Create new traditions with these holiday recipes

Amidst the chaos of Christmas, it is important to schedule in family time. This Christmas season consider holding a late, relaxing breakfast or brunch with the family. These recipes for Christmas breakfast will help you get started. Some of them can be prepared ahead of time, so when the day arrives, you will be ready. Serve and enjoy!

Holiday French Toast

Ingredients: 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter, melted 3 teaspoons cinnamon 3 apples 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1 loaf of French bread or other sweet bread 6 eggs 1 1/2 cups milk 1 tablespoon vanilla

Preparation: Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Combine brown sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Spread in a 13×9-in. pan. Add apples and cranberries; toss until the fruit is coated. Spread the mixture evenly throughout the dish. Arrange bread slices on top of the fruit mixture. Mix the eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Pour over the bread; make sure the bread is completely soaked. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. (It can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.) Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake, covered, for 40-50 minutes. Uncover and bake five minutes more or till lightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool for five minutes. Serve warm.

Bacon Cheese Frittata

Ingredients: 6 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 cup chopped onions 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation: Place eggs, milk, butter, salt and pepper in a bowl. Beat well. Pour mixture into a greased 11x7x2-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with onions, bacon and cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Makes 6 servings.

Christmas Morning Pie

Ingredients: 1 pound pork sausage, cooked and crumbled 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 2 9-inch pastry shells, unbaked 6 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup milk 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/3 cup chopped green pepper 1/3 cup chopped red pepper

Preparation: In a bowl, combine sausage and cheese. Divide the mixture into the two pastry shells. Combine eggs, milk, onion and peppers. Pour over the sausage mixture in the pastry shells. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand five minutes; then cut and serve. ~Christmas Tree Coffee Cake

Ingredients: 2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 ounces cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar Sugar sprinkles in holiday colors 3 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons orange juice

Preparation: Slice the crescent rolls into eleven pieces. Place the pieces on an ungreased cookie sheet and arrange them into a Christmas tree. Combine butter and sugar. Brush the mixture over the dough. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and orange juice. Brush on baked rolls. Sprinkle with the colored sugar. Cool and serve.

Holiday Doughnuts

Ingredients: 3 1/4 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup milk 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 beaten eggs 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Cooking oil Red and green sugar sprinkles White glaze (see below)

Preparation: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups of the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In a medium bowl, combine milk and butter. In another mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer until thick. Add dry mixture and milk mixture alternately to egg mixture, beating slightly after each addition. Stir in remaining flour. Cover dough; chill at least two hours (can be in refrigerator for up to 24 hours).

Place chilled dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough to ½-inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Roll and cut until all the dough has been used.

Fry doughnuts in hot cooking oil. Fry them approximately one minute on each side or until they are browned. Place on paper towels to drain. Drizzle warm doughnuts with white glaze and add red and green sprinkles. Makes about 14 doughnuts.

White glaze: In a bowl combine two cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and two tablespoons milk. Mix well. Stir in additional milk until the glazes reaches desired consistency.

These recipes for Christmas breakfast can be made at other times of the year. Make French toast with fresh fruit during summer. Instead of a Christmas tree coffee cake, create a heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s Day. Decorate doughnuts with chocolate glaze and orange sprinkles for Halloween.

To prepare well, choose recipes for Christmas breakfast and check your pantry for the needed ingredients. Go to the store at least a week before the big day to purchase any necessary items. These Christmas breakfast recipes will keep your guests satisfied and help you enjoy time together. They may even become a holiday family tradition. Christmas Tree Coffee Cake

Ingredients: 2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 ounces cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar Sugar sprinkles in holiday colors 3 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons orange juice

Preparation: Slice the crescent rolls into eleven pieces. Place the pieces on an ungreased cookie sheet and arrange them into a Christmas tree. Combine butter and sugar. Brush the mixture over the dough. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and orange juice. Brush on baked rolls. Sprinkle with the colored sugar. Cool and serve.

Holiday Doughnuts

Ingredients: 3 1/4 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup milk 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 beaten eggs 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Cooking oil Red and green sugar sprinkles White glaze (see below)

Preparation: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups of the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In a medium bowl, combine milk and butter. In another mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer until thick. Add dry mixture and milk mixture alternately to egg mixture, beating slightly after each addition. Stir in remaining flour. Cover dough; chill at least two hours (can be in refrigerator for up to 24 hours).

Place chilled dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough to ½-inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Roll and cut until all the dough has been used.

Fry doughnuts in hot cooking oil. Fry them approximately one minute on each side or until they are browned. Place on paper towels to drain. Drizzle warm doughnuts with white glaze and add red and green sprinkles. Makes about 14 doughnuts.

White glaze: In a bowl combine two cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and two tablespoons milk. Mix well. Stir in additional milk until the glazes reaches desired consistency.

These recipes for Christmas breakfast can be made at other times of the year. Make French toast with fresh fruit during summer. Instead of a Christmas tree coffee cake, create a heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s Day. Decorate doughnuts with chocolate glaze and orange sprinkles for Halloween.

To prepare well, choose recipes for Christmas breakfast and check your pantry for the needed ingredients. Go to the store at least a week before the big day to purchase any necessary items. These Christmas breakfast recipes will keep your guests satisfied and help you enjoy time together. They may even become a holiday family tradition.