What to Make for Your Holiday Breakfast or Brunch
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 29, 2024
What are you making for Christmas brunch? This roundup is for you if you haven’t thought of it yet. It’s the busiest season of the year, after all.
Below, you’ll find lists of recipes organized by category—from eggs and potatoes to lightened-up savory lunches, wholesome pancakes, waffles and more. These healthy(ish) recipes will gear you up for a great day!
A few of my top quick picks:
- Frittata (make it ahead of time) with Roasted Breakfast Potatoes
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup
- Stuffed Acorn Squash with Creamy Cauliflower Soup
- Gingerbread Pancakes with Pecan Butter on top
- Cranberry Pecan Granola or Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa with yogurt
More holiday resources you might find helpful: 2019 Holiday Gift Guide, 31 Wholesome Holiday Treats, and 33 Meatless Holiday Recipes (written for Thanksgiving, but will also work for any wintertime feast).
Hearty Egg Dishes
- Avocado Pesto Toast
- The Best Frittatas (Stovetop or Baked)
- Foolproof Shakshuka
- Goat Cheese Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Olive Oil Fried Eggs
- Red Chilaquiles
- Simple Breakfast Quesadillas
Potatoes on the Side
Lightened-Up Lunches
- Arugula and Wild Rice Salad with Zippy Lemon Dressing
- Farro and Kale Salad with Goat Cheese
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Minestrone Soup
- Mujadara (Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions)
- Roasted Carrots with Farro, Chickpeas & Herbed Crème Fraîche
- Sweet Potato, Arugula & Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Dressing
- Sweet Potato, Kale and Chickpea Soup
- Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Vegetable Paella
Salads and Soups on the Side
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Cauliflower Soup
- Ginger Salad Dressing
- Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Pepitas
- Honey Mustard Brussels Sprout Slaw
- Tomato Soup
Pancakes & Waffles
- Banana Pancakes or Banana Oat Pancakes or Banana Oat Waffles
- Buckwheat Pancakes or Buckwheat Waffles
- Gingerbread Pancakes
- Oat Waffles
- Vegan Pancakes
- Whole Wheat Pancakes or Whole Wheat Pancake Mix
Muffins, Quick Breads & Scones
Granola & Oat Recipes
- Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal
- Cranberry Orange Granola
- Cranberry Orange Steel-Cut Oats
- Gingerbread Granola
- Morning Glory Oatmeal
- Orange & Almond Granola
- Pecan Granola Bars
- The Very Best Granola
More Wholesome Options
- Banana Baked French Toast with Peanut Butter Drizzle
- Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa
- No-Bake Greek Yogurt Tart
- Pecan Butter
Brunch Cocktails & Warming Drinks
- The Best Mimosas
- Classic Hot Toddy
- French 75 Cocktail or Earl Grey French 75 (these are strong!)
- Fresh Ginger Tea
- Homemade Bloody Marys
- Hot Chocolate
P.s. More resources you might appreciate: What to cook this December, my holiday gift guide, 31 wholesome holiday treats and 33 meatless Thanksgiving options (all of which would work for Christmas, too!).
I just purchased your cookbook as I have been a subscriber of your blog for awhile. What a joy to read your recipes and see the photos. I made the Weeknight Burrito Bowls last night and they were delicious. Thank you for your great healthy recipes.
Thank you for purchasing my book! I hope you love it, Terry.
These are all such good ideas!
Paige
I can personally vouch for the blended tomato soup and the blended cauliflower soup! Both are absolutely delicious!
Thank you, Rebecca!
What a great, comprehensive post! Everything looks absolutely delicious!! Well done!
Thank you, Voula!
I received your cookbook for Christmas, and I love it! I have marked a lot of recipes to make. I can’t wait! I’ll write again when I have made some. Soon! Great cookbook!
Brenda
I hope you enjoy it!
Happy holidays Kate, I made the cranberry salsa and took it out to my daughters house for christmas. Her husband, like my husband, don’t care for cranberries but went crazy over your recipe. They ate it all up. I tried Danny Trejos hot honey in your recipe and the mild heat really enhanced your salsa! Oh and the cream cheese along side of the salsa was stellar. Thanks again for a great recipe.