Rise and Shine

If you’d like to try a nontraditional twist on gingerbread house decorating, consider throwing a “Gingerbread Pancake Decorating Breakfast,” as blogger Kristi Murphy did. Set a simple decorating theme—such as black, white and red, with accents of evergreen—and mix in some cozy elements. Since it’s a morning event, you can keep things casual; encourage guests to come in their pajamas. Pick up a gingerbread pancake mix at the grocery or prepare your own recipe. Serve up a steady flow of warm pancakes, some in standard circular shapes and others shaped like trees or jolly gingerbread men. Provide guests with a range of tasty toppings, including salted caramel and chocolate sauces, maple syrup, sprinkles, powdered sugar, preserves and whipped cream, so they can customize their cakes before digging in.

DESIGNED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTI MURPHY OF KRISTIMURPHY.COM. Kristi’s tip for crafting shaped pancakes: Fill metal cookie cutters with pancake batter right in the pan! Spray the cookie cutters with oil beforehand to ensure the shapes won’t stick.