‘Christmas Morning Swirl’—Just 3 ingredients. I pull these together every year to keep breakfast effortless.

If you’d like to dress these up a bit, you can whisk together a quick glaze with powdered sugar and a splash of milk or cream, then drizzle it over the warm twists. A tiny drop of vanilla or maple extract in the glaze will remind you of the old-time church basement coffee hours. For a heartier, more rustic version, swap in a can of refrigerated pizza dough and increase the cinnamon sugar slightly; you’ll get a chewier, bakery-style twist. You can also tuck a few finely chopped nuts—pecans or walnuts—into the cinnamon sugar layer for a nod to traditional Midwestern nut rolls. If you prefer less sweetness, cut back on the sugar and add a light sprinkle of coarse salt over the top before baking; that sweet-salty combination is especially good with coffee. To make them ahead, twist and arrange the dough on the baking sheet, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight; in the morning, let them sit on the counter while the oven preheats, then bake as directed. And if you’re cooking with children or grandchildren, let them help with brushing the butter and sprinkling the cinnamon sugar—just be prepared for a little extra sugar on the counter and a lot of happy memories.