Nearly 25 years ago, the writer Jonathan Franzen published “The Corrections,” a novel that tracked a family’s dysfunction along the arc of the mother trying to get all the adult children back home for Christmas. In that story line, Mr. Franzen reveals the insidious side of holding too tightly to holiday traditions, the potential spiral that can cascade from it.

There is, of course, security and even joy in Christmas morning rituals, but expanding on them can make the holiday even richer. And, depending on household dynamics, an openness to something a little different may feel like a collective exhale. There are no expectations to meet, no standards to uphold when setting down a new dish, just excitement for something delicious.

These three brunch dishes capture the warmth of holiday mornings and are as satisfying to eat as they are to make. You can prepare them ahead so you can relax by the tree, or make them solo in the morning quiet of the kitchen as a reprieve from noise and chaos. If you want company at the counter, invite fellow cooks to help put together the recipes.

However you get these recipes done, you’ll be giving yourself the gift of something unexpected yet familiar — and maybe even starting a new holiday tradition.

Recipe: Sesame Scallion Buns

Crackly fried Chinese scallion pancakes take the form of baked buns, crisp on the sesame-speckled outside and tender within. Sizzling scallions in hot oil captures the aroma of the pancakes and brings out scallions’ savory side while preserving their bright-green hue. To mimic the pancakes’ scaffolding, the blend is spiraled into a simple yeast dough, subtly sweet and a little buttery. Once the buns are cut, they can be covered and chilled overnight. You just want to bake them right before serving so you can pull apart the hot, soft layers and inhale the fragrant steam before taking a bite.

Recipe: Breakfast Enchiladas

For a hearty start to any day — or a fun take on breakfast for dinner — put together this casserole. Red enchilada sauce and cheese smother a breakfast-burrito base of flour tortillas encasing crisp potatoes and chorizo. Sliding eggs into the dish at the end of baking gives you the bonus of sunny-side-up eggs without the hassle of washing another pan. You can assemble the enchiladas the day before to make Christmas morning a little less busy.

Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake
With Cream Cheese Frosting

Some traditions aren’t meant to be broken. Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning are magical, but they don’t keep well: The buns taste best fresh out of the oven, while their icing is still runny. This Bundt cake also is delicious warm, but it only gets better as it sits. For those too distracted with new toys to savor cinnamon rolls right away (or for bakers who don’t want to deal with yeasted dough), this Bundt cake delivers spiced brown sugary comfort tucked into a vanilla pound cake, tangy with cream cheese in the batter. More cream cheese — a lot more — cloaks the cake in the form of frosting. Just as there’s no end to holiday cheer, there’s no limit on cream cheese frosting.

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