Holiday Brunch Ideas: 19 Recipes, Decor Tips, and Invitations

What better way to celebrate the love and joy of the holiday season than with a merry and bright brunch? If you’re ready to invite your favorite people to indulge in tasty dishes and deck the halls, look no further than this list of holiday brunch ideas.

We’ve collected must-try recipes from around the world, from decadent American inventions to classic Swiss and French favorites. Plus, we’ve included a few can’t-miss tips for decorating the table and making your celebration more memorable. You’ll also find holiday invitation ideas to invite guests to your home during the holidays.

Holiday Brunch Ideas: 10 Festive and Tasty Recipes

With these holiday breakfast ideas and Christmas brunch recipes, you’ll have what you need to serve up an incredible spread at your brunch party. From easy recipes you can make the night before to stand-out dishes that make a statement, there’s something for every taste and culinary skill level. 

1. Apple Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake

The scent of toasted cinnamon and apples is right at home during the most wonderful time of the year. And this cinnamon french toast casserole recipe — similar to a bread pudding — has all the crowd favorites from cinnamon and vanilla to walnuts and maple syrup. 

While the recipe calls for cinnamon rolls, you can swap those out for brioche, challah, or French bread if you want. The best part? It’s quick and easy to make so you can dance around to your favorite holiday tunes or hang festive decor while this delish dish bakes.

2. Quiche Lorraine

A traditional French favorite, Quiche Lorraine offers the warm smell of bacon, Swiss cheese, and fresh pastry. And it’s sure to awaken your senses on Christmas morning — or at any holiday brunch! Serve this savory meal in a casserole dish surrounded by festive decor for a gorgeous display.

3. Red Velvet Waffles with Cream Cheese Glaze

Get into the holiday spirit and make your food part of the decor with this sweet recipe for red velvet waffles. In 30 minutes, you’ll have chocolate-infused waffles made with a decadent red velvet batter. Top it with a few holiday sprinkles or nuts and arrange the waffle slices into the shape of a Christmas tree for a memorable brunch spread.

4. Ham and Cheese Overnight Breakfast Casserole

If the thought of putting together a holiday brunch has you feeling like the Grinch, don’t stress. Instead, use this Christmas breakfast casserole recipe for an easy, quick treat without much fuss.

One of our favorite Christmas brunch ideas, you can make it on Christmas Eve or the night before your holiday brunch. Featuring ham, cheese, and green onions, you can even serve it again at Christmas dinner — yup, it’s that good!

5. Gingerbread Pancakes with Eggnog Whipped Cream

Want to serve a dreamy breakfast treat that’ll have guests talking about it until the next holiday season? This gingerbread pancake recipe is sure to do the trick. The fluffy pancakes feature cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg notes with the sweet addition of molasses and brown sugar. Topped with rich eggnog whipped cream, it’s a holiday hit that will be on rotation year after year. 

6. Cranberry Pecan Scones

Whether celebrating on Christmas Day with close family or getting together with friends earlier in the holiday season, you can’t go wrong snacking on these incredible scones. Featuring a simple recipe with cranberries and pecans, you can add other ingredients to spice it up or keep it easy. For more variety, the flavors in this recipe can also be used to make croissants or coffee cakes.

7. Eggs Benedict

Want to enjoy a peaceful holiday morning while still indulging in a delicious brunch? Make a classic breakfast dish like this eggs benedict recipe. Save time and make the hollandaise sauce a day or two before the event. To dress it up, serve the dish on holiday china.

8. Caprese Frittata

Eggs, mozzarella, red cherry tomatoes, and fresh green basil sprigs make this Italian favorite the perfect holiday companion. This easy breakfast recipe takes just 10 minutes to whip up and will surely be one of the tastiest holiday brunch ideas everyone loves.

9. Swiss Rösti

Served in huts perched on mountaintops in the Swiss Alps, this potato recipe is a favorite of the Yeti — or so they say! For your holiday brunch, make a small batch and serve it in a cast-iron skillet or make enough to feed the whole neighborhood with sheet pans.

Start with an authentic rösti recipe featuring crispy hashbrowns in a thick pancake shape. Spice up this brunch dish by topping it with a fried egg, ham, or sour cream (or all three). 

10. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Serve up a decadent holiday breakfast with irresistible chocolate chip banana bread. Switch up the ingredients to make it pumpkin bread instead or add toppings like whipped cream or chopped nuts for added pizzazz.

Holiday Brunch Decor: 4 Tips to Create a Spirited Setting

Complement your brunch menu with festive decor that elevates the mood and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. With just a few holiday brunch ideas, you can instantly make your spread stand out from the crowd.

1. Set a Bountiful Buffet Table

While you can certainly serve everyone plate by plate, there’s something fun about a DIY buffet table loaded with goodies. Give your guests the freedom to choose from a delectable array of dishes — you have all the recipes to make it happen! Just don’t forget condiments, toppings, syrups, and spreads for guests to dress up their dishes. 

2. Create Ambiance with Lights and Natural Elements

Add decor like string lights to create soft ambient lighting. Candles add gentle warmth, but be careful where you place them if young children are joining the brunch. (You can always use LED candles instead.) Add fresh greenery like pine boughs and wreaths to the tables along with fresh cranberries, walnuts, chestnuts, or holly berries throughout.

3. Add Style and Substance with Serving Ware

For a fancy fete, break out the fine china and serve all of your mouthwatering holiday brunch recipes on special-occasion dishes. For a simpler approach that’s easy to clean up, consider biodegradable serving ware. It can still be stylish, holiday-inspired, and more eco-friendly than plastic. 

4. Add Some Games 

While decorations certainly set the scene, holiday party games are another way to enhance a festive atmosphere for your brunch. For instance, you can place various holiday-related items around your space to serve as decor and also as scavenger hunt items.

You can also place marshmallow-filled mason jars on your tablescapes and later use them for a game of “Mouthful of Marshmallows.” As the name suggests, you’ll try to say holiday-related words and phrases like “open presents,” “Santa” and “happy holidays” with a mouth full of marshmallows. 

Holiday Brunch Invitations: 5 Designs for a Festive Gathering

With breakfast recipes in hand, holiday decor on the table, and your favorite people in town, it’s time to host the ultimate holiday brunch. Invite everyone on your list with a festive holiday invitation from Greenvelope. Here are some of our favorite designs for inspiration.

1. Whimsical Ornaments Invitation

Design: Stellax Creative

This festive holiday invite has an assortment of Christmas tree ornaments and comes in five custom color schemes. Easily add your event details including a potluck sign-up list if you want guests to bring a special dish to your holiday brunch.

2. Cozy Ski Chalet Invitation

Design: Colin Cowie

Invite guests to cozy up with a morning filled with sweet and savory treats using this whimsical invitation. Featuring a warm and inviting ski chalet amid a cold, snowy backdrop, it’s the perfect way to get guests excited for a holiday brunch.

3. Whimsical Candy Cane Invitation

Design: Owl and Toad

Eat, drink, and be merry with this fun and festive invitation. Featuring an oversized candy cane, you can dress it up by adding a holiday tune when you send it to friends via text or email.

4. Christmas Buffet Invitation

Design: TM Stationery

Nothing says brunch quite like a buffet table filled with sweet and savory treats. Use this mouthwatering invitation to get guests together for a spirited brunch this holiday season.

5. Bubbly and Snow Invitation

Design: Olivia Raufman Design

Use this cheerful invitation to ask guests to attend your holiday brunch. It features a gold foil champagne glass with snowflakes bubbling out of the top. Choose from four artist-curated color palettes and add your event details for a quick and easy invite.

Have a Very Merry Gathering

It’s the holiday season and that means people are gathering around your table and cozying up amid heart-warming holiday decor. Plan an extra special morning with the ones you love with these holiday brunch ideas. From tasty recipes to inviting decor and festive invitations, it’s sure to be a big hit.

Looking for more holiday inspiration? Continue browsing our Stationers blog for holiday tips for your next celebration.