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Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas and Vanilla Orange Slush Recipe

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for ways to make our Christmas celebrations a little bit easier. Today I’m sharing with you a few Christmas Morning breakfast ideas that I’ve picked up over the years along with one of our family’s favorite recipes for Vanilla Orange Slush. This is sponsored content.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

Don’t you just love it when you get a great tip or idea from a friend and it becomes so useful that you wonder how you ever got by without it?  Well, today I’m sharing two tips friends have given me in hopes that they will help you out too! 

I don’t know about you, but as a Mom, Christmas stresses me out a bit. There is such a big expectation all for one day, and it seems the majority of the work involved with living up to that expectation rests on the Mom’s shoulders.  In our family, we’ve tried to make sure that we have Christmas traditions that we repeat year after year. I think those traditions are so important. They give our kids a sense of consistency.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

Several years ago I was chatting with a group of friends about their plans for Christmas Morning breakfast. Our conversation was a combination of brainstorming and complaining about the upcoming event.  

I think I mentioned that I am usually too tired at 7 in the morning to set a table and make breakfast. Because of this Christmas morning is a killer for me (I am NOT a morning person, not even on Christmas day). One of my friends then told me that she always set her Christmas morning table the night before, and always served a bake-ahead meal.  A light bulb went off in my head and I immediately thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

Ever since that year I’ve been setting my Christmas morning table the night before, and it has made a HUGE difference. Sometimes I’ll even do it in the afternoon on Christmas Eve if we have dinner plans and don’t need the table during the evening.   During the week our family sticks to cereal or oatmeal for breakfast.

We are pretty much a “We are lucky to get out of the house on time” kinda family; however, on Christmas morning we love to eat a big breakfast.  We make hot chocolate, serve fresh fruit, and I always buy a lot of muffins and donuts to go along with our feast.

 I vary what I cook that morning, but it’s almost always something that can be prepared the night before. In years past I’ve made crepes, dutch babies, overnight cinnamon roll casseroles, and a bagel egg casserole that we absolutely loved.

simply-orange-low-acid

We also like to serve a special drink or punch on Christmas morning (we are teetotalers so don’t get any crazy ideas about what you think our ‘special’ drink is *wink*).

I have a friend that gave me a recipe for a 3-ingredient vanilla orange drink that her family loves (another great tip from a good friend), we now make it, and it’s one of my kids’ favorite treats. It is great on a summer day, but even better served along with a meal or in this case Christmas morning breakfast.

I don’t know what the official name of the drink is since I kinda think my friend made it up, but our family calls it a Vanilla Orange Slush.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

Until recently I didn’t always drink the slush when we made it. I have a sensitive stomach and since the drink contains orange juice, I could only take a few sips before the acid started to bother me.  I grew up drinking orange juice and was very sad when I had to give it up about 10 years ago.

Recently I’ve discovered Simply Orange® Low Acid and am very excited to start drinking orange juice again. This year I’m making the slush using the low acid orange juice, and am looking forward to drinking an entire glass.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

Vanilla Orange Slush Recipe

2 parts Simply Orange® Low Acid juice

1 part Vanilla Almond Milk (do not buy the unsweetened variety)

1 part ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. You can experiment with the ratio of almond milk to juice if you like. More juice will give you more “pop” of orange flavor. Be careful not to add too much ice. You want just enough to give it some texture, but not so much that it dilutes the taste.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

I also thought I’d share a few tips that I’ve picked up over the years when it comes to setting a table for a party, or in this case Christmas Morning (you could also use these ideas for a Christmas brunch):

Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas & Tips

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

1- Pick a color scheme and stick to it.

Most of the time I try to stick with one color for my table settings. In this case it was red. Red ribbons on the napkins, red accents in the table.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

2- Pick a theme.

Are you going for fun and cute, or are you going for elegant and refined? Decide early on and stick to picking items that fit within the mood of your table. In this case I wanted to go with fun and cute since it was Christmas morning. I had the gingerbread houses and thought it would be fun to play off of that theme.

3- Use something that is disposable.

If you don’t want to use paper plates or utensils, why not use something else that is disposable? It will save you clean up time, and the balance of items will look nice on your table. In this case, I went with a paper table runner. I absolutely HATE ironing tablecloths and don’t use them unless I absolutely have to. I prefer to use table runners instead.  You could also use paper napkins but tie them up with bows to make them a bit more special.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

4- Use stuff you already have.

As much fun as it is to go shopping for props and accessories to decorate your holiday table, you might not need to buy as much as you think you do. Many of the items that you already have in your holiday decor would work beautifully on a table. Christmas ornaments make great napkin rings, and nutcrackers or nativity sets would be beautiful centerpieces.

