Gooey cinnamon rolls, cheesy breakfast casseroles, and savory quiches, waking up to a Christmas breakfast filled with these treats is almost as delightful as discovering the presents under the tree.Christmas dinner typically takes the main stage, but there’s something special about spending the morning and early afternoon lounging in pajamas with comfort foods like hot chocolate, strata, and pancakes on hand. It is a little extra work to get another big meal on the table, especially before noon, but many holiday classics can be prepped the night before, all before Santa and his reindeer arrive. Here are a few of the Southern Living Editors’ favorite Christmas breakfasts, and they just might become your favorite, too.
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Overnight French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup
“My mother-in-law has been making the same crème brûlée french toast for Christmas morning since my husband was a kid. It’s actually a New York Times recipe. Christmas 2021 was the first one we spent away from family and it was the one thing my husband asked for. I tried my best to replicate it for him but it was a total fail. I followed the recipe to a T and it was still a flop. Since then I’ve tried other french toast casseroles to much greater success, including this Southern Living recipe. My mother-in-law remains the only person who can make magic from that original recipe,” says Senior Staff Writer, Meghan Overdeep.
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Old-Fashioned Pancakes
“My family has pancakes for Christmas morning every year. Sometimes they are just plain, sometimes they are in fun shapes like snowmen with a bacon scarf, and sometimes every family member chooses their own add-ins like pecans, bananas, or chocolate chips. No matter how they are served, homemade pancakes are always on the menu!” says Digital Editor, Jenna Sims.
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Hashbrown Casserole
“Most people probably eat this at dinner, but we eat it for Christmas breakfast with bacon and eggs,” says Kimberly Holland, Senior Digital Food Editor.
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Sausage-Kale Strata
After a few bites of her friend’s Christmas morning strata recipe, Senior Staff Writer, Meghan Overdeep, was convinced to incorporate the eggy breakfast dish into her own holiday traditions. She might not have her friend’s family recipe, but she turns to this Southern Living version instead.
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Crustless Ham and Collard Greens Quiche
“To me, a perfect recipe features a balance of ease, versatility, and flavor,” says Senior Food Editor Josh Miller. “This quiche is a perfect example—it works great with leftovers, lends itself to substitutions, and because it has no crust to fool with, it’s anything but fussy. My family loves it for Christmas morning, but it’s also a great candidate for New Year’s brunch to get an extra helping of those lucky foods in!”
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Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole
“We always have a cheese grits casserole! My mom makes hers with Gruyère, and that’s what I fall asleep dreaming about on Christmas Eve,” says Betsy Cribb Watson, Senior Home and Features Editor.
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Butter Pecan Scones
“I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I kind of hate baking,” says Senior Food Editor Josh Miller. “However, these scones are SO DARN GOOD they make my disdain for baking evaporate. They’re so buttery, crumbly, and tender—they may just make a baker out of me yet!”
