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HomeArts/LeisureFestive Christmas Holiday Brunch Starring Coffee Cake

Festive Christmas Holiday Brunch Starring Coffee Cake

Martha White®Nashville, TN – What is it about brunch at home that makes it so enticing? Is it our love of breakfast foods from simple scrambled eggs to luscious coffee cakes? Or is it because brunch is social and substantial without waiting in restaurant lines?

Whatever the reason, brunch is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. Like any successful party, a holiday brunch will require some planning, but when the time comes it will pay off. With a little organization, the host can sit back, relax and enjoy the party, too.

Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles. Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Streusel Muffins, and Cranberry Orange Streusel Coffee Cake.
Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles. Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Streusel Muffins, and Cranberry Orange Streusel Coffee Cake.

Brunch lends itself to many styles of entertaining. If you prefer a small casual group, you can easily gather around the kitchen table where everyone can chat and even pitch in to prepare and serve the food. If you prefer a little more formal setting, set your dining table with your fresh linens and china or for a large group, a buffet is always a good choice.

Planning the Menu

After determining the guest list and the seating arrangement, the menu is usually the next decision and one that takes the most thought because there are so many good choices.

“The menu is important, but it does not have to be difficult, elaborate or exotic, observed the Martha White® baking expert, Linda Carman. “Take advantage of convenience products like coffee cake or muffin mixes. There are many wonderful recipes that start with a mix and act as a great time saver time during this busy season. And don’t discount your own personal favorite or specialties. Your guests would love a country breakfast featuring homemade biscuits.

One important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to serve a lot of different dishes. Unless you are having a huge buffet and just want to provide several choices, a few well chosen and lovingly prepared dishes are really the best.

Planning Ahead is the Secret

The real secret to a delicious meal is preparation. Prepare as many recipes in advance saving only a few to be made at the last minute. Select sweet and savory items and vary textures, too. Some cornerstones to build a brunch menu around: something fresh, like a fruit salad; something rich and eggy; a few sweet things like coffeecakes, muffins, pancakes or waffles; something bready like biscuits or scones; and some savory meats like bacon and sausage.

Fast and Festive Breads and Coffee Cakes

Bread is one category of brunch food that is considered essential to most gatherings. There are many wonderful recipes that start with a mix and they are so easy to stir up, you may want to serve several. The new Martha White® Blueberry Streusel and Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Mixes are a great way to round out a meal and satisfy sweet tooths. Made by the directions on the box or as the start of one of these delicious recipes, your guests will never guess that they were not made completely from scratch.

Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles made with the Martha White Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake Mix are manageable to cook for a small group gathered in the kitchen. Simply combine the streusel and mix packets found in the box with some oats, cinnamon, milk, eggs and oil. Heat up the waffle iron and you are ready to go. Offer a variety of toppings for guests to add at their pleasure. Martha White Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake Mix is also easily converted into Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Streusel Muffins – the perfect complement to a basket of festive breads.

The addition of fresh cranberries, walnuts and a little grated orange peel transforms Martha White Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Mix into Cranberry Orange Streusel Coffee Cake. This classic sweet/tart combination is sure to become a holiday brunch favorite.

With a group of good friends and family gathered ’round your table and a delicious, easy-to-prepare menu, your holiday brunch will be the highlight of the holiday season for you and your guests alike.

For more holiday brunch recipes, visit www.marthawhite.com.

Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles

Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles
Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles

1 (18.5 oz.) pkg. Martha White® Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake Mix
1 cup quick rolled oats
1/2 cup ground pecans or almonds (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups milk
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
Hungry Jack® Original Syrup (optional)
Mixed berries and whipped cream (optional)

1. Stir together coffee cake mix, streusel packet, oats, pecans and cinnamon in medium bowl. Add milk, eggs and oil. Stir 30 strokes or until combined. Let stand 5 minutes.

2. Coat cool waffle iron with no-stick cooking spray. Then heat waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions. Pour about 1/2 cup batter into center of waffle iron. Close lid and cook as directed.

3. Serve warm with syrup or mixed berries and whipped cream as desired.

Makes 10 (6-inch) waffles

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

1 (21 oz.) pkg. Martha White® Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Mix
2/3 cup water
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Line muffin pan with paper baking cups.

2. Reserve 3/4 cup streusel for topping. Combine remaining streusel, coffee cake mix, water, egg, oil and chocolate chips in medium bowl. Stir 30 strokes or until combined. Divide evenly into muffin cups. Top each muffin with 1 tablespoon reserved streusel.

3. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm.

Makes 12 muffins

Cranberry Orange Streusel Coffee Cake

Crisco® No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 (21 oz.) pkg. Martha White® Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Mix
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2/3 cup water
1 large egg
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly coat 8×8-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. Knead streusel pouch to break up chunks. Empty into small bowl, add walnuts and set aside.

2. Combine mix, water, egg, oil and orange peel in large bowl. Stir just until mix is moistened. Batter will be lumpy. Stir in cranberries.

3. Spread about half the batter evenly into prepared pan. Top with 1/2 cup streusel. Drop remaining batter by spoonfuls over top of streusel layer. (Batter surface will look uneven.) Sprinkle another 1/2 cup streusel evenly over batter. Gently pull butter knife through batter to swirl throughout pan. Sprinkle with remaining streusel.

4. Bake 37 to 40 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.

Makes 12 servings


Crisco and Hungry Jack are trademarks of The J.M. Smucker Company.

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