Hosting a Special Holiday Brunch? These Are the Recipes You Need (2024)

Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day mornings definitely call for something special, and the recipes in this gallery all deliver (and then some). Most of them are filling enough to tide you over until dinner, and all of them have something just a little extra that distinguishes them for your average brunch dish. Take Martha's Citrus Salad with Pomegranate Seeds, pictured here, for example: It's a stunning addition to the brunch table, but it doesn't require any cooking and it can be made, covered, and stored in the refrigerator the night before.

Some of the recipes here are twists on classics, such as waffles infused with the warm spices of gingerbread (incredible when served with tangy sour cream and tart lingonberry preserves), bacon pancakes (think blueberry pancakes, but salty bacon instead), or French toast that's baked not cooked on the griddle. Even a traditional bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich gets a special occasion makeover thanks to the addition of creamed spinach and Gruyère popovers.

If you're looking for something really different, try broiling in-season persimmons and topping them with a dollop of sweetened mascarpone and a sprinkling of ginger or sugar. Or make a Dutch baby, which is basically the ultimate special-occasion pancake: It poofs up into a show-worthy display and is fantastic with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and warm maple syrup.

Baked goods are always welcome on a holiday table, and we've got some great ones here. Cinnamon Rolls are just irresistible and our recipe has an unexpected ingredient that makes these buns extra tender. And then there are Cake Doughnuts: Crisp on the outside, light and moist on the inside, they're totally decadent, and absolutely worthy of a holiday morning feast.

Gingerbread Waffles

Not your ordinary breakfast staple, these waffles infused with the warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves and smell just like the holidays. They're delicious when served with tangy sour cream and tart lingonberry preserves (though any type of jam is fantastic).

Easy Eggs Benedict

Here's a classic brunch dish that's wonderfully indulgent for a holiday morning and not so difficult to make thanks to our streamlined recipe. Hollandaise sauce and Canadian bacon are the two non-negotiables.

Broiled Persimmons with Mascarpone

This delightful dish would be terrific alongside pancakes or French toast. Serve the persimmons hot, each half topped with a dollop of sweetened mascarpone and sprinkled with ginger or sugar.

Classic Dutch Baby

A Dutch baby is the ultimate special-occasion pancake. To make it, you whir a few basic ingredients in a blender, pour the batter into a piping-hot skillet, and bake for 20 minutes (no need to flip). After it poofs up into a show-worthy display, serve with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and warm maple syrup.

Cinnamon Rolls

It's the holiday season, so if you're pulling out all the stops, make these fluffy cinnamon rolls. They're tender and delicious and sure to go fast. Plus, the dough can be made and the buns assembled a day ahead so all you need to do the morning of is pop them in the oven.

Salmon Tartines with Horseradish-Whipped Cream Cheese

Smoked salmon seems so fitting on a holiday morning, and these open-face sandwiches are certainly special occasion-worthy. Serving them on marble rye bread makes them feel extra fancy. Trout roe or salmon roe or caviar and fresh dill add a little extra oomph.

Easy Florentine Egg Cups

Super-simple to make, this riff on a classic is just right for the holidays. The egg cups seem fancy but all you have to do is layer bread, spinach, and eggs in a muffin tin, then bake until the bread is toasted and the yolks are perfectly runny.

Pear-and-Raspberry Baked French Toast

Yes, you should serve your hungry holiday brunch crowd French toast, but instead of standing at the stove preparing slices one by one, make this celebration-worthy casserole instead. This decadent take on French toast is made complete with thinly-sliced pears and jewel-like raspberries glistening among the eggy slices of brioche or challah.

Gruyère Popover Sandwiches with Fried Eggs and Creamed Spinach

Bacon, egg, and cheese, but make it holiday. The classic sandwich gets an impressive upgrade with the addition of creamed spinach and Gruyère popovers.

Bacon Pancakes

These bacon pancakes satisfy both the sweet and savory senses. The bacon cooks right into the pancakes (think blueberry pancakes, but bacon).

Vanilla Cake Donuts

Totally decadent, these cake donuts are the sweet ending every holiday brunch should have. The vanilla bean variation is finished with a vanilla glaze but you can make the same versatile cake donut batter into Apple Cider Donuts and roll them in cinnamon sugar.

Cheesy Spinach-Potato Egg Casserole

Perhaps the ultimate in easy yet elevated, this fantastic one-dish meal is vegetarian and gluten-free, but also cheesy and comforting, making it perfect for a gathering with mixed dietary needs.

Brown Sugar-Glazed Bacon

Here's an easy way to dress up bacon for a holiday brunch. Coat it with ground pepper and light brown sugar, then bake, for a treat that's sweet, savory, and a little spicy.