These recipes originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of HomeLife Magazine.
You can prepare these breakfast recipes the night before.
Can you still recall the childlike excitement of Christmas morning? Perusing my holiday recipe collection this month brought me back to my earliest Christmas memories. The feeling of overwhelming joy was so impacting that I tend to adorn moments of immense excitement with the simple phrase: “It’s like Christmas morning!” Getting engaged … it’s like Christmas morning. Giving birth … it’s like Christmas morning. The birth of your first grandchild … it’s like Christmas morning all over again.
Coming from humble stock — the eldest of three children — I was astutely in-tune with my surroundings from an early age. I surmised my parents were doing their best to make ends meet and that I shouldn’t want for much. On one shopping trip, I asked my mother if she’d replace my holes-through-the-toes sneakers with a new pair of red Keds®. She simply said, “No. I don’t have enough money to buy those now.” To which I naively replied, “Then just write a check!” She explained there had to be money in the account for the check to pay for shoes. I slid back to longing for Christmas morning.
As you can see, we made things last as long as possible. I don’t remember receiving new clothes (unless mom sewed them), or new toys other than at birthdays or Christmas. For months I’d prep for those special occasions by circling items on the worn and torn pages of the Sears catalog. The items I most highly coveted somehow showed up under our tree on Christmas morning. How those gifts got there was part of the mystery and excitement. Eventually, I got around to asking my dad how he had found the money for those early Christmases. I learned he had sold prized possessions along the way in order to afford the gifts we had waited so long for.
Christmas mornings don’t come without sacrifice. This season, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, look for new ways to experience the overwhelming joy found in Him. After all, He’s the reason it’s like Christmas morning!
These truly scrumptious breakfast recipes are perfect to prepare the night before, giving you more time to soak up the joy.
Croissant French Toast Bake | Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
8 large eggs (beaten)
1 c. whole milk
1 c. heavy cream
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
8 large croissants (day-old is better)
1/3 c. maple syrup
1/4 c. butter (melted)
Confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)
Directions
Lightly grease a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray, then set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Cube the croissants and gently pour into the liquids to soak. Turn egg and bread mixture into baking dish. Cover with lid or aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle melted butter and maple syrup over top. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and puffy in the middle. If top begins to brown too quickly and middle is not done, tent with aluminum foil. Serve warm with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar and warm maple syrup.
“This dish is perfect with bacon, ham, or sausage links and a fruit salad.” — Laura
Egg and Spinach Casserole | Makes 6-8 servings
Ingredients
6 eggs (beaten)
3/4 c. onion (chopped)
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
16 oz. small curd cottage cheese
16 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
1/2 c. butter (melted)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Grease a 9-inch-by-13-inch dish with butter or cooking spray. In a large bowl, add eggs, onion, and flour. Whisk until well combined, then add spinach, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, and butter. Salt and pepper to taste, then pour into prepared baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 45 minutes or until lightly golden on top.
Blueberry Coffee Cake | Makes 6-8 servings
Cake Ingredients
1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c. milk
1/4 c. butter (melted)
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. frozen blueberries
Topping Ingredients
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. butter (melted)
Directions
Prepare a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. In a large bowl, add first six ingredients. Stir in the next four wet ingredients and beat for two minutes or until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with blueberries. In a small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Blend with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over blueberries. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place in the oven for 40 minutes, or until lightly browned.
“By making this dish overnight, it frees up your morning for other things to bake!” — Laura
Laura Schupp is the author of Our Newlywed Kitchen: The Art of Cooking, Gathering & Creating Traditions. Learn more about Laura at OurNewlywedKitchen.com.
