Make Ahead Christmas Breakfast Ideas Kid Friendly

Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Ideas

I love a holiday morning when the normal rules go out the window—and the last thing I want is to be stuck in the kitchen cooking while the rest of the family is having fun. So these make-ahead breakfast ideas are perfect for a holiday and are great to make ahead of time. Each feels special and yet doesn’t require fancy or fussy ingredients or cooking methods. Each idea can be made 1-3 days ahead and stored in the fridge, or a few weeks ahead and stashed into the freezer. Then, you can thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature and simply be warm through and serve. Pair these with some cut up fruit, your coffee or tea, and have a happy morning with the family. (You may also like my Easy Cut-Out Cookies and Salt Dough Ornaments.)

Tips for Storing Food in the Fridge

Let any recipe cool fully on a wire rack, then place into a storage container and seal. Store in the fridge for 3-5 days. If the food needs to be warmed, place it in a single layer on a heat-safe plate and cover with wax paper. Warm in 15-30 second increments, or until warmed through, to avoid over-heating. To add moisture and revive baked foods, sprinkle very lightly with water and cover with wax paper. Warm in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. (Or use a damp paper towel.) You can use this method for egg casseroles, French toast casseroles, and sheet pan pancakes. You can make pancake batter the night before—other than banana pancake batter, which can brown as it sits. NOTE: Set the baking powder aside to add in the morning. Cover the bowl of batter tightly with a lid or plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes so the batter isn’t freezing cold, and stir in the baking powder. Cook as directed in your recipe.

Tips for Storing Food in the Freezer

Let food cool fully on a wire rack before transferring to a freezer bag or storage container. (If the food is still warm when you put it into the container, it will make steam, which will turn into ice.) Remove as much air as you can from the bag, if using a bag. Thaw food overnight in the fridge or at room temperature. Warm recipes for sheet pan pancakes, egg casseroles, or French toast casseroles in a 375 degree F oven for 4-6 minutes or until warmed through. Or warm muffins, quick breads, or sliced casseroles in a single layer on a heat-safe plate in 15-30 second increments in the microwave. Sprinkle very lightly with water to moisten and cover with wax paper. (Or you can use a damp paper towel.)

Christmas Pancakes

The batter comes together in a blender, just like making a smoothie, so it’s very easy. The key to the color? Spinach! But no worries, you can’t taste it. They just taste like a seriously delicious banana pancake. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Like a giant blueberry muffin, only easier to bake, this stores so well in the fridge or freezer.

Gingerbread Pancakes

These are great to make in the moment, or fully ahead of time to reheat. We love them with fruit and maple syrup—and whipped cream.

Gingerbread Cake

Tender and with cozy spices, this easy cake is perfect for breakfast. It stores really well in the fridge or freezer so it’s ideal to make ahead and serve.

Sheet Pan Eggs

This method of cooking a dozen eggs at all once is SO easy and the results are SO delicious. And you can use a mix of toppings to please everyone at your table.

Easy Egg Bake

This is a super simple frittata (that’s firm enough for babies to pick up and eat) and is delicious on its own or paired with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.

Bacon and Egg Muffins

All of your favorite breakfast elements together in one little muffin, these savory egg muffins are festive and easy to make.

Sausage Egg Muffins

These savory muffins are a great way to feed eggs to a crowd on a holiday morning, and they can be made days ahead.

Cinnamon Muffins

With simple ingredients, natural sweetness, and a super easy stir-together method, these healthy Cinnamon Muffins are a great breakfast for kids. They even have a Snickerdoodle-like topping!

Baked French Toast

Skip standing over the stove and bake up these yummy Eggnog French Toast Sticks in one fell swoop on a sheet pan. They make for a delicious family breakfast and they store well in the fridge or freezer for an easy-to-reheat holiday breakfast. (Not into Egg Nog? Here’s a Banana Baked French Toast option.)

Homemade Granola

This homemade granola is way easy and delicious to make, even if you have toddlers underfoot and calling for your attention. And it’s perfect with fruit and your favorite yogurt!

Baked Oatmeal

Stir together this wholesome Baked Oatmeal recipe before bed, pop it into the oven when you wake up, and you can sit down to a hearty bowl of oatmeal with the family without any standing by the stove and stirring!

Pumpkin Bars

The method is so quick and easy and the result is moist and full of pumpkin goodness. The chocolate chips are a nice touch too.

Easy Banana Bread

Bake up healthy comfort food with this super easy and super delicious lower sugar Banana Bread. It’s so easy, so good, and is a perfect breakfast to share with the kids—adding a handful of chocolate chips is a fun way to make it even more festive!

Sweet Potato Donuts

Cozy spices and an easy technique team up in this delicious baked donut recipe.

Apple Pancakes

These are easy to warm up and serve or you can prep the dry ingredients ahead and bake on a sheet pan!

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Easy and fresh, these blueberry muffins are a perfect way to celebrate. I love lemon flavors in the winter, so these are a go-to…and they work with frozen berries too.

Gingerbread Muffins

Classic gingerbread flavor in muffin form? So easy and delicious!

Easy Pumpkin Bread

With a quick stir together technique and hands off baking, this moist pumpkin bread is a delicious way to start the day.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Bursting with fresh fruit flavor, this is a holiday breakfast that stores so well in the fridge or freezer.

French Toast Casserole

You can use fresh or frozen berries in this recipe and almost any type of bread you like. Top it with plain, vanilla, or lemon yogurt—or whipped cream.

Best Tips for Success

Make any of these recipes from start to finish up to 3 days ahead and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm through to serve, as desired. Make any of these recipes from start to finish up to 3 months ahead and store in the freezer in a freezer bag (with as much air removed as possible). Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature and warm through to serve. Let a recipe cool completely before storing. Learn more details about how to freeze muffins and how to freeze pancakes.

I’d love to hear what you make for Christmas breakfast or if you have feedback on any of these ideas so please comment below to share!