13 Delicious Recipes for Christmas Morning

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved Christmas morning. The smell of pepper bacon and cinnamon rolls, hearing my dad’s Christmas music and gathering with my family in our PJ’s…those memories are some of my favorites ever and I can’t wait to have similar memories with my children.

Through the years, we’ve varied Christmas morning breakfast a little bit, but there are a few things that are REQUIRED. First of all, pepper bacon. Not that crappy processed bacon. I’m talking real thick-cut bacon from the butcher sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper. It will change everything.

Second, cinnamon rolls. None of us even really like cinnamon rolls, but the smell of them is always what woke us up on Christmas morning.

Third…cookies. My dad was a cookie connoisseur. Gingerbreads, peppermint swirls, fudge, petit fours, homemade toffee…it was an indulgent platter of sweet bites.

Once those three things were covered, anything else was fair game. Roasted potatoes, bagels and shmear, casseroles. As long as it was high in carbs and starch, it was a contender for Christmas morning!

Now that my dad has passed on, my sister and I are trying to continue the tradition with our families. Of course, we’ll have the staples, but here are a few new recipes I’m adding to the list of possibilities to try out this year.

If your family celebrates Christmas morning together, please take the time to enjoy those powerful and meaningful moments. Stretch it out as long as you can. Laugh and tell stories and let yourself indulge in the magic of the season. Honor traditions…start traditions…and may you and yours enjoy a holiday filled with magic, wonder, and good cheer!