Make Ahead Breakfast & Brunch Recipes

Happy holidays, friends! I hope you’ve had a wonderful December so far and are ready for more holiday festivities. I truly cannot believe 2024 is right around the corner.

With a busy season upon us, I wanted to put together tons of amazing breakfast and brunch recipes that you can make ahead of time! They’re perfect for brunch with friends and family, and prepping for Christmas morning. Every year I make my famous homemade cinnamon rolls (the Recipe of the Month!), and it’s my absolute favorite holiday tradition. I’ve been making these babies for years and they’re the best holiday brunch because can be made the night before.

Whether you’re celebrating virtually or will be with family this holiday season, there’s nothing better than waking up to freshly baked cinnamon rolls, a savory egg quiche, or cozy, tender muffins, so I rounded up the best make-ahead breakfast recipes to try for any morning. These recipes are divided into:

• Breads
• Muffins
• Savory recipes
• Fun brunch treats
• Pancakes & waffles
• Oatmeal recipes

There’s something for everyone. Each section has tips & tricks for easily making them ahead of time, including freezer options.

Pick a sweet and a savory breakfast recipe and enjoy an incredible holiday brunch. If you make any of these recipes, be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you liked it. xoxo!

Breads

Orange Gingerbread Swirl Loaf

No Knead Seeded Honey Oat Artisan Bread

Nourishing Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread

Peanut Butter Lover’s Banana Bread

The Best Vegan Banana Bread You’ll Ever Eat

Healthy Gingerbread Loaf

Coconut Double Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

Best Ever Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

Paleo Lemon Blueberry Bread

Chickpea Flour Banana Bread (gluten free!)

Paleo Orange-Kissed Loaf with Dark Chocolate Glaze

Pistachio Poppyseed Orange Yogurt Bread

Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Flour Banana Bread

Healthy Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Healthy Chocolate Brownie Banana Bread

Healthy Honey Flax Tahini Banana Bread

Healthy Pumpkin Bread with Maple Glaze

Nourishing Almond Flour Banana Bread

Paleo Cranberry Orange Bread

Double Chocolate Paleo Banana Bread

Make it ahead 1-3 days ahead of time: after baking, make sure the bread has cooled completely before covering it in foil or plastic wrap. Keep it at room temp and serve it as-is or heat up individual slices to enjoy!

Freeze it ahead of time: let your loaf cool completely, wrap it well and place it in a freezer-friendly bag for up to 3 months. Before serving, let the loaf thaw at room temperature. You can also freeze individual slices for ease.

Get all of our delicious bread recipes here!

Muffins

Chai-Spiced Butternut Squash Muffins with Salted Honey Glaze

Brown Butter Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Pecan Streusel

Honey Cinnamon Walnut Banana Muffins

Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Healthy Marbled Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (dairy free + gluten free)

Blender Double Chocolate Spinach Muffins

Grandma’s Healthy Bran Muffins

Brown Butter Orange Pumpkin Muffins with Orange Glaze

Oh So Fluffy Vegan Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Healthy Gingerbread Muffins

Fluffy Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Muffins

Nourishing Almond Butter Double Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins (that taste like CAKE!)

Dreamy Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

Healthy Dairy Free + Gluten Free Banana Muffins

Make them 1-3 days ahead of time: after baking, make sure the muffins have cooled completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Keep them at room temp and serve them as-is or heat them up to enjoy. If you find that your fresh baked goods tend to get soggy at room temp, simply store the muffins with a paper towel in the container

Freeze it ahead of time: let your muffins cool completely, wrap them and place them in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve them, reheat for 30-45 seconds in the microwave or simply thaw them at room temperature.

Check out all of our muffin recipes here!

Savory Recipes

Jalapeño, Pepper Jack & Turkey Bacon Quiche with Potato Crust

Butternut Squash Bacon Spinach Quiche

Perfectly Crispy Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

Chaffles (Cheese & Egg Waffles)

Savory Chicken Sausage, Egg and Cheese Muffins (keto + low carb)

Veggie Packed Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

Maple Blueberry Turkey Sausage Breakfast Patties

Mushroom Spinach Bacon Egg Cups (low carb!)

Spinach & Goat Cheese Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust

Healthy Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Avocado Breakfast Burritos

Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffin Cups

Make them 1-3 days ahead of time: simply place any of these recipes in an airtight container (or completely cover a pan of quiche) and store them in the fridge. These recipes can all easily be reheated in the microwave at 30-60 second intervals. You can also reheat a full quiche in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. Check the full posts for special heating instructions.

Freeze them ahead of time: let the recipe cool completely, wrap slices or individual muffins well and place them in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply do so straight in the microwave or in the oven at 350 degrees F until heated through.

Get all of our savory breakfast & brunch recipes here!

Fun Brunch Treats

The Best Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat

Upside-Down Bananas Foster French Toast Bake

Brown Butter Apple Coffee Cake

Upside-Down Orange Caramel Pecan French Toast Bake

The Best French Toast You’ll Ever Eat

Homemade Chunky Healthy Granola Recipe (vegan & gluten free!)

Vegan Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

Superwoman Nut & Seed Granola

The Best Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat

Make them 1-3 days ahead: the granola recipes will stay fresh for up to a month or two, so feel free to make it at any time! After baking the cinnamon rolls and/or french toast bake, store them covered in the refrigerator and simply reheat individual rolls or slices in the microwave. Please see instructions for making the cinnamon rolls & french toast bake overnight before baking.

Freeze them ahead of time: no need to freeze the granola as it will stay fresh for a very long time. To freeze the cinnamon rolls or french toast bake, wrap individual rolls, slices, or the full french toast bake in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and then place them in freezer-friendly bags. When you’re ready to serve, simply thaw the rolls, slices or pan in the refrigerator overnight and then heat in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

Pancakes & Waffles

Change Your Life Salted Brown Butter Pancakes

Healthy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes (made right in the blender!)

Fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes

Fluffy Yogurt Pancakes (high protein, gluten free)

Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes

Grandma’s Buttermilk Waffles

Sidney’s 4-Ingredient Banana Pancakes

Whole Wheat Banana Bread Pancakes with Chocolate Chips

Healthy Apple Pancakes (made right in the blender!)

Outrageously Fluffy Vegan Pancakes

Fluffy Whole Wheat Healthy Pumpkin Waffles

Chai-Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes + a cozy playlist

Grain Free Snowman Pancakes

Make them ahead of time: no need to rush and flip your pancakes right away, you can actually make them ahead of time and keep them warm in the oven! Simply place your oven at 200 degrees F, add your pancakes or waffles to a baking sheet or oven-safe plate, and place them in the oven until you’re ready to serve.

Freeze ahead of time: place the pancakes on a baking sheet so they aren’t touching and place in the freezer for 30 minutes (this is called a flash freeze), then place them in freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Once ready to reheat, simply add pancakes to a plate and microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warm, or pop them in the toaster.

Get all of our pancake & waffle recipes here!

Oatmeal

Vanilla Brown Butter Pear Baked Oatmeal

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal

Spiced Zucchini Apple Baked Oatmeal with Cinnamon Vanilla Glaze

Chunky Monkey Banana Baked Oatmeal

Orange Creamsicle Baked Oatmeal

Baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cups

Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal Bake

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal Cups

Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups

Make 1-3 days ahead: be sure the baked oatmeal or oatmeal cups have completely cooled, and then cover the whole pan with tinfoil or place baked oatmeal slices & oatmeal cups in airtight containers before transferring them to the refrigerator. You can reheat individual slices of baked oatmeal or oatmeal cups in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

Freeze ahead of time: once the baked oatmeal or oatmeal cups have completely cooled, wrap individual portions of baked oatmeal or oatmeal cups in plastic wrap and tinfoil. When you’re ready to eat, place the unwrapped frozen square of baked oatmeal (or oatmeal cup) on a microwave safe dish and microwave it at 30 second intervals for 1-2 minutes. If you’d like to freeze an entire baked oatmeal for later, simply reheat it in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees F while it’s covered with tinfoil.

Check out all of our oatmeal recipes here!

If you make any of these breakfast & brunch recipes, please head over to leave a comment on the post and rate the recipe letting me know how you liked it. I appreciate it! xo.