There’s something magical about holiday mornings… but let’s be honest, they can also feel like chaos wrapped in cinnamon. Between packing the car, getting kids dressed, and planning the feast, breakfast is usually the first thing to get tossed aside. But what if you could wake up to something warm, homemade, and already done?

These make-ahead brunch ideas are my secret to starting big holiday days with peace instead of panic — and once you try them, you’ll never go back. The best part? Each recipe frees you up to enjoy your family while breakfast takes care of itself.

Air Fryer Apple Fritter Donuts

These Air Fryer Apple Fritter Donuts are the easiest little treat you’ll make all season — and they taste like they came straight from a fall festival. Juicy apple rounds get wrapped in buttery crescent roll strips, air-fried until golden, then finished with a dreamy drizzle of honey and a dusting of powdered sugar. Serve them warm as a quick breakfast bite, or turn them into a dessert moment with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a generous pour of hot caramel. Simple, cozy, and impossible to resist.

8-10 servings

10 min prep

10 min cook

• Ingredients: 2 large apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith) peeled, cored, and slided into 1/2" thick rings

• 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

• Cooking spray

• Honey or caramel for drizzle

• Powdered sugar for dusting

• Vanilla ice cream and caramel topping

Instructions:

1. Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 1/2-inch thick rings.

2. In a bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.Toss the apple rings in the sugar mixture until well coated.

3. Unroll the crescent dough and use a pizza cutter to slice into 8-10 rectangle strips.

4. Wrap the dough around the apple, sealing the edges to encase the apple ring completely.

5. Brush each wrapped apple ring with melted butter.

6. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.

7. Lightly grease the air fryer basket or line it with parchment paper.

8. Place the wrapped apple rings in the basket, ensuring they don't touch.

9. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

10. Place donut in bowl and top with ice cream and drizzle honey caramel over the warm apple fritter donuts.

11. Serve immediately and enjoy!

    
    

French Toast Bake

There’s something special about a baked French toast casserole — it’s the kind of breakfast that feels like a warm hug from the kitchen. This version combines fluffy cubes of bread soaked in a sweet cinnamon-vanilla custard and topped with juicy fruit for a dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. It’s the perfect make-ahead breakfast for slow weekends, brunch with friends, or holidays with family — simple, comforting, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Best after overnight refrigeration, 4 hours minimum

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Bake Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb Cinnamon Sugar Bread or bread of your choosing

• 8 large eggs

• 
2 cups milk

• 
2 tsp vanilla extract


• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 
2/3 cup brown sugar


• 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries

• 
1-2 tbsp powdered sugar

  
  

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease a 9x13” baking dish with butter or your favorite oil. Cut your bread into bite-sized cubes and fill the dish about three-quarters full.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar until everything’s smooth and well combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread, making sure each piece gets coated.

3. Sprinkle strawberries on top.

4. Cover the dish tightly and let it rest in the fridge for at least 4 hours — or overnight if you want to prep it ahead.

5. When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, checking around the 35-minute mark. The top should be golden and the center set.

6. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, drizzle with warm maple syrup, and enjoy that cozy goodness!

Notes:

You can easily make this recipe your own! Swap in any fruit you love — peaches, apples, blueberries, or a mix of berries all work beautifully. And while I love using my homemade cinnamon sugar bread for extra flavor, a classic French loaf or your favorite sandwich bread works just as well. This one’s meant to be flexible and fit any season of the year.

Skilled Fried Cinnamon Apples

These skillet-fried apples are the easiest way to take any brunch from simple to something special. Tender apple slices simmer in butter, cinnamon, and a touch of brown sugar until they’re soft, glossy, and perfectly caramelized. Spoon them over warm pancakes, waffles, or French toast and watch them melt right into every bite. They’re quick, comforting, and taste like the sweetest little taste of fall — the kind of brunch topper your family will start asking for every weekend.

Yields 2 cups

5 min prep

15 min cook

Ingredients:

• 8 apples, peeled and sliced

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-low heat.

2. Add the apples, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and cook them down for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they’re soft, cozy, and perfectly tender.

3. Store in air-tight container in refrigerator.

4. Reheat low and slow on the stove or microwave for 1.5 minutes and 30 second increments as needed.

5. Serve warm over waffle, pancakes, or French toast!

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These recipes are everything I love about cooking at home — simple, nourishing, and made to gather around. Whether you’re chasing toddlers, juggling dinner time, or just craving something warm and homemade, this one’s for you.

💛 If you loved these recipes, be sure to check out more cozy favorites in my Living Cookbook — filled with family-approved meals for every season!

