Six Festive Christmas Breakfast Ideas
Christmas is right around the corner and it’s never too early to start planning your menu. Everyone always thinks of Christmas dinner as the high-profile meal of the day, but Christmas breakfast can be just as important. What better way to enjoy a cozy morning opening presents with your family than with a festive, delicious breakfast? Your family might have its own traditions, but if you’re looking for something new, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Christmas breakfast ideas!
Danish Kringle
The festive nature of this breakfast is right there in the name! A kringle is a Danish pastry; it is made of buttery layers of dough that are filled with a filling (traditionally jam or pecans) and twisted into a ring. The kringle is still popular in Scandinavia but has become plenty popular in the United States as well; in fact, it is the official state pastry of the state of Wisconsin! Whether or not you live anywhere near Lake Michigan, you can enjoy this decadent pastry on Christmas morning with your family. We recommend making your own, but many bakeries offer kringles if you’re looking for an extra convenient option.
Cinnamon Roll Wreath
For many families, cinnamon rolls have come to represent the ultimate Christmas morning breakfast. That cinnamon sugar flavor is such a classic winter combination! This make-ahead cinnamon roll wreath is a great way to enjoy that cinnamon roll flavor while elevating the dish to even more festive levels. This recipe is perfect for Christmas morning: it looks impressive but it’s not particularly complicated to make. Make the dough, add the filling, roll it out, and shape it around an oven-safe ramekin the night before; let it complete its final rise in the fridge overnight. In the morning, take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature while you preheat the oven, then bake it. You’ll have an easy, delicious, and festive Christmas breakfast!
Gingerbread French Toast
What is more Christmasy than gingerbread? This delicious casserole recipe combines traditional Christmas flavors in a classic french toast format. It is perfect if you’re looking for something you can make ahead and keep ready in the fridge until you’re ready to pop it in the oven on Christmas morning. This uses fewer dishes on Christmas morning and allows you to get to the festivities without fussing over a hot stove. Refrigerating it overnight works great, but keeping it in the fridge for a full 24 hours brings out its ultimate flavor and texture.
Christmas Crepes
These beautiful and festive crepes are the perfect main course in a special breakfast. They are stuffed with a luscious cream cheese filling and covered with a decadent homemade cranberry jam, which combines cranberries with orange zest and candied ginger to really bring those wintry flavors to life. If this seems like an ambitious project for Christmas morning, make the jam and the filling ahead of time and keep them chilled in the fridge until you make the crepes on Christmas morning.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Pancakes
Dark chocolate and peppermint seem made for each other; these decadent pancakes make the most of that classic combination. The surprisingly easy-to-make batter comes together quickly and uses cocoa powder to achieve a deep brown color; incorporate chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed peppermint candy to bring this breakfast to the next level. Top it with chocolate sauce instead of maple syrup to unlock the dish’s true potential.
Christmas Morning Muffins
If your Christmas morning routine involves hitting the road to visit relatives instead of opening presents at home, these grab-and-go muffins are the perfect nutritious start to a busy day. Muffins are the perfect breakfast if you’re eating on the go because they are small and portable without sacrificing taste. These muffins feature a perfect blend of spices and a delicate streusel topping to evoke that holiday cheer. They’re packed with protein, cranberries, and nuts to keep you satisfied until Christmas dinner and come together easily the night before. In fact, they’re so easy to make that you can mix them up by hand and skip using the stand mixer entirely!