How to

Plan the Perfect Christmas Breakfast

From the moment your feet hit the floor in the morning until you lay your head on the pillow at night, Christmas day is filled with magic. Between buying gifts and making sure that you check every memory-making moment off your to-do list, there’s a lot that goes into making the day a special one for you and those you love. This year, start your holiday with a lovely meal that captures the spirit of the season without a lot of fuss. At Pottery Barn, we have the tips you need for a holly jolly morning meal, including ideas for the perfect Christmas breakfast menu and ways to create a memorable Christmas breakfast buffet.

Make a List, Check it Twice

Channel your inner Santa and make a list. Figure out which Christmas breakfast foods you plan to serve and the drinks you want to offer your family and guests. Decide how you want to set the table and a plan for serving the buffet. The last thing you want is to have to run to the store on Christmas Eve because you forgot an ingredient. Organization makes things smoother so you can focus on enjoying the morning.

Set Up the Night Before

Before you head to bed on Christmas Eve, set the table and buffet with everything you need. If you’re having a small breakfast, get the table set with all of your coffee mugs and glasses for juice, Bloody Marys, mimosas or mocktails. And, whether you’re using your favorite flatware or disposable utensils, put out all the forks, spoons and knives you’ll need for your breakfast guests.

Plan-Ahead Mains

Flapjacks and omelets are delicious! But instead of spending part of the morning at the stove, create a Christmas breakfast menu filled with main dishes that you can prep ahead and pop in the oven when you wake up. This leaves you more time to get yourself ready, attend to other details and enjoy spending time with the people you love. For example, instead of pancakes, try a French toast casserole. Instead of omelets or scrambled eggs, consider making an egg casserole or quiche. Bacon is also easy to reheat in the oven on Christmas morning.

Prep Beverages Ahead

If you’re serving Bloody Marys, get the mixer together the night before. You can also press fresh juice and keep it in the refrigerator in the pitchers you plan on using to serve. On Christmas morning you can wake up, pop breakfast in the oven and quickly mix the chilled beverages.

Time-Saving Hacks

Do you definitely want to serve bacon with breakfast? You don’t need to worry about the splattering that occurs when you cook it on the stovetop. Instead, cook it in the oven, which offers less mess and the added bonus of making a big batch all at the same time. You can easily transfer it from the oven to the serving platter in seconds.

Instead of making individual omelets for your guests, bake egg muffins in the oven, too. Fill each section of a muffin tin with an egg-and-milk mixture, and let everyone add their favorite toppings, like diced veggies and shredded cheese. Pop them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This frees up plenty of extra prep time you may need.

Don’t Forget the Sweets

Whether you prefer fresh fruit or pastries, it’s always nice to include a sweet note on your Christmas breakfast buffet. Choose options that you can have prepped ahead of time. A beautiful fruit salad in a gorgeous bowl can be assembled on Christmas Eve. You can toss in last-minute add-ins like sliced bananas, sliced starfruit and a light dressing right before serving. Likewise, muffin or scone batter can be mixed the night before and baked fresh in the morning.

Have Fun

You set the tone for the whole morning. The spirit of the holiday is all about family, friends, togetherness and love. Take the pressure of perfection off your shoulders and focus on creating a Christmas breakfast that gives you time merry holiday.