Christmas Breakfast Ideas for a Merry Morning

Start with dishes filled to the brim with seasonal candies. "I order traditional Christmas candy and stollen and panettone, and round those out with delicious lemon cookies and mini chocolate cupcakes," says Martha, who includes this introductory buffet every year.

Get the Stollen Recipe

Get the Panettone Recipe

Get the Christmas Candy Recipes

This sweet but nutty yogurt mix is made with only seven ingredients. To make, combine crunchy rolled oats and hazelnuts with big chunks of juicy pineapple in a hot skillet, then pour over a bed of creamy Greek yogurt.

An impressive, and dare we say "eggcellent," way to serve breakfast: The creamed spinach and crouton in these individual dishes -- presented to your guests in small ramekins -- can be made up to two days ahead of time, freeing up your Christmas morning for presents!

That desperately needed caffeine kick you need for the full day of festitivites ahead is a match made in heaven with the star drink of the season, eggnog.

Pass on the gingerbread house for now. A fluffy stack of ordinary pancakes gets an indulgent twist: They are sweetened with molasses and flavored with warm gingerbread spices.

Nova smoked salmon, sturgeon, and sable are served with thick dollops of dill-flavored cream cheese, zesty lemon and cayenne in a spectacular tiered display. Guests can mix and match as they please and the cream cheese can be made two days ahead.

This sweet-and-savory bacon mixture is made with brown sugar, bourbon, maple syrup, shallots, and vinegar. Serve alongside a platter of store-bought bagels, croissants, and pastries, or your own home-baked goods if you like.

This creamy, cheesy baked breakfast has no shortage of fans. Our version gets an update with layers of sausage, vinegar-glazed peppers, and grated potatoes mixed with cheddar cheese, scallions, and a silky bechamel sauce.

Offer two pitchers of bright red beverages: mulled blood-orange punch and Bloody Mary mix.

Get the Mulled Blood Orange Punch Recipe

Get the Bloody Mary Mix Recipe

Little boys and girls will love getting their hands sticky in these. In making these golden brown buns, the dough is spread with a special tangerine marmalade, then topped with a brown sugar-pistachio mixture, sprinkled with salt, and drizzled with 3 tablespoons butter.