Recipe for a Vanilla Orange Slush, a perfect Christmas morning drink. Plus lots of other cute ideas for table setting and decorating ideas for Christmas morning breakfast

5- Let go of the pressure!

If you enjoy taking the time to put together a special tablescape for Christmas then, by all means, do it! However, if it stresses you out or makes you miserable, then don’t do it. No one is going to report you to the Christmas police! Seriously, if it’s not your thing then spend your time doing something else.

Each of us has different things that we enjoy doing, and we all have unique talents. What works for me, may not work for you.  Like I mentioned earlier, I picked up a few of my favorite Christmas celebration tips from my friends. They worked for my family, and have become a part of our annual celebrations – but there are a lot of tips that I’ve received over the years that didn’t work, and that’s okay.

I think the thing to remember when planning Christmas gatherings is that it’s all about your family. Keep the focus on those around you, and the rest will all work out.

-Note: this post originally included a giveway that is now closed. The giveaway information has been removed from the post.

Now tell me: what is the BEST Christmas celebration tip that you’ve received from a friend or family member?

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100 Comments

  1. The Reading of the Birth of Jesus, Luke 2: 1-20, on the day after Thanksgiving to set the scene for what the season is really about and to try to keep us all grounded. As it is so easy to get carried away with the “shopping bug” and trying to find the “perfect gift “

  2. The best tip is to only buy gifts for the children in the family. Buying for all of the adults gets way too expensive.

  3. My tip for a Christmas Eve party is not to have a lot of food, but have a Cookie Swap Party, where everyone brings there favorite cookies and shares them with others. I have this with my girl friends every year. Of course we have something to drink. It is a lot of fun. We decorate the cookie boxes and then serve!

  4. I grew up in a house where my mom made breakfast to the nines. Breakfast breads, ham, and almost like a Christmas dinner with breakfast foods. So I determined that I wouldn’t do that. But what to do. My husband came to the rescue. We have waffles, with fancy syrups and whipped topping. Waffles are not that hard for me to make and so I love it
    Also to overcome the frustration from taking all day to cook dinner on Christmas Day, I just cook a Christmas Eve dinner and we just eat leftovers or frozen pizza on Christmas Day. Now I enjoy Christmas with my family rather then being in the kitchen all day.

  5. The BEST Christmas celebration tip that I have received from a friend or family member is to start early! Shop way early, wrap days ahead of time and hit the grocery store the week before and avoid the crowds and stress.

  6. The best tip I’ve gotten is just have snacks and drinks during the day no need to make a big lunch

    groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com

  7. The best CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION TIP I ever received is to do a name exchange so it’s not overwhelming buying so many gifts!

  8. The best tip is to do a gift grab bag for the adults so everyone gets a surprise and you don’t have to do a lot of shopping.

  9. The best tip is to print my postage online for packages that have to be mailed. No more standing in line at the post office with numerous boxes. No a fun or glamourous tip, but it really makes my life easier.

  10. Keep it simple. less mess, less stress. Remember to enjoy the day. If you stress too much the celebration will be over and you will miss it.

  11. Years ago I read in a book that if you find yourself dreading a party or event you are hosting, then you have overdone it. Holidays should be for relaxing and enjoying time with family, not stressing out!! !! This has helped me so much over the years. I try to keep it in mind while planning and if things start feeling overwhelming, I scale back.

  12. For many years we have hosted a soup supper on Christmas Eve.5 or 6 families and friends without families each bring a pot of soup in a crockpot.I have the drinks and snacks.I have collected $1 Christmas mugs for years.Everyone has their mug and samples all the soups.Great,easy,stress free fun!

  13. my tip – let the little ones help with the table setting – they will be so proud of their accomplishments and the adults will ohh and awww about their creativeness. It may not be what you envisioned, but it is theirs to own and be proud of.

  14. The best Christmas celebration tip I got from my parents is to teach kids to give and share. Donate their wishlist toys to kids who are not as fortunate.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  15. We always have prime rib for Christmas day dinner. I only cook the meat and have my kids take the rest of the meal. Makes my job of hosting so much easier.

  16. Fast a meal. In America, Christmas includes a major focus on food. This year during the week before Christmas, give up a meal and pray during that time for the poor, hungry, and spiritually lost in the world.

  17. When I was growing up on Christmas morning we were allowed to look in our stockings but couldn’t open presents until our parents were up. When we were old enough it turned into breakfast in bed for our parents, made by the kids, as an extra enticement to get up early!

  18. Best advice I have receives for Christmas brunch is to lay bacon on waffle batter before closing the waffle iron. I find turkey bacon is best so not to be greasy.

