These make-ahead Christmas morning breakfast and brunch recipes let you do the work the night before, so you can spend the morning opening presents instead of standing at the stove. You’ll find overnight casseroles, sweet rolls and coffee cakes, and egg bites and quiche you can bake ahead and reheat in minutes.
Christmas morning moves fast. Kids are up early, wrapping paper is everywhere, and nobody wants to wait an hour for breakfast. The secret is a plan: assemble a casserole on Christmas Eve, bake a coffee cake a day or two early, and stash a batch of egg bites in the fridge. Then all you have to do on Christmas morning is heat, serve, and pour the coffee.
Overnight Breakfast Casseroles
Assemble these on Christmas Eve, and breakfast practically makes itself.
1. Easy Ina Garten’s Breakfast Strata
The savory cousin of French toast casserole. Bread, eggs, cheese, and savory add-ins soak together overnight, then bake up golden and fluffy. It actually tastes better made ahead, and it freezes well after baking.
Make ahead: Assemble the night before, then bake in the morning.
Get the recipe: Easy Ina Garten’s Breakfast Strata
2. Sourdough French Toast Casserole
Chunks of sourdough soak up a cinnamon-spiced custard and bake into a warm, soft center with crisp edges. Add berries, bananas, nuts, or chocolate chips to make it your own.
Make ahead: Refrigerate it covered for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for the best flavor. Bake at 350°F in the morning.
Get the recipe: Sourdough French Toast Casserole
3. Air Fryer Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Cubes of bread, cream cheese, and fresh blueberries soak in a vanilla custard, then bake until the top is golden. A homemade blueberry syrup goes on top. It looks beautiful on a holiday brunch table.
Make ahead: Let it soak overnight in the fridge, then bake in the morning.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Blueberry French Toast Casserole
4. Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Eggs, sausage, hash browns, peppers, and melty cheese layered in the crockpot. It’s completely hands-off and feeds a crowd.
Make ahead: Layer it in the slow cooker and let it cook overnight, so breakfast is hot when everyone wakes up.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
5. Air Fryer Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
A crescent dough crust topped with sausage, eggs, and cheese, a bit like a breakfast pizza. It takes just four main ingredients and slices into easy squares.
Make ahead: Bake it up to 3 to 4 days early, keep it in the fridge, and reheat slices in the air fryer.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
6. Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole (Individual Egg Bakes)
Fluffy eggs, savory sausage, and melty cheddar baked in individual ramekins, so everyone gets their own. They’re ready in about 20 minutes and easy to customize with bacon, ham, or veggies.
Make ahead: Prep the egg mixture and fillings the night before, then bake in the morning.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole
Sweet Rolls, Monkey Bread, and Coffee Cake
The sweet side of the brunch table, and the smell everyone wakes up to.
7. Air Fryer Eggnog Cinnamon Monkey Bread
The most festive recipe on this list. Pieces of cinnamon roll dough get coated in eggnog and cinnamon, then bake into soft, gooey pull-apart bread. Using Grands cinnamon rolls keeps it easy.
Make ahead: Measure out the dry ingredients and chop the nuts on Christmas Eve.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Eggnog Cinnamon Monkey Bread
8. Air Fryer Pecan Monkey Bread
Dinner rolls coated in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla, with caramelized pecans in every bite. It’s a family-size breakfast treat.
Make ahead: Bake it the day before, then rewarm it in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Pecan Monkey Bread
9. Air Fryer Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (Cinnabon Copycat)
Soft, from-scratch cinnamon rolls with a buttery cinnamon-sugar filling, inspired by Cinnabon. They bake in the air fryer at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
Make ahead: Make the filling and frosting the day before.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
10. Easy Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls from Frozen Bread Dough
The shortcut to homemade cinnamon rolls. Frozen bread dough gets a cinnamon-sugar filling, rises for about an hour, then bakes at 320°F for 10 to 12 minutes.
Make ahead: Thaw the dough in the fridge overnight, then roll and fill in the morning.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls from Frozen Bread Dough
11. Air Fryer Homemade Coffee Cake
A moist, fluffy cake made with Bisquick and topped with a rich, buttery cinnamon crumble. It bakes at 350°F in about 18 to 20 minutes.
