The Make-Ahead Holiday Breakfast

Need a holiday hand? We've got you covered with two straight weeks of Holiday Survival Recipes -- the ones you can rely on to keep your guests (and you) feeling festive.

Today: The Make-Ahead Holiday Breakfast

We all have a holiday fantasy of waking up in the morning and enjoying our family traditions -- around a tree, or a fire, or maybe just a pile of newspapers -- with delicious smells wafting from the kitchen.

Those fantasies don't, however, include waking up two hours early to mix, shape, and bake. This year, give yourself the luxury of a special, once-a-year breakfast without losing sleep: fiveandspice's Orange Scented Olive Oil Sticky Buns aim to please, with a dough that can be made ahead of time and a scent that will fill your house with cheer.

The focaccia-based dough and olive oil give these buns a savoriness to balance out the classic gooey topping. Plus, they're not too sweet, so you won't run the risk of sending your family into a sugar coma before lunchtime. (That's what cookies are for, after all.) As a bonus, they make great leftovers, giving you a few days' worth of low-maintenance breakfasts. Go ahead, hit the snooze button -- breakfast will be ready whenever you are. 

Orange Scented Olive Oil Sticky Buns by fiveandspice

Makes 18 small or 12 large buns

Bun Dough:

1 3/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
4 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup good, fruity olive oil

Orange Filling and Buttermilk Glaze:

1 cup sugar
Zest of 2 oranges
3 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
2 tablespoons buttermilk

See the full recipe (and save it and print it) here.

Photo by Jennifer Causey