If you’ve been around here for a while, you may be familiar with the white whale that Christmas morning cinnamon buns have been for me. The texture, the timing, the ease! I think I’ve imagined that if I could just find it, then I’d be able to stop chasing after the holiday. Small thing, I know, but the thought of a recipe I could return to again and again became a goal drifting in the frosty haze of spirituality and light and consumerism. It was a goal I thought I could achieve, at least.
And I did. I DID!
I wrote about all this over on Tastebook, and the piece is up today. Head there for the story, but mostly for the recipe which I think you’re going to want to adopt as well. And I’ll say right now that the recipe requires you to make them in advance (any time up until Christmas eve morning) and throw them in the freezer, so you might want to add them to your holiday baking list today. You won’t regret it, I promise.
Also related: every year in the midst of this obsessive search I seem to post a request on FB for Christmas morning recipes, and it’s one of my favorite threads all year. It helps, of course, but it’s also so fascinating to hear about what you all return to year after year. So that we might have a more permanent record, I’d love to hear about those morning recipes here on this post if you’re willing. Add your two cents, then head over to Tastebook and get those buns going.
Hope you all are having a wonderful December, and Happy Solstice! Here’s to the return of the light.
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leek pie has been the go-to on xmas morning…I cheat and use a pre-made crust which is blind baked for about 20 minutes…2 large leeks and half a large onion are sauteed until softened and then combines with 2 large eggs, half a cup of heavy cream, a cup of crumbled feta and maybe something I am not thinking of at the moment… I will come back and clarify once I can check at home…If not leek pie, matzoh brei…tres yumm regardless!
Oh this sounds totally wonderful.
I now make the Cinnamon Toast French Toast casserole from Smitten Kitchen. I can make the whole thing the night before and pop it in the oven while I fry bacon for breakfast on Christmas morning. It’s a big hit!
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/04/cinnamon-toast-french-toast-cookbook-preview/
Oh yum. I’ve never made that one, but lots of people have suggested it. I’ll put it on the list…
The last few years we’ve had my grandmother’s Russian kulich as toast, with homemade eggnog and a fruit salad. I blogged it here: http://thriftathome.blogspot.com/2013/01/grandmas-christmas-bread-russian-kulich.html
But we often have breakfast buns because it’s one of my favorite cozy house tricks. Here’s a recipe with method: http://thriftathome.blogspot.com/2014/12/midwinter-breakfast-buns-to-cheer-you.html
Off to look at your method! Can’t believe Christmas is days away!
Thanks for the links, Margo! Looks wonderful…
Last year I enjoyed a new flavor treat for Christmas, and I think we will stay with them. They’re really tasty and keep us going til Christmas Dinner, whenever that is….yes, Kimchee Tatas. Yummy! They’re pretty fantastic any day, really.
Yes, yes! Kimchi tatas!
I make Overnight Waffles from Amanda Hesser’s New York Times Cookbook. A small amount of prep the night before and even less in the morning. And if you brown the butter. . . unbelievable!
Those are the yeasted ones, yes?
We used to do overnight French toast or similar, but with all the sweets around and my kids (and I!) being inclined to eat our Christmas stocking candy first thing, I switched it up and went with crustless quiche this year – with cheddar and left mashed potatoes. Could be made ahead, but it takes 10 minutes to mix and about 30 in the oven, so it’s not too onerous. (I did make overnight monkey bread for Christmas Eve morning, so fear not – the cinnamon sweetness was present earlier.)
It’s funny- we have to do midmorning hard boiled eggs. All that sweet makes everyone spacey. I think going savory altogether is pretty smart.
Since before we had kids we always have done bagels and cream cheese with smoked salmon with a fruit tray,no cooking!!No mimosas now with the kids or I need a nap at 10:00.