Hello! Traditionally for Christmas morning, we like to put out a Family Brunch spread where everyone stays in robes and serves themselves. It’s relaxing! Following is the typical menu along with a recipe for Lemon Cake that I have been making for years.
Also, we have brunch recipes from nine bloggers to give you even more inspiration! If you are new here from the Christmas Brunch tour, welcome! We live in a 100-year-old high rise apartment in San Francisco with views of the Bay. You can read more about me here.
After brunch, we usually take a nice long walk. I’ll show you some of the festive Victorian homes we see nearby. Appropriate as they feel like dressed-up gingerbread houses.
Christmas Family Brunch Menu
Brunch With Bagels, Lox, Accoutrements, and Bacon
Zesty Lemon Cake
This Lemon Cake By Ina Garten is good as you can make it the day before and it tastes even better the next day. Plus, it makes two loaves so you can freeze one or give one away. Watch her video as it’s quick but helpful.
Cut a few slices and sprinkle berries around the cake. Easy!
Ready for a walk after brunch? Let’s go…
Victorian Houses in San Francisco
This is more French…but you can catch a glimpse of the view of the Bay that they have.
Here is my favorite…
And that’s our Christmas Family Brunch and walking tour! Now for…
Nine Yummy Holiday Brunch Recipes
Christmas Brunch Recipes | My 100-Year-Old Home
Savory Egg and Cheese Casserole | Finding Lovely
Spinach and Sausage Breakfast Casserole | My Sweet Savannah
Sausage Gravy Biscuit Cups | Jennifer Maune
Keto Low Carb Jalapeno Popper Egg Casseroles | Tatertots & Jello
Cranberry Spice Scones for Christmas Morning | Satori Design For Living
Christmas Family Brunch And Victorian Homes in SF | Classic Casual Home
Vintage Glam Christmas Kitchen and Favorite Brunch Recipe | Styled With Lace
Light and Fluffy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes | Twelve On Main
Hope you are healthy! We are fine here. Enjoying the Season!
Merry Christmas!
Your brunch looks divin, perfect combinations, and beautifully styled. Ina”s Lemon loaf has always been a favorite of mine.
Thank you for the christmas Victorian tour of homes which look fantastic. I agree go for a walk at night and view the light from inside.
I have done that in cities which I visit, esp. Amsterdam, to get a better feeling of warmth from the homes. Since I live in the country and have no neighbors nearby, it is a different slice of life.
That is quite a spread! The lemon cakes sounds great and love the addition of the berries. Those homes are gorgeous. And the urns in the 3rd photo…LOVE! Thanks for sharing Mary Ann! :o)
Love the spread, beautiful, great job! The homes are decorated perfectly. Merry Christmas and thanks for your blog!
This looks delicious and the perfect way to start the holiday. I love seeing all of the beautiful houses and the decorations! Thank you for taking us on your walk. I am off to check out the other ladies.
On a side note, have you tried Ina’s recipe for Double Chocolate Loaf? Delicious.
Thanks, Elizabeth!!! Wow! I have to try that Double Chocolate Loaf recipe!!!
Your silverware caught my eye. I think it’s what I have: Towle Grand Master? That’s from back in the day when we registered for silver and china!
Seeing your SF pictures makes me nostalgic. Being a CA girl, I have so many fond memories of being in “The City”. Can you believe I used to wear gloves as a little girl going shopping on Union Square?
Merry Christmas to your family and thank you for sharing some festive, holiday-decorated Victorians.
Mine is Reed and Barton…we are using it every day now since I decided why wait? I bet you were adorable in your little gloves.
Merry Christmas, Wren!
Curious….do you put any of the silver in the dishwasher? I know not to put hollow-handled knives in. I would use mine everyday but for washing.
I have started using my Royal Copenhagen’s dishes, inherited, everyday. Thank you, Mary Ann, if you have time to answer.
I PUT MY SILVERWARE THAT WAS FROM SHREVE’S IN THE DISHWASHER DAILY……..have for years !
ALL GOOD.
I would test just a couple of pieces a few time first!!
Mary Ann,
Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering with all of the delicious looking options for brunch.
The Victorian homes are so pretty all dressed up for Christmas.
I hope you and yours are healthy and have a cozy Christmas.
xo,
Karen
Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours, Karen!!!
Mary Ann,
What a beautiful brunch, it made my mouth water. I want to taste it all! And those Victorian houses are gorgeous. What a treat to have them to see on a walk to brighten your day. Thank you for all the inspiration you’ve given me throughout the year.
Merry Christmas
Thanks, Gail. I’m so grateful for you!
Your brunch looks so delicious, and I’m loving the beautiful homes you shared. Wow! Have a great Christmas 🙂
Thanks so much, Shauna!
Hi Mary Ann, Ken says what great presentation.
I will make the cakes for neighbors. Love the photos of the different houses. Beautiful!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Merry Christmas, Kathy and Ken!!!
OH MY GOSH YOU READ MY MIND!I WAS THINKING YOU NEED TO SHOW THE VICTORIANS AND HERE YOU ARE DOING THAT!
HEAD TO OUTER BROADWAY TOO MAYBE IN THE CAR!!!
THE MARINA was ALWAYS VERY FESTIVE AS A CHILD MY PARENTS WOULD DRIVE ME OVER AT NIGHT TO LOOK AT THE WINDOWS AND DECOR!MARVELOUS MEMORIES!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
XX
That is exactly what Howard and I were thinking we wanted to do at night!
This brunch looks positively delicious and simple! Love all the toppers for the bagels. I think I will copy you! I have never tried Ina’s lemon cake but it looks delicious. San Francisco is such a festive city at christmas. This time last year we spent the weekend there for my 65th. My how times have changed.
I remember, Cindy! Such a fun time you had!
Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year to you and yours Mary Ann!
I love seeing these houses, and am definitely making that lemon cake this year. Can you tell me some of the street names where those houses are? We live in the East Bay and I realize we never take the kids to walk around the city and I need to start getting them a feel for the variety and beauty of the city – that would be such a fun low key activity. I know it’s Pacific Heights, but some cross streets to sort of mosey around between would be great, and then down to Marina Green, Fort Point, Palace of Fine Arts would be a great visual tour, etc
Try Pacific and Alamo Square (Steiner and Fulton Streets). Clay and Webster near Lafayette Park. Yes, my son just said the Palace of Fine Arts is beautiful at night.
HEAD UP BROADWAY TO LYON STREET.
THEN GO EITHER WAY UP OR DOWN TO THE PARALLEL STREETS………………
YEARS AGO There was a HOME on BROADWAY that put TONS OF STUFFED TEDDY BEARS IN ALL THE WINDOWS!!
IF you are headed WEST LYON STREET it was on the RIGHT!
THE MARINA across from THE MARINA GREEN was always a good spot too………as a lot of the EMBASSY’s use to be there.
ENJOY!
Great tips! I like to just wander around. Going to do that in a few minutes and head over to Filmore Street.