Christmas Morning Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas: One Sweet One Savory

One thing my kids roll their eyes over every Christmas morning is the fact that I don’t let them out of their rooms until I feel everything is ready. I know some families who have a rule that the kids can sneak out and open stockings, which is a brilliant way to ensure mom and dad get a bit more sleep. But in our house those bedroom doors better stay closed until mom gives the go-ahead. This means I have brewed and poured my coffee, stirred in my creamer and have nestled onto my spot on the couch ready to watch their faces as they come barreling into the living room.

They moan and groan but I don’t think they know that has secretly become one of my favorite Christmas morning traditions; making them suffer just a little more in anticipation of the day ahead.

One thing I don’t like worrying about is making breakfast either during or after gift opening. I want to enjoy my morning but I also like it to be special. A few years ago, I started making two dishes on Christmas Eve that I can easily just heat up or dish up on Christmas morning.

If you are looking for something to make your Christmas morning special and a little easier, look no further!

Sweet: Coffee Cake

Ingredients:
Box of yellow cake mix
Brown sugar
Pecans (optional but I like them)
½ stick of butter (melted)
3 Eggs
1 ½ cup sour cream
Cinnamon
8×8 baking pan (honestly you could make any size work)
Two bowls
Cooking Spray

Steps:
Set oven to 350
In one bowl – Crumble:
Pour in 2/3 cup of the yellow cake mix
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecans
Pour melted butter into that same bowl
1 dash of cinnamon

In a second bowl:
Add in remaining cake mix
Stir in 3 eggs
1 & ½ cups of sour cream
Mix till smooth
Spray your baking dish
Layer the mix with the crumble mixture
Half the cake mix, half the crumble, half the cake mix, half the crumble

Bake at 350 for about 45-55 minutes

Photo: iStock | Mariiapolo

So good to then dish up Christmas morning with coffee or tea!

Savory Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground sausage (I have also made a batch with Impossible for my vegetarian daughter)
32 ounce bag of shredded hash browns
9×13 casserole dish (again, you could likely make other sizes work)
Bell peppers (diced or chopped) I use 1-2
Onions (diced or chopped) I use about ½ an onion (less if an extra-large onion)
2 cups of cheddar cheese (either pre-shredded or shred yourself)
6-8 eggs (I typically use 8)
2 cups of milk
Salt and pepper (about ½ teaspoon of each)
Garlic powder (about ¼ teaspoon)
Onion powder (about ¼ teaspoon)
Mixing Bowl
Pan for cooking
Cooking spray

Steps:
Brown the sausage
Brown the hash browns (I cook the sausage then use the same pan for the hash browns)
Slightly cook the peppers and onions (again in the same pan)
Spray your baking dish
Pour the cooked sausage, hash browns and veggies into casserole dish (you can layer but I prefer it all mixed together)
Top with 2 cups cheddar cheese
Mix eggs in a bowl
Add 2 cups of milk to the eggs
Add in salt and pepper
Add in garlic powder
Add in onion powder
Stir the egg mixture
Pour in the egg mixture into the casserole dish over the hash brown, sausage, cheese mixture
Cover and put in the fridge overnight

In the morning, take out of the fridge and let sit for about 15 minutes

Cook at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes