MAKE-AHEAD CHRISTMAS MORNING
We've got sweet AND savory options for a stress-free breakfast by the tree!
**We’re taking some much-needed time off, so please enjoy this W4D encore newsletter.** Christmas day is just around the corner, and you’ve probably got your traditional holiday dinner in order, but maybe not Christmas morning? We’ve got you. Subscribe below, if you haven’t already. FALALALALA and all that!
WHAT’S 4 DINNER: BREAKFAST!
TWO MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST BAKES FOR A STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS MORNING
AU: Nobody wants a big production on Christmas morning… chances are you were up all night wielding an Allen wrench to help Santa put together that adorable-yet-suprisingly-intricate toddler kitchen set, leaving a full night’s sleep last on Santa’s list.
EK: Isn’t that the truth…and it’s also a morning to savor, and that means it should be easy! This year, make life easy on yourself and make 2 strata or casseroles the night before and all you have to do is pour the juice, make the coffee and bake the casseroles.
My sweet stuffed strata is made with cinnamon raisin bread and is “stuffed” with sautéed apples and dried cherries. I love adding a layer of fruit between the bread and custard layers because it’s breaks up the l bread. If this recipe seems like bread pudding for breakfast, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. :)
And, if you are a fan of eggnog, I highly recommend subbing the milk for eggnog!
AU: That sounds incredible! My savory Hash Brown Breakfast Bake uses (thawed) frozen hash browns, instead of bread, and it’s packed with country-style breakfast sausage, onions, peppers, green chilies and cheese. It’s my take on what a proper Texas lady with a perfectly-teased coif would drop off at a friend’s house for Christmas before running to Neiman’s. Now where’s the hairspray? The higher the hair…
ELIZABETH’S SWEET STUFFED FRENCH TOAST STRATA
EK: Dessert First so to speak…this is so easy to make but eats like you spent all morning/day making it! Traditionally, these breakfast casseroles are baked in a 9 x 13 style pan, but I love baking the stuffed French toast in a round enameled cast-iron gratin dish or a large round baking dish. It needs to be at least 3 quarts and not larger that 4 quarts and any shape will work.
The first thing that I do is spread the bread out on a sheet pan to let it get “stale." Then I stack it and cube it. You don’t have to be too precise, I usually cut each stack 4 times lengthwise and 4 times crosswise to get my cubes.
Next, I sauté the apples and let them cook for a few minutes with the lid on the pan to steam a little—you don’t want to overcook them. Once they are beginning to get soft, I add the dried cherries and let them plump in the apple juices. You could do this step a couple of days in advance.
Assembly is next, a layer of bread cubes, the fruit filling, another layer of bread cubes and then the liquid custard is poured over the whole thing. The secret to this strata is letting it sit overnight in the refrigerator so it can absorb all the custard. Then, bake and enjoy!
ANTHONY’S SAVORY HASH BROWN BREAKFAST BAKE
AU: Like Elizabeth’s breakfast casserole, it can be made in advance, so there’s no heavy lifting on Christmas morning… but here’s a bonus: there’s no bread, so you don’t have to soak this one overnight.
AU: Brown the sausage, sauté the veg and let them cool (this is very important) before assembling in a greased casserole dish. Then just let the whole thing hang out in the fridge ‘til you’re ready to bake it on Christmas morning!
SANTA’S SPIRITED COFFEE BAR
DRINKS: DIY Boozy Coffee Bar What could be more fun than a DIY Coffee Bar?! Coffee with an Extra Shot of boozy cold-brew spirits or Irish Cream (think Baileys) or my favorite newcomer, Five Farms Irish Cream from County Cork. It’s a fun and unexpected addition to any coffee occasion! You can read more about how Elizabeth does it here.
AU: Wishing you a very, very Merry Christmas!
EK: Here’s to the Holidays! Thank you all for joining Anthony and me as we cook together, from coast to coast! We can’t wait to share more with you next week and in the new year! Happy Merry everyone!! Cheers!
The hash brown casserole reads like a one-dish Cracker Barrel breakfast. Yum!
I made sausage rolls ahead for breakfast/snacks/tea/supper because when is it not the right time for a sausage roll. And being busy with wrapping, forgot I had. So burnt them.