Make ahead: Bake it a day or two before Christmas, and keep it covered at room temperature.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Homemade Coffee Cake
12. Air Fryer Apple Coffee Cake
Soft, tender cake loaded with cinnamon-spiced apples and finished with a sweet glaze. Use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples so they hold their shape.
Make ahead: Bake it the day before, then add the glaze right before serving.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Apple Coffee Cake
13. Perkins Mammoth Muffins (Copycat)
Tall, bakery-style blueberry muffins with a tender sour cream crumb and crunchy cinnamon streusel. The recipe also includes pumpkin, banana nut, and apple variations.
Make ahead: Bake them on Christmas Eve, and they’re ready to grab in the morning.
Get the recipe: Perkins Mammoth Muffins Copycat Recipe
Egg Bites, Quiche, and Savory Brunch
Protein-packed options to balance all the sweets.
14. Easy Air Fryer Starbucks Italian Sausage Egg Bites
Italian sausage, eggs, cottage cheese, and gooey cheese, just like the Starbucks favorite. They’re low-carb and keto-friendly.
Make ahead: Store them in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze and reheat straight from frozen in the air fryer.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Starbucks Italian Sausage Egg Bites
15. Air Fryer Starbucks Copycat Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites
A lighter egg bite with roasted red peppers. They cook at 300°F until set but still slightly soft in the center.
Make ahead: These freeze well and reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Starbucks Copycat Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites
16. Air Fryer Meat Lover’s Quiche
Bacon, sausage, and ham in a flaky crust with a creamy, cheesy filling. It’s hearty enough to keep everyone full through a long morning of presents.
Make ahead: Bake it the day before, then reheat in the air fryer at 300°F until warm.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Meat Lover’s Quiche
17. Air Fryer Muffin Tin Mini Quiche
Bite-size quiches with sausage, cheddar, green onions, and red bell peppers. They’re perfect for a brunch buffet, and you can customize the fillings.
Make ahead: Bake them a day early, then rewarm before serving.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Muffin Tin Mini Quiche
18. Air Fryer Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sliders
Sausage, eggs, and melty cheddar and pepper jack on slider buns. They air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, just until the cheese melts.
Make ahead: Assemble and freeze them for 1 to 2 months, so they’re ready to heat on Christmas morning.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sliders
Your Stress-Free Christmas Morning Game Plan
Pick one savory dish, one sweet dish, and one grab-and-go option, then follow this timeline.
- Two to three days before: Bake your egg bites, mini quiches, or breakfast sliders, and store them in the fridge or freezer. Bake a coffee cake too, and keep it covered.
- The day before (December 23 or 24): Bake muffins, the crescent roll casserole, or a quiche. Shop for fresh fruit, juice, and coffee.
- Christmas Eve night: Assemble your strata or French toast casserole, cover it, and refrigerate. If you’re using the slow cooker casserole, layer it and start it before bed. Thaw any frozen bread dough in the fridge.
- Christmas morning: Bake the overnight casserole and warm the sweet rolls or monkey bread. Reheat egg bites in the air fryer while the casserole bakes, then set everything out buffet-style.
A simple brunch menu that works: Ina Garten’s breakfast strata, eggnog cinnamon monkey bread, Italian sausage egg bites, and a bowl of fresh fruit.
Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast FAQs
What is the best breakfast to make the night before Christmas? Overnight casseroles are the easiest. A breakfast strata or a French toast casserole soaks in the fridge overnight and only needs to be baked in the morning.
How far ahead can I make a Christmas breakfast casserole? Most overnight casseroles can be assembled the night before. Some, like the crescent roll breakfast casserole, can be baked a few days ahead and reheated. Check each recipe for its specific timing.
Can I freeze breakfast recipes for Christmas morning? Yes. Egg bites, breakfast sliders, and baked strata all freeze well. Thaw them in the fridge overnight, or reheat egg bites straight from frozen in the air fryer.
How do I keep everything warm for a brunch buffet? Serve the casserole straight from its baking dish, and keep egg bites and quiche warm in a low oven. A slow cooker set to warm also works well for keeping savory dishes hot.
What should I serve with a Christmas breakfast casserole? Fresh fruit, bacon or sausage, a sweet bread like monkey bread or coffee cake, and plenty of coffee, juice, or hot cocoa.
Merry Christmas, and enjoy a slow, cozy morning with the people you love!
