Christmas Brunch Meal Plan (with Shopping List)

A Christmas Brunch meal plan is a great way to plan a meal for your family and make Christmas morning even easier! This menu includes make-ahead recipes like Baked Cheese Grits Casserole, Bacon, French Toast, Cinnamon Rolls, Sausage Balls, Fruit with Whipped Cream, warm apple cider, and hot cocoa!

Christmas Brunch Menu

Baked Cheese Grits Casserole

To make ahead (unbaked) for meal prep. Perfect for preparing ahead for busy weekends and holidays. Prepare the casserole as directed without baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator and allow to sit out while the oven preheats. Bake as directed.

To make ahead (baked). Prepare the casserole as directed. Cool and cover tightly with wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve.

Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole

This easy breakfast casserole is made with eggs, sausage, and cheese and comes together quickly and easily.

Make Ahead. You can prepare this breakfast casserole up to 24 hours in advance and keep it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. Then, on the morning you are serving, just bake for about 40-45 minutes until the casserole is set. Remove it from the oven and allow it to stand at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.

Freezer Instructions. Prepare the unbaked breakfast casserole through step 4 of the recipe in a freezer-safe baking dish. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap topped with foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then bake as directed. To freeze the baked breakfast casserole, prepare the casserole in a freezer-safe baking dish. Cool completely after baking. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap, topped with aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the plastic wrap and return the foil cover to the baking dish. Bake at 350º F until reheated throughout, about 30 minutes.

Sausage Balls

To make ahead (Baked and leftovers). Prepare according to the directions. Allow it to cool and store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

To make ahead (Unbaked). Prepare without baking. Place the uncooked sausage balls onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and into the freezer overnight to freeze. Transfer the frozen balls into a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove the number you’d like to bake and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake as directed. 

Bacon

To make ahead. Cook and cool leftover bacon. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat and serve. 

To Freeze. Cook and cool. Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, reheat, and serve. 

Cinnamon Rolls

Baked Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls: These cinnamon rolls keep well on the counter for up to 3 days. Simply cover them and keep them in a cool, dry place.

Unbaked Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls: Skip the dough’s second rise, cover them tightly, and refrigerate. Then, bake them fresh when you plan to serve them. They will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days but are best cooked within 48 hours.

When ready to bake, remove them from the refrigerator as your oven is preheating, and then bake, frost, and serve!

French Toast

Make Ahead Up to 30 Minutes: Prepare the cooked French toast, place in a single layer onto a baking sheet, and hold in a 250º F oven for up to 30 minutes.

Make Ahead Up to 24 Hours: Prepare the French toast batter and place it into an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to cook, stir the batter to combine well and proceed with the recipe as written.

Make Ahead Up to 3 Months:  Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and place into the freezer until firmly frozen, about 30 minutes. Store the slices in a freezer-safe zip-top or airtight container for up to 3 months.

To serve from frozen. You can use either of the following methods to reheat French Toast.

• Oven Method. Place in a single layer on a wire rack-lined baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake in 350º F oven for 10 minutes until hot.
• Toaster Method. Reheat in a toaster oven until heated throughout.
• Air Fryer Method. Reheat in a single layer in an air fryer until heated throughout.

Fresh Fruit Bowl with Whipped Cream

Make a fruit bowl with your favorite fruits to serve with the whipped cream. I like to use a combination of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.

Make Ahead Fruit: Wash the fruit and allow it to dry. Store each type of fruit in a separate airtight container and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can prepare up to 3 to 4 days ahead.

Make Ahead Stabilized Whipped Cream – For stabilized whipped cream that will hold up to 48 hours in the refrigerator, add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar to your fresh whipping cream and the confectioner’s sugar.

Make Ahead and Freeze: Place large spoonfuls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and flash freeze. Once the whipped cream is frozen, you can then place it in freezer-safe containers and freeze it. When ready to use, thaw for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Hot Cocoa

Make Ahead: Make this hot cocoa mix and store it in an airtight container. Add warm milk or water and toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, or peppermint sticks when ready to serve.

Apple Cider

Make-Ahead: Place cider in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7 days. Shake or stir well before serving. This is a perfect make-ahead recipe for the holidays or anytime you have apples that you need to use!

To Freeze. Place in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator to serve. Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave if you wish to serve warm. You can also serve cold.

How to Save Your Own Favorite Recipes

We have created a Recipe Collections Tutorial as a guide. It is so easy to save your favorites, but this guide makes it even easier.

Create an Account and Save Recipes

Simply create an account and Save your favorite recipes!

Save and Customize Weekly Meal Plan

Once you have created your free account, you can save this meal plan to your personal recipe collection. If there is something else you’d rather have one night, swap out the recipes with your favorites!

Shopping List

Once you have your meal plan how you like it, you can create your Shopping List by clicking on the shopping cart in the top right corner. Make sure each recipe you plan to make for the week has a check beside it, and then click the shopping cart in the top right corner a second time to generate the Shopping List. Now, you can edit, save, share, print, and regenerate your Shopping List. How neat is that?

Please let us know if you have any questions so we can help you!

Have a great week!
Robyn xo