives everyone another reason to gather in the kitchen.
Keep it simple with homemade waffles, make something festive like eggnog pancakes, bake a pan of monkey bread to pull apart and share, or turn breakfast into a full holiday brunch with sourdough bagels and egg sandwiches.
Pick the recipes that fit your traditions, pour another cup of coffee, and enjoy a Christmas morning breakfast made for sharing.
Make holiday breakfast extra special with the right pans for every festive favorite. Shop our favorite breakfast pans:
