Thanksgiving Countdown: Make-Ahead Breakfasts

Thanksgiving is only days away, and if you’re like us you’ve been planning and prepping for the big meal for a while now. But have you given any thought to what you’re serving for breakfast? Especially if you have a house full of out-of-town guests, your day will run more smoothly if you take care of breakfast in advance, so you can focus your attention on the turkey—and enjoying time with your family—on Thanksgiving Day.

Make a loaf of quick bread on Wednesday and just slice and serve on Thanksgiving morning. They’re delicious served at room temperature, but you can also toast the slices in a toaster oven and slather them with cream cheese for an extra-special treat. Similar to quick breads, coffee cakes are a sweet way to start your morning, especially when they’re served with piping hot coffee or a strong cup of tea. If you have a house full of hearty eaters, there’s nothing better than making a breakfast strata, which can be assembled the night before and then simply popped into the oven in the morning. If you’re wanting something a little lighter and healthier, you can’t go wrong with homemade granola, which can be served simply with milk or yogurt and some fresh fruit. Here are a few of our favorite recipes for make-ahead Thanksgiving breakfasts.

Hazelnut Streusel Bread Nut lovers will go nutty for this quick bread, which has a layer of crunchy hazelnut streusel on top.

Walnut Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

The riper the bananas you use, the sweeter and more delicious the bread will be, so take advantage of the fruit that’s been languishing on your counter a little too long.

Cinnamon-Walnut Coffee Cake This generously sized coffee cake, which serves 12, can be stored for up to 3 days at room temperature, so make it today or tomorrow and get one more cooking task out of the way.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar-Pecan Streusel What could be more seasonal that a pumpkin-flavored coffee cake, here topped with a sweet pecan streusel? Make the cake the day before and drizzle it with the glaze immediately before serving.

Breakfast Strata Lorraine Inspired by the ingredients in a classic quiche Lorraine, this do-ahead breakfast dish will feed a crowd of 12.

Sausage Strata with Cheddar Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes You can make this hearty strata as mild or as spicy as you like by varying the type of sausage you use.

Maple-Almond Granola This recipe keeps well, so make a double batch so your family can enjoy it for breakfast throughout the holiday weekend.