27 Brunch Dishes for the Best Christmas Morning

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August 30, 2017 at 3:00 AM

With a full agenda of gathering around the tree to unwrap gifts, you’ll want to add these easy, hearty, and warming dishes to your Christmas brunch menu

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1 of 27 Iain Bagwell

Crabcake Eggs Benedict

Dungeness is always on the menu at chef Joshua Delgado’s Alderbrook, set right on Washington’s Hood Canal. These outstanding Benedicts skip the customary English muffin to showcase just crisp crabcake, egg, and hollandaise.

Recipe: Crabcake Eggs Benedict

2 of 27 Ngoc Minh Ngo

Scrambled Eggs with Meyer Lemon Salsa Verde

An unusually gentle technique makes these eggs creamy and cloudlike. Drizzled with a luscious Italian-style sauce of olive oil, capers, parsley, and aromatic Meyer lemons, it’s an unforgettable brunch dish. All you need is toast. Recipe: Scrambled Eggs with Meyer Lemon Salsa Verde

3 of 27 Karen Steffens

Wild Mushroom-Egg Bake

The last thing you want to do on Christmas morning is slave over the stove. This egg bake is a cinch to make and can be customized with any variety of mushroom you like. Recipe: Wild Mushroom-Egg Bake

4 of 27 Annabelle Breakey

Swiss Chard and Sausage Frittata

We love this frittata because it’s loaded with four kinds of fresh vegetables, in addition to sausage and cheese, and is ready in 30 minutes. Recipe: Swiss Chard and Sausage Frittata

5 of 27 Annabelle Breakey

Queen’s Puff

Try this substantial one-dish breakfast when you’re serving a crowd. Recipe: Queen’s Puff

6 of 27 Leo Gong

Baked Chiles Rellenos

This spicy eggy dish is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Assemble the day before and avoid a mad rush in the morning. Recipe: Baked Chiles Rellenos

7 of 27 Photo by Iain Bagwell; written by Stephanie Spencer

Smoked Salmon Breakfast Burrito

The cream cheese and salmon in these wraps make for a decadent breakfast that’s a play on bagels and lox, burrito-style. If you’re in the mood for meat, you could easily substitute bacon or sausage for the fish. Recipe: Smoked Salmon Breakfast Burrito

8 of 27 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Stephanie Dean

Speedy Huevos Rancheros

You can make these in minutes if you use store-bought salsa and canned refried beans. Recipe: Speedy Huevos Rancheros

9 of 27 Annabelle Breakey

Coffee and Brown Sugar Bacon

Candied bacon gets a little complexity from the slight bitterness of coffee. Recipe: Coffee and Brown Sugar Bacon

10 of 27 Yunhee Kim

Thousand-Seed Banana Date Muffins

Four kinds of seeds give these moist muffins a great crunch. Recipe: Thousand-Seed Banana Date Muffins

11 of 27 Iain Bagwell

Cheese Dill Scones

If you’re looking for a brunch bread that’s savory rather than sweet, this recipe is one of our favorites. Recipe: Cheese Dill Scones

12 of 27 Annabelle Breakey

Almond and Jam Pastries

When you’re short on time, make pastries the easy way by spreading thick slices of brioche or challah with your favorite jam and a crunchy nut topping. Recipe: Almond and Jam Pastries

13 of 27 Peden & Munk

Big Dutch Baby

For an easy-to-make brunch item on Christmas morning, it’s hard to beat this giant, German-style pancake. Serve with the fruit toppings of your choice and powdered sugar (for that winter wonderland effect).

Recipe: Big Dutch Baby

14 of 27 Photo by James Carrier

Cinnamon-Hazelnut Pancakes

Give this breakfast staple a makeover with the addition of freshly toasted, aromatic hazelnuts. Recipe: Cinnamon-Hazelnut Pancakes

15 of 27 Photo by James Carrier

Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes

Ricotta makes these pancakes light and fluffy. At San Diego’s Crest Cafe, which created them, they’re served with sliced fresh fruit and a drizzle of warm berry coulis. Recipe: Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes

16 of 27

Toffee French Toast with Pecans

You can get a jump-start on the buttery brown sugar sauce a couple of days ahead. Recipe: Toffee French Toast with Pecans

17 of 27 Alex Farnum

Chocolate Banana Bread

The name sounds decadent, but you’ll be happy to know that this is the healthiest banana bread you’ll ever have. Consider it permission to slather on more butter. Recipe: Chocolate Banana Bread

18 of 27 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Romney Steele

Upside-Down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-Roasted Pears

This old-fashioned, moist cake, jazzed up with vanilla bean and roasted pears, takes on even more flavor if you start the pears a day ahead so they can steep in their syrup. Recipe: Upside-Down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-Roasted Pears

19 of 27 Photo by Leigh Beisch; written by Elaine Johnson

Cranberry-Orange Bread with Grand Marnier Glaze

Made with lots of bright cranberries, the bread is especially pretty for a holiday table—and it makes two loaves.Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Bread with Grand Marnier Glaze

20 of 27 Written by Elaine Johnson

Giant Cinnamon Rolls

Roll up a swirl of cinnamon-sugar into the dough, then top the warm rolls with cinnamon butter. Recipe: Giant Cinnamon Rolls

21 of 27 Thomas J. Story

Citrus Salad with Spiced Vanilla Syrup

This easy fruit salad looks especially striking made with multiple varieties and colors of blood oranges and grapefruit, but it’s just as delicious with a single kind of each. You’ll have enough syrup left over for flavoring sparkling water or lattes.

Recipe: Citrus Salad with Spiced Vanilla Syrup

22 of 27 Annabelle Breakey

Francie’s Fruit Salad

The pretty yellow-green color palette and zingy touch of ginger make this recipe a standout. Recipe: Francie’s Fruit Salad

23 of 27 Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Mindi Shapiro; Food Stylist: Anna Hampton

Layered Mocha

Sip hot chocolate through layers of hot espresso and thick, cold cream in this deconstructed mocha.

Recipe: Layered Mocha

24 of 27 Annabelle Breakey

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Amp up the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate tablets with vanilla beans, more cinnamon, orange zest, and chile. Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate

25 of 27 Lisa Corson

Chai (Spiced Indian-Style Tea)

For authentic flavor, create a strong tea and spice infusion, then boil it with milk and sugar. Recipe: Chai (Spiced Indian-Style Tea)

26 of 27 Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Sparkling Spice

This festive mocktail includes a licoricey touch of star anise. Recipe: Sparkling Spice

27 of 27 Iain Bagwell

Pear Punch Sparkler

Set out a fruity, pretty punch like this one for brunch, and guests can help themselves while you’re setting out the food.

Recipe: Pear Punch Sparkler

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