During the holidays, you don't need to pretend you're a morning person to make a special breakfast spread. There are plenty of things to worry about when entertaining houseguests, so why not make breakfast as hands-off as possible? Here, we share an array of impressive breakfast and brunch recipes that can be made ahead – whether they keep well for several days or can rest in the fridge overnight before baking the next morning.
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
1) Lazy Morning Eggnog Coffee Cake
This coffee cake's fine, soft crumb (made from a lush base of whipped cream) and addition of nutmeg and cinnamon capture the essence of eggnog – no actual eggnog required! Since it keeps well for several days, you can make it the night before (or even earlier), so all you have to do is slice and serve in the morning.
Get the recipe: Lazy Morning Eggnog Coffee Cake
Buy this recipe: Nutmeg And Vietnamese cinnamon
Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
2) Apple French Toast Bake
French toast typically requires hovering over a pan to grill each slice, but a French toast Bake Takes an easier fan-like approach. Cut your bread into cubes, let them soak in a sweet milk mixture overnight (or up to 48 hours), and put the baking dish in the oven right before the company comes in the morning. They will be greeted with the aroma of apples, cinnamon and maple syrup.
Get the recipe: Apple French Toast Bake
Buy this recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon And Vermont maple syrup
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
3) Pistachio Cranberry Wreath
The holidays are always a great time to invest in a project bake, and this showstopper is no exception. Vibrant green pistachios and ruby red cranberries give this loaf a festive pop of color (and flavor, of course). You can make it the day before you need it, then reheat and serve it the next morning. (Be sure to check the recipe page for full instructions.)
Get the recipe: Pistachio Cranberry Wreath
Buy this recipe: Rolling mat
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
4) Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
This kid-friendly breakfast delivers the molasses-y flavor of gingerbread cookies, but in the form of fluffy, decadent buns. And don't forget a big swoop of sweetened cream cheese frosting on top. To make ahead, follow the tip at the bottom of the recipe page: Rest the shaped rolls in the fridge overnight, then let them rise and bake the next morning.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Buy this recipe: Ginger And Black cocoa
Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
5) Fraline French Toast
This oven-baked French toast uses a genius technique: Pour a glaze of melted butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup into a baking dish, add your slices of bread and custard, and once it's baked, flip over each slice to expose the Golden. , syrup side. You can prep the custard-soaked portion of the bread the day before, refrigerate it overnight, and finish baking in the morning.
Get the recipe: Praline French Toast
Buy this recipe: King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract
Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
6) Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Quiche
Quiche is a brunch staple, and here, the comforting flavors of roasted squash, rosemary and thyme give it a winter spin. It keeps well, so you can bake this in the evening and reheat once you are ready for breakfast the following day. In a season of sweets, make this the savory star of your holiday breakfast table.
Get the recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Quiche
Buy this recipe: Pie bread
Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
7) Chocolate Babka Wreath
Isn't everyone looking for an excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast? The decadent babka has the familiar twisted appearance of the beloved bread, but it is shaped into a wreath that is destined to be a centerpiece. Bake it ahead of time, then reheat it right before you're about to eat to fill your kitchen with the aroma of butter and chocolate.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Babka Rit
Buy this recipe: Triple cocoa blending
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
8) Frangipane and fruit-filled wool rolls
The adorably shaped milk bread rolls are arranged to resemble a cozy blanket, and their interiors are just as fluffy and soft as the name implies. But the real surprise lies within: alternating fillings of orange-cardamom and raspberry frangipane. Refrigerating the dough overnight before shaping makes it easier to handle, and also provides some flexibility when making this ahead of time.
Get the recipe: Frangipane and fruit-filled wool rolls
Buy this recipe: Cloud Forest Earth Cardamom And Orange Blossom Water
Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
9) Giant cinnamon roll
Who needs a baking pan of cinnamon rolls when you can have one Giant Cinnamon roll instead? This charming take on the sweet roll has a soft center and slightly crisp edges. Slice it into wedges to reveal the gooey, swirled interior. You can refrigerate the shaped cinnamon roll dough overnight, then bake it off first thing in the morning.
Get the recipe: Giant cinnamon roll
Buy this recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon
Photography by Mark Weinberg; Food styling by Erin Jeanne McDowell
10) Old Fashioned Maine Sourdough Waffles
If you're cooking for a crowd, you may not have the time to make dozens of waffles one by one. The waffles can be made ahead of time, frozen, and reheated to their former glory in the toaster at a moment's notice.
Store the recipe: Old fashioned mine sourdough waffles
Get the recipe: Cuisinart Double Sided Belgian Waffle Maker
Photography by Angie Mosier
11) Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding
Still have some cranberries laying around Thanksgiving? Combine them with fresh rosemary and cubed stale bread in this delicious bread pudding, which can be assembled the night before and baked right when you wake up.
Buy this recipe: Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding
Get the recipe: 9″ x 13″ pan
Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
12) Broccoli-cheddar breakfast strata
For a savory take on make-ahead bread pudding, combine broccoli, crumbled breakfast sausage, stale bread and cheddar. Each crispy-cheesy bite is also punched up by dry mustard and dried onions. It's incredibly flexible: the whole dish can hang in your fridge for two days or frozen up to two weeks ahead.
Buy this recipe: Broccoli-cheddar breakfast strata
Get the recipe: 9″ x 13″ pan
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food styling by Sheila Jarnes
13) Giant Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tart
A Pop Tart may not seem like a special holiday breakfast, but when you make it from scratch and super-size it, it will be something your guests will never forget. This pastry keeps well at room temperature for a few days, and you can reheat individual slices just like a typical pop tart.
Get the recipe: Giant Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tart
Buy this recipe: Bench knife
Looking for easy recipes to bake this season? Check out ours 12 easy holiday recipes for every baking occasion.
cover photo (Giant cinnamon roll) and food styling by Liz Neely.