The other day I was thinking about what people eat on Christmas morning. I even asked my Dad for his thoughts to which he responded “I don’t know…pine nuts?” WHAT? Seeing as we don’t celebrate Christmas neither one of us is an expert in this area. But I do consider myself a connoisseur of breakfast giving me moderate credibility to weigh in on the topic.
Besides the last few years where I’ve spent Christmas with C’s family, my typical Christmas breakfast consists of cold chinese food. Okay not actually, I usually eat oatmeal. But have you ever wondered what the Jews do on Christmas? We eat Chinese food and go to the movies. This is not a generalization, it’s actually a holy day.
Since I don’t know what to eat for Christmas breakfast I thought I would share a recipe from my people. Blintzes will forever remind me of my Bubby. In addition to enough bagels and lox to feed a small village my Bubby always had blintzes in the house. The blintzes were usually potato-based but then my life was changed forever when I tried the cheese blintzes at Katz’s Deli in New York. It was like a Bar Mitzvah in my mouth! Long overdo that I post my own twist on a classic cheese blintz recipe.
Orange Cheese Blintzes {Gluten-Free}
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Keywords: cook bake breakfast gluten-free orange cheese Christmas Jewish
Ingredients (Yields: 10 blintzes)
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 4 eggs
- For the filling:
- 2 cups 0% fat cottage cheese
- 1 tsp orange zest
- Juice, 1/2 orange
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 T coconut palm sugar
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl combine brown rice flour, water, almond milk and eggs. Whisk until well combined and all clumps are gone.
3. In a large regular or crepe pan spray or melt coconut oil over medium-high heat.
4. Add 1/2 cup of batter and stir contents to form a circle.
5. Cook for about a minute before flipping to the other side for 20 seconds. Watch heat, if batter starts to brown the pan is too hot, decrease heat.
6. Place on plate with a sheet of paper towel on top.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 until all batter has been used. About 10 blintzes.
8. Meanwhile mix cottage cheese, orange zest, juice, vanilla and coconut palm sugar.
9. Divide filling evenly between the blintzes (about 2 T each).
10. Fold blintzes like envelopes by folding in left and right and then top and bottom.
11. Spray a 9 x 11 inch dish with non-stick spray or coconut oil.
12. Place blintzes seal-side down in dish and bake for 10 mins.
13. Top with sliced oranges, powdered sugar and maple syrup.
Not feeling adventurous for Christmas morning? Check out my breakfast page for more inspiration or some of my favourites that I’ve gathered from around the web:
Slow-Cooker Creamy Coconut Steel Cut Oats from Fit Foodie Finds *GF & vegan
Thin Mint Cookie Pancakes from Kiss My Broccoli *GF & vegan
Crustless Quiche from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen *GF & paleo
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes from Edible Perspective *GF & vegan
Pumpkin Spice Latte Waffles from Minimalist Baker *vegan
Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting from Making Thyme for Health *vegan
Do you have a traditional breakfast you eat on Christmas morning? Have you ever tried blintzes?
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86 Comments
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life
January 25, 2014 at 11:09 amI honestly skipped right over this recipe when you posted it, but then I accidentally bought what I think is quark (the Spanish words for food trip me up sometimes) so I wanted to put it to good use and remembered these blintzes. These turned out amazing! I cut the recipe in half and it made exactly 5 crepes. I used whole wheat flour and it worked great. I accidentally forgot to cut the sugar and vanilla in half for the filling so they were a bit too sweet but that was my own fault. I skipped the baking part and just heated the orange slices in the microwave and put the filling into each crepe while it was still hot. Definitely making these again, like maybe tomorrow!
Lauren @ Sweat The Sweet Stuff
January 12, 2014 at 7:57 pmOMG how the hell did I miss these? Making these tomorrow morning! 🙂
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots
January 2, 2014 at 1:39 pmI have never made blintz before but I think I am going to have to make them now!
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli
December 28, 2013 at 12:15 pmKatz’s Deli? As in THE Katz’s Deli?! Oh myyyyyyyyyyyy uhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhh….I mean, wow, that’s cool! 😉
These look amazing! I’ve never actually heard of a blintzes before but I’m down with anything that is stuffed with cheese! Yum!
Thanks for the link love, darlin! xoxo
Alex @ Kenzie Life
December 27, 2013 at 2:10 pmFunny story: my dad is from the south but when he moved to Colorado, worked as a chef’s assistant in a country club that was owned by a Jewish family, and thus he obviously learned how to make AMAZING food, including fabulous blintzes. My favorite are ones topped with blackberry sauce…so good! These look just as lovely!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
December 27, 2013 at 9:16 pmomg that sounds amaaaazing. We don’t have Santa but Jews definitely know their food 😉
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
December 26, 2013 at 10:55 amWe never have breakfast on Christmas day as we usually sleep in *gasp*. Though I’d definitely love to try these blintzes anytime! They look delicious :–)
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
December 27, 2013 at 9:16 pmI don’t judge anyone who chooses to sleep in! That sounds divine to me!
Shawn @ Fruity 'N' Nutty
December 25, 2013 at 12:34 amYum, these look absolutely amazing! I don’t remember what I had for breakfast on Christmas last year. 😛 This morning, I had breakfast at starbucks. Nothing like a double dose of chocolate (cake + mocha) to start a fantabulous day. 😀
Merry Christmas Davida!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
December 27, 2013 at 9:13 pmNothing like a double dose indeed! Now I’m craving chocolate!
Brittany
December 24, 2013 at 10:26 pmI love when you talk about all your traditions! I think I’ve maybe had cheese blintzes once in my life, if that!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
December 27, 2013 at 9:13 pmBetter than never!
Megan (The Lyons' Share)
December 24, 2013 at 11:48 amYou truly crack me up, and make me drool over your recipes, as always. I have a bunch of amazing Healthy Maven posts waiting to be read in my line-up, but I wanted to stop in and say hi!!! Even though you’re not celebrating Christmas, it’s a time when I think of all the positives in my life – and you’re one of them! Thanks for your encouragement and inspiration. And enjoy that snowshoeing you’re doing – have always wanted to try it!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
December 27, 2013 at 9:12 pmMeg you are too sweet! I could not be happier to have “met” you this year and am so looking forward to what 2014 will bring for you and for us 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying the much deserved time off! Blogs can wait, family is much more important!
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December 24, 2013 at 11:23 amI’ve never had a blintz before but I think it’s time to change that! We usually have pancakes or french toast for Christmas breakfast….although maybe pine nuts would be good this year? Hahaha that’s too funny.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
December 27, 2013 at 9:11 pmGotta love Dads! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas breakfast!