Make-Ahead Recipes for Christmas Morning Preppers!

tangerine scones on a table with fresh tangerines

Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Recipes ~ because Christmas calls for something special on the breakfast table, but nobody wants to be stuck in the kitchen when there’s presents to be opened and memories to be made!

The Cutest Cranberry Orange Bread

I can feel the excitement of Christmas morning when I look at this pretty loaf cake, flavored with bright pops of cranberries and fresh orange zest.

Make it ahead: you can bake this loaf cake the day before Christmas (keep it covered and in the fridge or at room temp overnight), and you can sugar your cranberries at the same time. If you can, whisk up the simple glaze and drizzle in the morning while everybody is running for their slippers.

Glowing Glazed Gingerbread Bundt Cake

This gorgeous cake brings a little drama to Christmas morning (as if it needs any extra,) plus that gingerbread flavor that gets everybody in the mood for festivities.

Make it ahead: go ahead and make the whole cake, glaze and all, the day before, it’ll keep just fine at room temp over night. Or, whisk together the glaze and brush it on the baked cake in the morning. Don’t slice into it until the wrapping paper starts to fly; you don’t want to dry it out.

Juicy Fresh Tangerine Scones

I love baking with citrus in the wintertime. Feel free to substitute any variety you like in these scones, like Meyer lemons, navel oranges, or grapefruit (now that sounds yummy.)

Make it ahead: scones keep well, so these can easily be made a day ahead. The glaze is best made the day you are planning to serve them. If the unboxing mayhem overwhelms, steal away to test one, no one will be the wiser.

Decadent Eggnog Streusel French Toast Casserole

Just read that title out loud to yourself and tell me you don’t want this on your table Christmas morning!

Make it ahead: assemble the casserole before baking and keep in the fridge overnight. Simply pop it in the oven on Christmas morning and you’ve got something really special for the family to enjoy. Fyi, the aroma coming from the kitchen may result in abandoned stockings.

Healthy Paleo Fruit and Nut Breakfast Bread

This gluten-free, grain-free, delicious toasting bread is like a healthy fruitcake you can snack on all day long.

Make it ahead: this bread can be made a day or so ahead, the fruit will keep it nice and moist. If there happens to be a toaster under the tree, triage it to the front, you’re going to need it!

Cranberry Breakfast Cake

I love simple breakfast cakes like this one, and I’ve made countless versions with different flavors and add-ins over the years. But this cranberry one might be my favorite, because I love the bright, zingy pops of flavor that fresh cranberries bring to any recipe.

Make it ahead: this cake can be made a day ahead and kept at room temp overnight. In fact, better make two, it’s going to be a long morning 😉

Irresistible Swedish Cardamom Buns

These gorgeous sweet rolls are flavored with fragrant cardamom. They make a very special treat for Christmas morning, or any winter morning for that matter.

Make it ahead: I found that these rolls actually re-heat beautifully, so go ahead and make them the day before, keep them wrapped at room temp overnight, and heat them in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or so, or in a very low oven covered with tinfoil for a few minutes before serving. These old world buns somehow make opening presents seem besides the point.