CHRISTMAS BRUNCH RECIPES

One of the meals I look forward to all year is Christmas brunch. As a kid, after we opened presents, my grandparents and great aunt and uncle would always come over. My mom would cook up a storm while we played with our new gifts, and we’d eat this brunch together. Every year when I make Christmas brunch, the smells take me right back to those mornings of my childhood on Christmas Day! 

Christmas Brunch Menu

• Bacon
• Eggs
• Fruit (last year my mom made an adorable Christmas tree made out of Kiwi and pomegranate seeds!)
• Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls or Grands Rolls 
• Sausage Strata
• Lemon Bavarian Ice with Raspberry Sauce
• OJ/Mimosas

Below are the recipes for the strata (a breakfast bake or breakfast casserole), and the lemon ice. 

Sausage Strata

• 2 1/2 lbs mild Italian sausage
• 15 slices bread
• 2 cups shredded Colby jack or cheddar cheese
• 4 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups milk
• Salt and pepper
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup

Cut up bread into squares and spread into 13×9 baking dish. Brown and cook the sausage, drain, and let cool. Slice the sausage into bite size pieces. Sprinkle evenly over the bread. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the sausage and bread. Spread can of cream of mushroom over the top. Beat 4 eggs and milk with a whisk, add salt and pepper, and pour evenly over casserole. Cover with tin foil, and refrigerate overnight. Bake in the morning, leaving tin foil covering on, at 375 degrees for 1 hour. Take foil off, and bake for 15 more minutes at 350 until top is golden brown. Take out of oven, and let cool for 30 minutes before serving. 

Lemon Bavarian Ice with Raspberry Sauce

• 1 six ounce package of lemon Jell-O
• 2 cups boiling water
• 4 cups ice cubes
• 1 10 oz. container of Cool Whip
• 4 packages of frozen raspberries

In a large bowl, dissolve Jell-O into boiling water. Add ice cubes and stir until thickened to consistency of egg whites. Discard any remaining ice. Put Cool Whip into large mixing bowl. Gently fold Jell-O into Cool Whip, using a large whisk. Pour into a generous 2 quart mold (ours growing up was wreath shaped), and chill overnight. Unmold, slice, and serve with raspberries on top. TIP: If you don’t have a mold, you could pour the jello into wine glasses or mason jars to make individual sized servings!

And as I was looking for pictures to see if I had any from past brunches, I had to share these pictures from last Christmas. It is crazy how fast Landon and Presley have grown in just one year! (Yup, I’m totally crying over here!)

Hope this helps you if you’re looking for brunch recipes or to start a tradition of having Christmas brunch! 

-Brianna K xoxo