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Breakfast

Family Coming Into Town for the Holidays? Here Are 10 Super-Size Breakfast Recipes

Seriously, y'all. Christmas will be here before you know it, and family members will be knocking on your door as you welcome them over for the holidays. Soon your home will be filled with aunts, uncles, children, grandparents and everyone else in between.

Yes, having a bunch of family members in one house for several days is overwhelming, but we're here to relieve some of that stress by giving you ten breakfast dishes that easily feed a crowd.

10. Monkey Bread

If you have a bunch of children over for the holidays, let them eat something sweet by making monkey bread. This fun, pull-apart sweet bread can be made from scratch or by using canned biscuit dough. Simply cut the biscuit dough into small cubes or circles, then coat in sugar and cinnamon, stack on top of each other in a bundt pan, and pour a mixture of brown sugar and melted butter on top. Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Everyone will love pulling off sweet, sticky pieces to munch on during breakfast.

9. Muffins

One of the simplest baked goods to make is a muffin. Whether you prefer an easy boxed mix that calls for the addition of water or milk and possibly eggs, or a from-scratch recipe, muffins always turn out delightful. Make a couple dozen muffins the night before or the morning of and you're set to feed an army. Remember, you can always reheat muffins in the microwave and they'll taste just as good as they did when they came out of the oven.

8. Frittata

For the family members who enjoy more savory breakfast dishes, a frittata is a suitable and tasty option. Cook the vegetables (onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, potatoes, etc.) in a skillet, toss in meat (chicken, ham, turkey, whatever), if desired, then add shredded cheese, and six or eight whisked eggs. Once the eggs begin to form a crust on the edges, place the skillet in a 400-degree oven to bake for another ten minutes, or until the eggs are done. Slice the frittata like a pie and serve.

7. Baked Eggs

Rather than scrambling the eggs in a frittata, bake egg yolks in a casserole dish with egg whites, tomatoes, cheese, spinach, kale, onions and peppers. Bake the casserole until the egg whites are set and the yolks are to your liking. Serve an individual yolk to each person.

6. Breakfast Sandwiches

Don't settle for fast-food breakfast sandwiches when you can make them at home. Bake individual eggs in a muffin tin or ramekins, heat sausage patties, Canadian bacon or ham on a skillet, then stack an egg, choice of meat and cheese inside a toasted biscuit or English muffin. Make the sandwiches ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve.

5. Cinnamon Rolls

Who doesn't love waking up to the smell of cinnamon rolls in the oven? Whether you want to make sticky buns in a cake pan or individual cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet, you'll make all your family members happy with these sticky, sweet pastries.

4. Bread

Sweet bread, savory bread or plain bread -- any of these are perfect for breakfast. Make a festive orange-cranberry sweet bread or a classic banana nut bread to satisfy all sweet-tooth cravings in the morning, or opt for a more savory option with herbs, cheese and veggies. You can also make a loaf of plain country white bread for your guests to slather with butter and jelly. And your house will smell great.

3. Scones

Scones are like a hybrid between sweet bread and muffins. Make sweet scones such as blueberry-lemon, cranberry or pear, or make savory scones with cheese, rosemary or sun-dried tomatoes. Again, these baked goods can be made in advance.

2. Slow-Cooker Oatmeal

Yes, oatmeal is easy to make in the morning, but it's so much better when you make it in a slow cooker. No need to stand over the stove and constantly stir the oatmeal so it doesn't stick to the sides of the pot. Prepare it the night before by combining steel-cut oats with water, milk, brown sugar and salt; let the oatmeal cook on low for as long as eight hours, and when you wake up you'll have a warm, scrumptious pot of hearty oatmeal. Provide a variety of toppings -- dried berries, nuts and cinnamon -- so everyone can personalize his or her breakfast.

1. Baked French Toast

Making French toast for each individual person takes forever, so instead, bake it all in one casserole dish. Cut a loaf of bread into one-inch slices, then place into a buttered casserole dish so you have two overlapping rows. Pour whisked eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon on top of the bread slices and bake for approximately 40 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Give the egg-milk mixture more time to soak into the bread by assembling it the night before, then place it into the refrigerator.

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Molly Dunn
Contact: Molly Dunn