📦 Shop my favorite kitchen tools and pantry staples on my Amazon page — where you’ll find everything I use to make these quick weeknight dinners happen.

And... in case you missed it... I launched my first ever virtual cookbook.

The Living Cookbook

A Virtual Recipe Collection

From my table to yours — recipes for gathering, comfort, and joy.

What if mealtime wasn’t just another box to check?

What if it became the anchor of your day — a moment to slow down, gather close, and savor something that warms your heart as much as your home?

That’s exactly why I created The Living Cookbook — a growing digital collection of tried-and-true, family-loved recipes for every season of life.

🥄 What Makes It “Living”?

Unlike a printed cookbook that sits on a shelf gathering dust, this one grows with you.

👩‍🍳 New recipes added seasonally — so you’re never stuck in a dinner rut

📝 Virtual format — view it anywhere, anytime

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Family-tested favorites — approved by real moms and hungry kid

s📅 Seasonal dishes — perfect for holidays, Sunday suppers, and every night in between

Whether you’re meal planning for a busy week, prepping for a family get-together, or just trying to get dinner on the table without a meltdown — this cookbook has you covered.

💡 Perfect For:

Moms who want less stress and more joy in the kitchen

Families who value gathering around the table

Anyone craving comfort food with purpose

People who love simple, southern-inspired meals made from pantry staples

📚 What’s Inside:

✔️ Instant Pot Staples

✔️ Holiday Traditions

✔️ Crowd-Pleasing Dishes

✔️ Homemade Breads + Treats

✔️ Family Favorites

✔️ And so much more...

And since this is a living collection, you’ll always have something fresh and seasonal to look forward to.

----

I created this to inspire you, equip you, and empower you to create moments of connection and comfort — no matter the season.

Peek Inside:

Here are some of the recipes you'll find inside-

Berry Compote

Rum Peach French Toast

Sausage Breakfast Gravy

Cinnamon Sugar Bread

Berry French Toast Bake

Apple Walnut Bread

Apple Fritter Donuts

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Creamy Tuna Casserole

Crack Chicken Soup

Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi

Chicken Parm

Homemade Marinara

Nashville Hot Chicken

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Simply Seasoned Roasted Chicken

Roasted Chicken Ciabatta Melt

Thyme Lemon Roasted Chicken

Mexican Salsa

Pineapple Mango Salsa

Cranberry Cream Cheese Ball

Sloppy Joes

Fall off the Bone Pork Ribs

Perfect Tempura

Panko Crusted Chicken Bites

Chicken Tostadas

Bang Bang Chicken

Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie

Cajun Shrimp Carbonara

Shredded Beef Enchiladas

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Greek Pasta SaladBaked Beans

Chili Dogs

Whipped Cream

Lemon Blueberry Bars

No Bake Eclair

Chocolate Ganache

Pecan Pie

Peach Cobbler

Banana Walnut Cake

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sugar Cookies

Molasses Cookies

Oatmeal Crème Pies

Love Bugs

Please note: Due to the digital nature of this product, all sales are final. This is a pre-launch offer, and the price reflects the ongoing additions and updates.

Ready to Make Meal Planning Easier?

Grab your copy here of my virtual cookbook today and start enjoying simple, southern recipes that your whole family will love.

Thank you for spending a few moments of your day here in my kitchen.

I hope you leave inspired to try something new — a recipe that brings your family together, fills your home with comfort, and reminds you that joy is found in the little things (and sometimes, in the perfect bite).

If today’s recipe made your table a little sweeter, here are a few ways we can keep cooking together:

📬 Subscribe for Recipe Updates — never miss a new meal idea, holiday bake, or cozy kitchen favorite.

🥣 Grab my Living Cookbook — filled with family-approved, tried-and-true recipes that grow with you through every season.

🛒 Shop my Amazon Pantry & Kitchen Gadgets — from my go-to spices to the cookware I use daily, you’ll find everything I love in one place.

🌿 Join the Joyful Life Community — a free space for connection, encouragement, and practical tips for every season.

📸 Follow along on Instagram or Facebook for behind-the-scenes life, daily inspiration, and my latest projects.

📌 Find me on Pinterest for endless homemaking, seasonal, and family activity ideas.

🎙 Listen to the Podcast or

🎥 watch on YouTube for deeper conversations and stories we can share together.

💛 Shop my favorite finds & discounts — from home essentials to seasonal must-haves, I’ve gathered them in one place for you (some are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting my family and this space!).

Your support means the world — it allows me to create, share, and raise my little ones from home, which is truly our family’s dream. Thank you for being here and for making this space such a joy to pour into.

With Joy and gratitude,