Special Breakfast Recipes & Dishes for Christmas Morning, Birthdays & Other Holidays

Kick start your special day with one of our tried and true favorite dishes! We asked the Babble Panel what they are cooking up on Christmas morning, or throughout the year on special occasions, and below are our favorites.

Note: A couple of these are make-ahead (the night before) so you're morning isn't so busy.

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Mom's Favorite Quiche

My mom has made this for years and now it is a go-to in my house as well. I love that can you change it up based on what you have in your kitchen or what you're craving.

Pro tip: this is the perfect recipe to double so great for a larger crowd (you can change up what is in each one) or great to make one to share.

It's easy to double because the frozen crust comes in a 2-pack and I can usually split a can of evaporated milk between the two and get away with it just fine. I like to take this when someone has had a baby or is grieving because a lot of other people are bringing dinners. Nice to change it up and maybe bring a nice coffee and some donuts too.

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs

• 1 can of evaporated milk

• green onion

• 1 cup cheese- whatever: cheddar, Swiss, Italian, feta you name it!

• Ham/bacon/broccoli/spinach- whatever you like

• Dash of netmet

• 1 pre-made pie crust (I like to buy the frozen ones in the 2 pack)

  
  

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Take a fork and poke a couple of holes in the bottom of your crust. We like to put the crust in the oven for 6-10 minutes first. Mix all of the ingredients together in a separate bowl and pour into pie crust. Put it on an aluminum foil lined cookie sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.

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Buttermilk Cranberry Orange Breakfast Cake

This can be made the night before so you're morning isn't so hectic. This cake is DELICIOUS! Below is what we like to call the holiday version of this recipe - using cranberries and orange. But you can sub out the cranberries for blueberries and the orange for lemon and make this anytime of year. Get ready for your guests to ask for the recipe after breakfast!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• Zest from 1 orange

• 1 cup sugar (set aside 1 Tablespoon for sprinkling)

• 1 egg, room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 cups flour – set aside ¼ cup to toss with berries

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups fresh cranberries

• ½ c buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.  Using a stand or hand-held mixer, cream butter, orange zest and sugar (minus the 1 Tablespoon for sprinkling) until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. 

Toss the cranberries in ¼ cup of flour, set aside.  In another bowl, whisk together remaining flour, baking powder and salt. 

Using a spatula to stir, add half of the flour mixture to the batter.  Add all of the buttermilk, stir.  Add remaining flour and stir until flour is absorbed.  Fold in cranberries (leave excess flour from the cranberry bowl behind).  Spread batter into prepared pan. 

Bake 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.   Let cool 15+ minutes before serving.

*Can be made ahead of time:  Prepare the batter, spread into baking dish and cover with plastic wrap and store in fridge.  If time permits, bring to room temp for 30 minutes, then sprinkle with sugar and bake.  May need more baking time if batter is cold.

**Can be frozen after baked, in airtight container.  Thaw at room temp overnight then reheat at 350 for 15 minutes before serving.

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Lox & Bagels

Our go-to for any birthday, anniversary, holiday or just because special breakfast is lox and bagels. Easy to assemble, delicious and special and pairs perfectly with a mimosa.

Ingredients:

• Great, fresh bagels- our favorites are Asiago, Everything and Onion from Panera, but Costco or anywhere else will do.

• Cream Cheese

• Smoked Salmon

• Red onion, diced

• Capers

• Fresh dill if you have it

• Some people tomato or radish, but not us :)

Simply toast your bagels, smear with cream cheese and set out all of the toppings so everyone can choose their own adventure!

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Homemade Bagels

If you want to take the above recipe up a notch or would just love a crispy bagel straight out of the oven, this one is for you and surprisingly easy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour

• 2 teaspoon baking powder

• Smidge of salt

• 1 cup non-fat plan Greek yogurt

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients. Add Greek yogurt (it will be sticky). Kneed about 15-20 times. Split into 4 balls. Roll each ball to make a rope and form the bagel.

Spread a little egg whites on the top and sprinkle a your favorite seasonings - I use "Everything But The Bagel" seasoning from Trader Joes.

Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes.

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Overnight Omelet

Another favorite that you can make the night before to set yourself up for a more relaxing morning. This recipe as been in my family for decades and never fails to be the star of the breakfast show. It's hearty, savory, feeds a crowd and some of the ingredients can be adjusted to please any palate (ie, my husband hates mushrooms so I only put those on half and add diced green chilies to "his half").

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces ground sausage (can use equivalent amount of bacon or ham, if desired)

• 4-6 slices white bread (do not use heels)

• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 1/2 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

• 9 eggs

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 3/4 teaspoon ground mustard

• 5-6 fresh mushrooms, sliced

• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup + additional 1/4 cup milk

Directions:

Grease 9x13 pan. Line bottom of pan with bread slices, cutting to fit. Brown sausage, drain well and sprinkle over bread. Spread shredded cheese and sliced onion over the sausage. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk and ground mustard until well blended. Pour over pan. Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, preheat oven to 300 degrees. Sprinkle sliced mushrooms over pan. Combine mushroom soup with 1/4 cup milk then spread over the top. Place pan in oven, uncovered, and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Optional: diced peppers or green chilies can be added along with the green onions if desired.

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Breakfast Grazing Table

Much like a charcuterie can bring everyone together, so can a breakfast grazing table! Just get all the crowd pleasing favorites in one spot and let the hands start grabbing, people start chatting and family and friends connecting over good food!

Perfect for hosting! Easy to prep or assign to those attending.

Why it works:

• Something for everyone

• Easy prep

• Great for a group

• Get everyone chatting around the table or island

Inspiration for what to include:

• Bagels

• Donuts

• Fruit

• Bacon & Sausage

• Cheese

• Smoked Salmon

• Avocado

• Muffins & Pastries

• All the Fixings

Pairs well with a mimosa or juice bar. 🥂

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Eggs en Cocotte (also called French Baked or Shirred Eggs)

This is one of my most favorite breakfast dishes and it feels so fancy, but it is so simple! You bake eggs in individual ramekins in a hot water bath resulting in a creamy, decadent dish perfect for dipping hot, toasted bread in. I bought myself these ramekins for Christmas this year so I can create this more often, but I have heard that you can make this in a muffin tin as well. You can also add in other favorite like smoked salmon, ham, bacon, etc.. but I like mine just as it is below.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 2 Tablespoons heavy cream or half and half

• 1 teaspoon butter just enough to butter the ramekin

• Shredded cheese to taste, Gruyere is a favorite

• 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste

• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper to taste

• 1 sprig lemon thyme or chives, rosemary, basil, etc.

• Toasted bread - baguette or other (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously butter the ramekins and crack in two eggs. Then drizzle in the cream and add your cheese (and other fixings if you want), and salt and pepper, then cover with your ramekin lid. (I have made this without the lid and it works just fine too, don't let it deter you if you don't have the fancy ramekins.

Place boiling water into a large, oven-safe casserole dish. Place the ramekins into the water and bake in the oven for 15 minutes (10 minutes covered, 5 minutes uncovered) for soft- boiled eggs or 18 minutes (13 covered, 5 uncovered) for hard-boiled.

Remove the oven-baked eggs from the oven and top with your fresh herbs (my favorite is thyme), and serve with your toasted bread.

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