Last-Minute, Mama-Approved Christmas Brunch Recipes

Since its conception, Christmas brunch has been a meal full of rich and decadent dishes. So it’s no surprise that Southerners make some of the best Christmas brunch dishes around. But with the hectic holiday rush, it can be hard to find time for all the make-ahead stratas, overnight French toasts, and breads that need to rise for hours. So we’ve combed through our holiday breakfast recipes for our favorite dishes that come together in less than an hour and a half, no overnight chilling required, so you can spend your Christmas Eve relaxing. Over-the-top pancakes, savory casseroles, and bite-size finger foods prove that quick doesn’t have to mean boring. And the best part? These easy breakfast recipes just happen to be some of our best brunch recipes, too.

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Biscuit Cinnamon Sweet Rolls

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Biscuit Cinnamon Sweet Rolls

These made-from-scratch biscuits coated in cinnamon, butter, sugar, and a cream cheese glaze taste like you got them straight from the local bakery. While the rolls are baking, whip up the cream cheese glaze.
Total time: 1 hour

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Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

This savory breakfast dish comes together with crumbly smoked sausage, quick-cooking grits, and sharp cheddar cheese.
Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes.

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Chicks in a Blanket

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chicks in a Blanket

This high-brow version of pigs in a blanket uses mini smoked chicken-and-apple sausage instead of pork links.
Total time: 1 hour

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Pecan Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping

Luca Trovato

Recipe: Pecan Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping

Instead of making individual pancakes, whip up this pan-baked pecan pancake. While it’s baking, stir together the caramel apple topping.
Total time: 1 hour

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Easy Orange Rolls

John O'Hagan

Recipe: Easy Orange Rolls

The quick secret to these sweet bread rolls? Refrigerated French bread dough, doctored up with cream cheese, sugar, and a sweet orange-juice glaze.
Total time: 40 minutes

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Red Velvet Pancakes

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Pancakes

It couldn’t possibly get more festive than these Red Velvet Pancakes coated in tangy cream cheese butter. Because on Christmas, you are expected to eat cake for breakfast.
Total time: 50 minutes

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Buttermilk Biscuits

Joseph De Sciose

Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuits

Every Southern brunch needs buttermilk biscuits. This versatile recipe comes together from only 5 ingredients, and can be doctored up for plenty of delicious variations.
Total time: 40 minutes

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Cornbread Omelets

Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Cornbread Omelets

We replaced the eggs with a feather-light cornbread batter, because why not?
Total time: 40 minutes

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Caramel Cake Pancakes

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Caramel Cake Pancakes

Christmas and caramel go together like Santa and his reindeer. That’s why we created these over-the-top pancakes drizzled with caramel syrup for the perfect Christmas morning brunch.
Total time 40 minutes. 

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Breakfast Enchiladas

Recipe: Breakfast Enchiladas

This go-to brunch recipe can be made ahead, but it doesn’t have to be. The savory sausage, onions, and cheese will bake together just find the morning of.
Total time: 1 hour

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Cornmeal-and-Brown Sugar-Crusted Bacon

Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Cornmeal-and-Brown Sugar-Crusted Bacon

Upgrade plain bacon with a crispy coating of cornbread and brown sugar, minus the messy stovetop pan.
Total time: 1 hour

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Cheesy Grits Soufflé

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Grits Soufflé

Simple, buttery grits and corn made into a light, fluffy soufflé.
Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

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