How did Mom always make Christmas mornings so magical? Everything was always so beautiful, so organized, so perfect. We’d open our gifts and then head to the dining room to find a massive breakfast feast waiting for us… which blew our minds because she was with us the whole time, not cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Years later, she let us in on her secret. On Christmas Eve, she’d put together her Christmas Morning Wife Saver. (The name says it all, really.) She’d pile our favorite bread with salty ham, smooth cheddar cheese, and the most flavorful egg mixture we’ve ever tasted, then stick it in the fridge overnight. The next morning, she’d sprinkle it with melty butter and crunchy cornflakes and stick it in the oven before we were even awake. Ah. Mommas are the best and just so smart. Feel free to learn from ours and use her Christmas Morning Wife Saver recipe to make your holiday just has magical and stress-free!
Ingredients
- 10 slices bread, plus more as needed, crust on or removed
- 12 slices ham, thinly sliced
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 6 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 cup chives, chopped
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup corn flakes cereal, crushed
Directions
Step 1 –Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish or spray with cooking oil.
Step 2 –Fit 5 slices of the bread over the entire bottom of the prepared dish. You may have to use more pieces of the bread depending on the size and you might have to cut some of the pieces to fit.
Step 3 –Layer the ham on the bread then top it with the cheese.
Step 4 –Fit the remaining 5 slices of the bread to completely cover the ham and the cheese.
Step 5 –In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, the pepper, the dry mustard, the chives, the Worcestershire sauce, and the hot sauce together.
Step 6 –Add the milk to the egg mixture and whisk until well combined.
Step 7 –Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread mixture.
Step 8 –Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
Step 9 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 10 –Pour the melted butter evenly over the casserole and sprinkle with the corn flakes.
Step 11 –Bake until set and lightly browned, about 1 hour.
Step 12 –Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes.
Step 13 –Slice and serve.