Cozy Holiday Breakfasts
recipes for relaxing winter mornings
One of the things I relish most about the week between Christmas and New Years is the mornings. That week there are no alarm clocks to startle me awake and no rushing to get out the door. Rather, they unfold slowly, allowing me to linger in my PJs as long as I want as I nurse my mug of strong coffee. Whether I am on my own, with Thom and Bella, or visiting extended family, it’s a time I truly savor, and the right breakfast makes it all the more delightful. These recipes are meant to make the most of those precious, snugly mornings. They each have a special holiday essence, but are easy to whip up, or meant to be made-ahead. I hope you enjoy them, and have a happy, healthy holiday season filled with love and good food. —Ellie
Gingerbread Oatmeal
This recipe gives you the essence of gingerbread served in a warm bowl for breakfast. Aromatic cinnamon, cloves, and ginger wafting from a comforting bowl of oatmeal provides all the cozy holiday vibes in the most nourishing way. An optional dollop of whipped cream on top makes it extra festive.
Holiday Breakfast Cookies
Photo by Quentin Bacon, food styling by Suzanne Lenzer and prop styling by Meave Sheridan
These nourishing breakfast treats deliver big holiday flavor and aroma to make your morning feel extra special. They are something of a cross between a muffin and a cookie, made with whole grains, studded with seasonal fruits and nuts, and fragrant with pumpkin spice. I originally came up with them to use up what was left after a holiday meal, but everyone loved them so much now I buy the ingredients especially to make them.
Mushroom and Swiss Chard Strata With Gruyere
Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg and food styling by Lisa Cherkasky; for The Washington Post
This casserole, which is ideal for feeding a larger group, dishes up all the ease and splendor of a typical overnight breakfast bake, but in a more healthful way. Made with whole-grain bread, it brims with sautéed mushrooms and ribbons of Swiss chard, is fragrant with herbs and has just enough nutty Gruyere cheese to make it rich and flavorful. Once baked, it puffs gloriously with a bread-pudding-like texture inside and a crispy top.
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