  19. Well, I was raised knowing that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season. Keeping him first keeps the stress and craziness from creeping in!

  20. The best tip I learned was start your own traditions early in your family. Especially if you have little ones. Pick something fun or sincere, that they can participate in and then incorporate it into your holiday each year. You will be so blessed by your children as they grow up expecting the tradition each year and as they become grown, it is so fun to watch them still want to do the tradition. Example, advent calendar made exclusively for your family, putting out reindeer food before bed on Christmas Eve, Opening One present before bed on Christmas Eve, (which usually is new pajamas), Giving McDonald gift certificates to homeless, Taking a Cookie plate to fire station, etc. Be creative and watch it become a special memory for your family.

  21. The best Christmas celebration tip I’ve got is relax. IT’s the family that matter the most and not the gifts. After all, most of us remember what happened during Christmas, not so much as what we received as gifts.

    amy [at] uTry [dot] it

  22. Planning the menu weeks ahead is my helpful tip. When I’m asked “what can I bring?”. I can say the oven is going to be full, so if you could bring a crock pot vegetable that would be helpful, appetizers/snacks would be great for later in the evening, or your cornbread salad would be perfect etc.. They all want to contribute something, so why let them.

  23. I prep the night before a breakfast casserole and pre- cook the bacon. Then Christmas morning, I pop the dish in the oven and can just heat the bacon up in a foil packet I really love just having a cup of coffee while watching everyone open presents… and my kitchen is pretty clean! I’ll make your slushie this year. It looks great! Happy Holidays!

  24. my mother always said to do as much as you could the day before so as not to be rushed or forget something on the day.

  25. The best tip I’ve received is to prep as much as you can the day before the event so you’re not running around like a crazy person the day of.

  26. The best Christmas Celebration Tip I ever received is to do a name exchange if you have a big family. It can get expensive buying gifts for everyone.

  27. My best tip is to take some vacation days before Christmas so you have time to prep! An extra day makes a big difference.

  28. I can’t think of any advice I’ve been given, so I’ll just give some! Have fun with it! If the party is a chore or a drag, don’t do it! It’s not worth it if it’s a job 🙂

  29. We always take time to remember the Lord’s birth by reading Luke 2. We buy our kids Christmas gifts but only a few for each one. Too many gifts and activities can overshadow the real Reason for the Season. We have been blessed with much more than ‘things’ that don’t really matter.

  30. The best advice I’ve received was from my mom, plan ahead and accept help when it comes to making Christmas dinner!

  31. My “tip” is to always remember to reflect on the birth of Jesus at this time of year. Don’t get caught up in the gifts and parties to forget about our Savior. 🙂
    pixelberrypie at yahoo dot com

  32. I love your fun table! It captures the fun of Christmas but has sophisticated elements, too. I can’t wait to try this drink for Christmas morning! My husband and daughter will love it!

    My mother-in-law taught me early on to prep as much as you can in the days and the night before the event. The last thing I want is to be stuck in the kitchen Christmas morning while my family celebrates or starves! I always do an overnight egg dish and an overnight French toast bake. It’s so nice to wake up, pop them in the oven and then spend the morning with my family!

    kcgmorris at gmail dot com

  33. Holiday music playing softly in the backdround keeps everyone in the holiday mood and makes it feel “special”

  34. my best tip i have learned is to do my shopping early to ensure i get the gifts that i want so i don’t have to run around hunting something!

  35. My best tip was to look for recipes that can be made ahead so you can enjoy the day with the family instead of working in the kitchen.

  36. Best tip I got was to have all that you can prepped and ready to throw in the oven the day before you so you can enjoy the day with your family!

  37. My family does not actually celebrate Christmas but rather the Winter Solstice. That said, the best holiday tip I ever got was from my mom. She told me to not let my expectations of the holidays get out of control or I would always be disappointed. Be realistic and you will enjoy yourself much more.

  38. My best Christmas tip was to get gift cards for the grand kids.
    They are getting older now and harder to shop for.
    thank you

  39. My sister always has at least one quick appetizer on hand and a few bottles of wine in gift bags in case people stop by. I try to do that now also.

  40. The best tip I learned was to not live Christmas through the camera lens. Pictures are great, but living in the moment and making memories will last longer than pictures especially if you’re like me and never print your pictures out!

  41. the very best Christmas celebration tip that you’ve received from a friend or family member is to put up lights using ties so the lights don’t fall outside.

  42. For many years now I make Breakfast Burritos days before and reheat the morning of Christmas & the vanilla Orange Slush will go perfectly with them. Thanks for the recipe.
    Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas. Enjoy your self and your family.

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