I love Christmas morning for so many reasons: kids bursting with excitement, sitting around with friends and family sharing stories, lazily noshing on a tasty brunch that seems to last all day.

As most of you know by now, brunch is my favorite meal. Purposely long and drawn-out, it's the perfect setting for holiday celebrations.

On Christmas, I like to focus on special dishes that , most importantly, I can prepare in the days before or spend minimal time making on the 25th.

Here's what I've got on tap for Christmas Brunch this year:

Gingersnap Scones With Espresso Glaze
You can make the dough for these scones up to two days in advance and bring to room temperature before baking. Make a small batch of glaze without espresso for the kids.

Baked French Toast with Cardamom
A family favorite that has to be a part of all of our brunches. Sinfully rich, this treat must be prepared one day in advance.

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Frittata
This elegant egg dish is incredibly quick and easy to prepare.

Sausage Links with Apricot-Mustard Glaze
A sweet-and-hot glaze dresses up breakfast links. For more of a spicy kick, use "hot and sweet" sausages.

Citrus Salad with Mint Sugar
A festive twist on fruit salad.

Classic Eggnog
Keep the Cognac on the side...

Enjoy and have a happy holiday!

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