Sometimes the only thing keeping everyone from tearing into gifts before Santa has had a chance to have his coffee are the sweet and savory smells of a holiday breakfast. And don't worry if Santa spent all night in the workshop, everything from coffee cakes to breakfast burritos can be made in advance so little elves don't have to wait too long before discovering if there is coal or candy in their Christmas stockings.
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Eggnog French toast
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Basic breakfast casserole
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Gingerbread pancakes
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A festive spin on your classic pancakes. Magnolia Cafe in Austin is famous for theirs, and the recipe has been featured on both the Food Network and "Today," but it doesn't mean you have to go all the way to Texas to have them.
The Magnolia Cafe recommends you try Homesick Texan's recipe for their pancakes at home.
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Blueberry waffles
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Pecan pie muffins
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Sriracha maple bacon
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Drizzle everyone's favorite breakfast side dish with maple syrup and add a dash of black pepper to fancy up your usual bacon.
Or if you're like us, just black pepper isn't enough. We're all about this great recipe from Food52 for sriracha maple bacon.
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Italian brunch torte
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Give the bacon and sausage a break, and add some cured Italian meats to your morning casserole, like the prosciutto pictured here.
Taste of Home features a breakfast torte recipe with Italian meats, cheese, and spinach for a very Christmas-y looking meal.
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Eggs-in-the-hole
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You can cut a hole out of the center of your toast or pop the egg in the center of a bagel (or pastry-like in the image, if you're feeling fancy!). It's too tasty to be this easy.
Serious Eats has a version that calls for puff pastry – one of the most vital ingredients of any holiday meal.
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Fruit and oatmeal bars
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(Leftover) Ham and eggs
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Classic French toast
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Chorizo breakfast burrito
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Veggie breakfast casserole
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Morning bread pudding
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Overnight casserole
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Sleep in this Christmas morning! Make an omelet casserole the night before and put it in the slow-cooker. All you'll have to do is wake up and eat.
Stockpiling Moms has a proven overnight casserole recipe that makes use of frozen hash browns for an extra layer of breakfast goodness.
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Spicy hot chocolate
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Not a big breakfast eater? Spice up your morning beverage! Spike your hot chocolate with cinnamon, star anise, paprika, or even some cayenne powder, if you're feeling frisky.
Feeling adventurous? Saveur has a Thai-inspired hot chocolate recipe that gets its pop from the warm tastes of cardamom, cloves, and star anise.