Thinking about hosting a holiday brunch? It doesn’t have to be an over-the-top affair! I’m sharing all my best tips for a “keep-it-simple” holiday brunch you can host anytime from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. You’ll find 4 recipes, a stress-free timeline (a total of only 2.5 hours) and shoppable links to create a beautiful table. Everything but the inviting’s been done for you!
Everyone looks forward to the holidays all year. And with all that expectation can come a lot of pressure- pressure to cram in every single favorite thing you can.
When it comes to having friends over that pressure means gatherings have the potential to balloon into something we didn’t originally intend- events loaded with keeping every tradition, activities, gift exchanges, all the decorations and every favorite recipe we can possibly remember. Everyone wants to add something! It has to be the best ever!
The result? Only the bravest of the brave usually host during the holiday season.
A Holiday Brunch with Friends
This year, I’m suggesting hosting a holiday brunch that changes the pace for you, your friends and family. A brunch that’s easy, recharges and just focuses on friendship. A brunch that’s a true gift your guests will treasure. How?
Focus on the Holiday K-I-S-S
K-I-S-S = Keep it simple, silly!
- Resist the temptation to make every holiday recipe you know. Instead, focus on making a really good menu. I know they’re delicious. I know they’re traditional treasures. But you don’t need to make all the holiday dishes. Limit yourself to 3-4 recipes. Pick a favorite dish. Let it be the sole star. And build around that.
- Keep the decor simple/ Choose items that do all the work for you. A fire in the fireplace, a tree with just twinkle lights, a really great candle, nice music, easy greenery.
- Keep the guest list small. It’s easier. It’s easier to seat them, feed them, actually spend time with them. It’s better to host 2 small events than 1 large one.
- No matter what, don’t add anything extra. There are lots of fun holiday ideas- Dirty Santa, exchanging ornaments, drawing names… And your friends might be quick to suggest, “Oooo! Let’s do…” “We did the funnest thing at this one party…” Man, and it all does sound SO fun! BUT, stick to your focus- an event that just gives you a moment to be friends. Everyone will be glad you did.
Simple Holiday Brunch Table
To keep this brunch simple, I used garland on the table that already had pinecones and berries in it. What was required of me? I just laid it on the table. Period. On the table atop a paper runner I can throw away later.
I resisted the urge to add candles, votives, ornaments, weave in twinkle lights… I kept it one and done. The garland was nice and full, and the result was stunning all by itself.
I tied ready-made wreaths on the backs of the chairs, reused glassware from a dinner earlier in the year and set out my favorite Christmas plates.
Simple Christmas Brunch Menu
The menu was equally as simple. I chose an Egg Nog French Toast Casserole with a Cranberry Pecan Topping. It’s an overnight dish, so it is about as convenient as it gets.
Added a protein in the form of Green Chile Sausage Balls. Everyone loves them, and you cook the whole batch at once.
Rounded it out with a green salad punctuated with dried figs, pears, walnuts and a super special, seasonal molasses vinaigrette.
And last but not least, we chatted as we sipped on cinnamon-y Red Hot Cranberry Cider and snacked on a few more of those sausage balls.
Wow! All the flavors of the season in just a few simple but intentional dishes. That’s the goal!
As always, the bottom line is… getting together is about being together and having a great time doing it! Make room in your busy schedule, keep it simple and intentional and spend some treasured holiday time together this season.
My Menu + Guides To Creating This Holiday Brunch
Table Links
- Antique White 14″ Chargers
- Christmas Tree Dinner Plates
- Hester & Cook Green Plaid Table Runner
- 1″ Black Velvet Ribbon
- Black & White Hen House Dinner Napkins
- Lenox Holiday Plaid Mugs
- Mini Cedar Wreaths
- 6 Ft. Pine Garland
- Gold Silverware Set
- Green Stemware
Christmas Tree Plate Alternates:
Recipes
Timeline (Total Time 2 Hrs. 35 min.)
2 Days Before- 30-50 minutes (excluding shopping)
- Buy all of your ingredients.
- Have tablecloth & chairs delivered. (From, Ep. 1, I do this so I don’t have to own, store or clean these items.
- Get out items needed to set the table & make sure they are ready. Cut table runner. (10-15 minutes)
- Set up table & chairs (+ set the table, if eating inside). (10- 35 minutes)
1 Day Before– 35 minutes
- Put together the overnight French toast casserole. (20 minutes)
- Assemble the sausage balls and refrigerate on foil covered pans, ready to bake. (15 minutes)
Day Of– 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Bake sausage balls. (20 minutes)
- Bake French Toast Casserole (50 minutes)
- While casserole is baking, assemble the salad, whisk together the vinaigrette and make the cider on the stovetop over low heat.
Day After
- Browse through your phone and choose 1-2 pics from the night before. Order same day photo cards from your local photo lab & mail keepsake thank you notes!
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