New Year’s Day at the lake is a perfect time for a relaxed, make-ahead brunch that lets you ease into 2025! It can be a cozy and intimate meal or a celebration surrounded by friends and family. If you’re a lake enthusiast who loves spending time at your retreat over the holidays, you most likely already know how stress-free it can be when you have things prepped and ready before the ball drops. After all, New Year’s Eve is about festivities—staying up late, enjoying the night’s buzz, and perhaps watching fireworks over the water. So why not make the next morning easy on yourself? Make-ahead brunch dishes mean you can wake up at your leisure, grab a fresh cup of coffee, and indulge in a warm, flavorful meal without the fuss of cooking everything from scratch.
With that in mind, here are some fantastic make-ahead brunch ideas—from savory one-dish wonders and seasonal veggie sides to fresh fruit, warm bread, and a sweet dessert starter or finale. Plus, we’ve included a brunch cocktail to toast the new year! These recipes ensure everyone can relax and enjoy a comforting lakeside brunch, kickstarting the new year with great food, laughs, and breathtaking waterfront views.
Savory Spinach and Sausage Strata
Welcome the new year in style, and bring on the comfort food! This hearty egg casserole is a crowd-pleaser, loaded with Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and melted cheese over chunks of sourdough bread. It’s also easy to assemble the night before. Simply refrigerate overnight to let the bread soak in all those delicious flavors. Bake in the morning until golden, and serve hot for a complete, gratifying brunch dish. For the full recipe, visit Simplicity and a Starter.
Mediterranean Vegetable Frittata
For all the veggie lovers, this is for you! Packed with vibrant fresh veggies, this colorful frittata offers a yummy and nutritious start to the year. Perfectly balanced with earthy roasted vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, and sharp feta cheese, this comforting egg dish hits the spot after a festive evening—especially if you overindulged the night before. Made with red bell pepper, zucchini, green onions, and broccoli, this warm and savory dish promises to be a brunch favorite you’ll want on repeat. It’s ideal for prepping beforehand—whisk, pour, and bake. You can also serve it at room temperature if you’d rather sleep in a bit. Visit The Mediterranean Dish for the recipe.
Honey and Bitters Fruit Salad
Bring a spicy kick to an ordinary fruit salad with Angostura bitters, Tajín Clásico (chili lime seasoning), nutmeg, and honey. The warming spices introduce a bit of winter flair to this eye-grabbing mix of fresh berries, stone fruit, melons, mangoes, pineapple, and kiwi. An unexpected twist on the familiar, this decidedly exotic Honey and Bitters Fruit Salad yields vibrant tastes that are both fresh and exciting. Allow the fruit to mingle in the honey and spice dressing for at least 10 minutes before eating to experience the full flavor sensation. You can also chill the salad overnight and cut the fruit into larger pieces to preserve some of the texture. Visit Bon Appétit for the recipe.
Honey-Roasted Root Vegetable Salad
A fall harvest specialty you can also serve in winter, this root vegetable salad makes a colorful and healthy presentation at your make-ahead brunch table. This hearty side dish or light entrée features carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, and onions roasted with honey and fresh sage. The secret is to roast first, then brush with honey topped with fragrant sage, and roast again until your glaze is sticky-sweet. Serve on a bed of arugula dressed in vinaigrette and topped with herbed goat cheese. For a satisfying complement to your salad and your entire brunch menu, check out this Cheesy Herb Pull Apart Bread recipe you can make the day before and refrigerate before baking.
Overnight Cinnamon Roll Casserole
This ridiculously easy overnight casserole is your go-to if you want to wake up to something sweet and decadent on New Year’s Day. A delectable take on traditional cinnamon rolls, these beauties are drizzled with cream cheese icing and require no mixing or rolling out dough. Made with cubed challah (a traditional braided Jewish bread) drenched in milk, eggs, and cinnamon, the dish comes together in a snap and refrigerates overnight before baking in the morning.
You can also substitute with brioche if challah bread is unavailable. When you’re ready to throw this in the oven, drizzle on a cinnamon, sugar, and butter mixture over your casserole and bake for 25 minutes. While baking, you’ll have plenty of time to whisk together a heavenly cream cheese icing to wow your family and guests. You can serve this with coffee first thing in the morning or with your other brunch fare. Click here for the recipe and some helpful tips.
Sparkling Citrus Champagne Punch
Bring some effervescence to your celebration with this Sparkling Citrus Champagne Punch. This easy-to-make punch combines the brightness of citrus with the crisp bubbles of champagne—perfect for toasting in the new year. And what’s even better? There is no prep. Simply combine the fruit juices of your choice, your champagne (Prosecco and other sparkling wines work well, too), and some ice just before serving. This recipe calls for freshly squeezed orange, grapefruit, and lemon juices, but you can use whatever you’d like, including store-bought juices, pineapple juice, and other citrus blends. For this recipe, visit Sweet Life.
For more brunch ideas and lake life inspiration, visit Lake Homes Lifestyles.