30 Scrumptious Holiday Breakfast Breads

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
Updated October 06, 2020

Make your holiday mornings extra-special with our recipes for coffee cake, muffins, scones, quick breads and yeast breads.

Start Slideshow

1 of 31

Lazy Morning Cinnamon Rolls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Pizza dough is the secret shortcut in this 45-minutes-and-done recipe. It doesn't yield a fluffy Amish-style roll, but rather a breakfast treat with a toothsome chew, like the love child of cinnamon buns and garlic knots. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 31

Chocolate-Kissed Monkey Bread

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Caramel, chocolate and cinnamon give this monkey bread a delicious flavor. Be sure to get the large flaky biscuits for easy shaping. 

3 of 31

Maple Butter Twists

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These breakfast rolls are a family tradition with Jean Haviland of Carroll, Iowa. "My mom made these rolls with a maple-cream filling every Christmas-and still does!" she says. "Mom always makes extra and freezes them for later. They're great for breakfast or any time of day!" 

Advertisement

4 of 31

Holiday Christmas Bread

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

There's no butter or shortening in this braided sweet bread. You won't miss it in this large loaf."We're the sixth generation to bake this holiday bread," says Margaret Kassing of Beatrice, Nebraska. "The 12 strips of dough represent 12 months in a year. The four layers of braided dough stand for the four seasons. Nuts and raisins indicate the type of year—mostly nuts represents a good year for farmers and mostly raisins a poor year. Before it's served, the youngest boy takes last year's crust outside to feed the birds, God's lesser creatures. Finally, a crust is saved for the next year to show there will always be bread in this home." 

5 of 31

Eggnog Muffins

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These tender holiday muffins, dressed up with a nutmeg-streusel topping, come from the Washington House Inn in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

More muffin recipes

6 of 31

Swedish Tea Ring

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sprinkled with chopped red and green cherries, this tender, walnut-filled pastry is a perfect treat for Christmas morning.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 31

Classic Challah

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Minnesota blogger Molly Yeh often twists her challahs into simple spirals. This recipe—adapted from her cookbook Molly on the Range ($32.50, Rodale)—makes four small loaves, perfect for freezing or sharing. (Slightly stale challah also makes dreamy French toast.) 

8 of 31

Sticky Cinnamon Apple Rolls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The Midwest Living Test Kitchen created this recipe for giant sticky buns bursting with chopped apples and pecans. The rolls bake in a sweet caramel syrup. 

9 of 31

Almond-Cranberry Bread with White Chocolate Glaze

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sweet bread balances tangy cranberries in this winning recipe from the Wisconsin State Fair. Wrap and store it overnight to make it easier to slice. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 31

Chocolate-Pistachio Wreath Bread

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chocolate frosting tops a moist chocolate bread to create a spectacular Christmas treat -- as delightful to look at as it is to eat. Use either chopped pistachio nuts or almonds for a bit of crunch. 

11 of 31

Overnight Cherry Chocolate Coffee Cake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This is our give-you-a-break coffee cake. Prepped in a half-hour, it waits in the fridge till you pop it in the oven the next morning. Serve warm, and the chocolate stays irresistibly melty. 

12 of 31

Chocolate-Almond Bubble Wreath

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chocolate wrapped in sweet-roll dough forms bite-size bubbles in this bread. Serve warm from the oven for breakfast or snacks.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 31

Sour Cream Swirl Coffee Cake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A layer of brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans swirls through the center of this sour cream coffee cake from the Lantz House Inn in Centerville, Indiana. 

14 of 31

Gingerbread Scones

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Ginger and molasses unite in our spicy breakfast bread. Ground ginger and crystallized ginger give a double dose of the popular seasoning. 

15 of 31

Sour Cream Cranberry Muffins

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Brown sugar, pecans and pumpkin pie spice create both a filling and the topping for these muffins. Dried cranberries add tang and texture. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 31

Chocolate-Pecan Coffee Cake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We put together our favorite coffee cake ingredients for this recipe: chocolate, butter, sour cream, pecans and coconut. It's worth the indulgence! 

17 of 31

Creamy Butter-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We can't resist a good sticky roll -- especially one this easy to make. Starting with frozen bread dough, we added brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans and chocolate chips. When you turn it out, it makes its own gooey topping. 

18 of 31

Cardamom Braid

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The Bishop Hill Bakery and Eatery in Bishop Hill, Illinois, sells this lightly spiced Swedish bread. The orange and cardamom flavors pair perfectly with soft honey butter. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 31

Orange-Spice Challah Buns

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Melding her husband's Norwegian roots with her own Jewish heritage, blogger Molly Yeh's soft, slightly chewy rolls are ideal for brunch or even as a sweet complement to a holiday dinner.

20 of 31

English Muffins in a Loaf with Honey Butter

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy-to-make yeast bread comes from Sherlock on Watson Bed and Breakfast in Ripon, Wisconsin. Slice and toast before serving, and top with soft Honey Butter. 

21 of 31

Holiday Stollen

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This classic German Christmas bread is traced back to the 1400s. In this version, created by the Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa, a variety of dried fruits and nuts dot the sweetly spiced oval-shaped egg bread. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 31

Gingerbread-Sour Cream Muffins

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We took a traditional holiday dessert ingredient— gingerbread—and turned it into a muffin. Crystallized ginger tops off these treats. 

23 of 31

Caramel-Banana Muffins

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sugar-topped banana slices caramelize as they bake on top of these tender, cakey breakfast muffins. Serve warm drizzled with extra caramel topping, if you like. 

24 of 31

Sausage-Cheese Scones

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cheddar cheese and sausage dot these flavor-packed buttermilk scones from the Washington House Inn in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 31

Zippy Cinnamon Rolls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A Midwest Living® editor contributed the recipe for these gooey-good rolls. "Frozen bread dough and pudding mix can fool anyone into thinking you spent the morning baking cinnamon rolls," she says. 

26 of 31

Cran-Banana Bread

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Blend mashed bananas with a box of cranberry quick-bread mix for this easy-to-make, double-fruit treat. Serve to holiday guests, or make ahead of time for gifts from the kitchen. 

27 of 31

Cinnamon Surprise Buns

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These yeast rolls poof as they bake, hiding the filled center. Guests will love the spiced nut and brown sugar in the middle of these frosted treats. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 31

Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Muffins

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We took classic pumpkin bread batter, added some dried fruit, a little lemon peel and some assorted spices, and sprinkled on a crunchy sugar topping.

29 of 31

Anita's Cranberry Scones

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Coarsely chopped cranberries spread the sweet-tart flavor throughout this tender scone, a winner at the Warrens Cranberry Festival recipe competition. A sweet almond frosting complements the berries. 

30 of 31

Ravenwood's Cinnamon Rolls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Ravenwood Castle in New Plymouth, Ohio, served more than 15,000 of these rolls over the years. Now you can bake the popular Yuletide specialty at home. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 31

Pompe de Noel and Provence Christmas Bread

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Orange flower water gives a bright citrus flavor to Pompe de Noel (recipe link above) and Provence Christmas Bread, traditional sweet breads from Provence, France. Look for the flower water at specialty supermarkets or order online from specialty food websites.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com