Cómo organizar el brunch navideño más acogedor y agradable

Tinsel and pumpkin-themed paraphernalia might be the obvious decor suggestive of a holiday, but it’s the less tangible things—rich aromas, tactile sensations, and warm lighting—that convey a deeper, more meaningful sense of the season. Imagine a long table enrobed in soft linen, with glistening tableware arranged with care at each place setting. Around it, an intimate crew of smiling faces ready to laugh, eat, and celebrate. And wafting through the air? The smell of something spiced and toasty. Something wonderful. A custardy French toast casserole fits the bill, perfect for everything from cozy holiday brunches to cheery early suppers.

But we’ll get to the French toast casserole in a moment. First, it’s important to design a winning holiday plan. With times being what they are, it’s never been more important to squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of the holidays. It’s easy with an assist from IKEA, which has all the sustainable, quality-focused, and affordable essentials to help you relearn the art of holiday hosting for an extra special and welcoming gathering.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas to get you into a holiday state of mind.

Carve out a hangout zone

Whether you’re planning a sit-down affair or a casual shindig, there’s a just-right spot in your home to center celebrations. Serving a coursed-out meal or anything with a bit of pomp and ceremony? You’ll want to design the party around a dining table.

Larger families can gather around the KLIMPFJÄLL table, which can comfortably seat up to eight people. Architectural trestles and a hardwood beech surface evoke a warm, traditional style especially well suited for holidays. For smaller crews, the Scandinavian-inspired four-seater RÖNNINGE table is the right move. But even with its smaller footprint, don’t panic if an extra guest joins the mix—an extension hidden inside can expand the table to fit eight. (Bonus: one person can easily extend the table without any additional help.)

Leaning toward more of a no-fuss chill-fest? Move the party to the living room. A medium gray HÄRLANDA 3-seat sofa is a comfy-but-sleek addition to any party, and an excellent perch from which to enjoy a flute or two of champagne. Be sure to have a few big floor pillows on hand to encourage lounging—and, of course, plenty of party snacks like PAJ OST cheddar cheese and leek pies, FESTLIGT potato crisps, and almond-ginger KAFFEREP cookies with raspberry and blueberry jam.

Conjure some mood lighting

With the big furniture pieces taken care of, turn your focus to ambiance. Nothing makes magic quite like SNÖYRA LED string lights, which look fantastic strung up along a wall, placed inside a glass bowl for a lit-up centerpiece, or anywhere else in need of a “wow” moment. (The best part of these lights? They’re battery operated, so no electrical outlet required.)

Meanwhile, adorn tables with a set of three black FULLTALIG candlesticks. Filled with wax candles with wicks aflame, the trio make for a striking display that bathes the room in inviting, flickering light.

Set the holiday table

Festive occasions call for festive drinks. Serve them in clear SVALKA champagne flutes, which feel dainty and celebratory in the hand. Fill them with champagne, of course, or opt instead for sparkling Kir Royale cocktails spiked with black currant liqueur. Not feeling the booze? Serve up a gingery pineapple punch.

At each place setting, timeless FRIKOSTIG plates and bowls find the sweet spot between casual and festive. A playful UPPLIVAD beech spoon, perfect for serving up dollops of SYLT LINGON lingonberry spread, adds a touch of whimsy to the setup.

And finally, eat!

Here’s the moment everyone has been waiting for: French toast casserole. But not just any French toast casserole. This jaw-dropping rendition straddles the line between savory and sweet. Stuffed with thick slices of rustic bread and ribbons of Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, and tart lingonberry jam, it’s held together by a decadent cardamom-scented custard. A final drizzle of sticky maple syrup and even more lingonberry jam send flavor into overdrive.

Because this dish is so many things at once—salty, sweet, hearty, egg-y, and more—it’s equally at home as the centerpiece to a holiday brunch, passed around at a low-key hang, or as the pièce de résistance at a festive dinner. It’s also easily assembled hours before guests arrive, which helps to keep stress levels down.

But best of all, it’s a crowd pleaser. With help from this no-fail recipe—and a handful of IKEA essentials—holiday perfection has never been within closer reach.

RECIPE

Stuffed Savory-Sweet French Toast Casserole

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 14-inch loaf rustic bread, such as Pane Pugliese, cut into 8 slices
• 8 ounces thinly sliced Black Forest ham
• 6 ounces thinly sliced deli Swiss cheese
• 8 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Large pinch ground cardamom, freshly ground preferred.
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 jar (400 g) IKEA lingonberry jam

Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cut the bread crosswise into 8 thick slices.

Then stand one slice up straight, bottom side down, and cut through the center almost through to the bottom (like you were going to cut it into two slices of bread, but don’t), leaving about ½ inch uncut so it hinges. Spread a tablespoon of lingonberry jam inside the pocket of the slice of bread, and then stuff with 1 piece of Swiss cheese (½ ounce) and 1 piece of ham (¾ ounce). Repeat with remaining slices of bread and more lingonberry jam, swiss cheese, and ham.

Arrange the stuffed pieces of bread in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup, cardamom, and salt until well combined.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over bread, covering all of the tops. Let it soak for 15 minutes, then turn the bread and let it soak for another 15 minutes or overnight, covered in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with a rack in the upper third. Bake on the upper rack, uncovered, until the egg mixture is just set, 20 to 25 minutes.

Switch the oven to broil and broil until the tops are lightly toasted in spots, about 2 minutes more. Serve dolloped with remaining lingonberry jam.