These extravagant treats are just masquerading as sweet breakfast ideas.
53 Sweet Breakfast Ideas That Are Secretly Desserts
Updated on Mar. 21, 2025
1/53
French Toast Recipe
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There's no question that this is the best French toast recipe ever. The caramelized exterior meets a soft custardlike center that practically melts in your mouth. Not only that, but it's quick and easy, too! —Audrey Rompon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Classic French toast is a sweet breakfast staple. Once these custardy breads are cooked ’till golden brown, they can be dressed up with Nutella, fruit, maple syrup, salted caramel sauce and so much more.
2/53
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen (0.50 cup syrup)
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a way for fans of carrot cake to have their favorite dessert for breakfast. These delicate, decadent pancakes are drizzled with sweet and spicy maple syrup that complements the sour cream and nut topping. —Leane Goering, Salem, Indiana
Have your cake and eat it too—for breakfast! We found a way to make it socially acceptable to eat cake for breakfast, and we took it one step further by making it carrot cake.
3/53
Banana Bread
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of this banana bread. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Every time I make banana bread, it doesn’t last more than two days, since it’s breakfast, an afternoon snack and dessert. Want something a little more indulgent? Try our chocolate banana bread or blueberry banana bread.
4/53
Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 rolls
From the Recipe Creator:
When I married him, I discovered that my husband's family has the best cinnamon roll recipe! I asked his mom how to make homemade cinnamon rolls, and I've been making them ever since. Serve them with scrambled eggs, and you have a filling breakfast. As a variation, you can replace the filling with a mixture of raisins and pecans. —Shenai Fisher, Topeka, Kansas
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and that’s exactly what I think happened when Americans wanted to eat frosting at breakfast. But nothing beats the cinnamon roll nucleus: The soft core that’s just cooked and soaked in butter, cinnamon and frosting.
5/53
Waffles
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 waffles (6-1/2 inches) and 1-2/3 cups syrup
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend shared this fluffy waffle recipe with me a few years ago. The cinnamon cream syrup is a nice change from maple syrup, and it keeps quite well in the fridge. Our two children also like it on toast. —Amy Gilles, Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Like French toast, waffles are a great vessel for all sorts of uber-sweet toppings. However, their deep wells and crispy ridges offer texture, doubling as a loading dock for maple syrup, salted caramel sauce, whipped cream and berries.
6/53
Creamy Strawberry Crepes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
50 min
Servings
7 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Wrap summer-ripe strawberries and creamy filling into these delicate crepes for an elegant brunch entree. —Kathy Kochiss, Huntington, Connecticut
Traditional crepes get the ultimate sweet treatment with a sweetened cream cheese, lemon and fresh strawberry filling. They’re so pretty for a brunch with friends or Valentine’s Day breakfast with a special someone.
7/53
Easy Banana Muffins
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This banana muffin recipe goes over so well with kids. Not only are these banana bread muffins like cupcakes, but they’re ready—start to finish—in just half an hour! —Lorna Greene, Harrington, Maine
Any time I end the week with three ripe bananas sitting on my kitchen counter, I pull up this recipe. Admittedly, I pretend to forget about the bananas during the week, just so I can whip up these truly easy banana muffins that are just sweet enough. One time, I filled them with Nutella! Heaven.
8/53
Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Turn a box of red velvet cake mix into this easy dessert—or breakfast! The icing tastes good and makes a pretty contrast with the rolls. —Erin Wright, Wallace, Kansas
Just when cinnamon rolls couldn’t possibly get any more decadent, we fused them with red velvet cake. Before you write this recipe off as too complicated, know it starts with a box of red velvet cake mix.
9/53
Bananas Foster French Toast
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Mmm…bananas Foster for breakfast! This yummy baked French toast serves up all the taste of the spectacular dessert in fine fashion. —Laurence Nasson, Hingham Massachusetts
Speaking of fusing iconic desserts with classic breakfast staples, our Bananas Foster French Toast could be on a restaurant’s gourmet brunch menu. The best part? It needs to be prepped the night before, so all that’s left to do in the morning is pop it in the oven.
10/53
Waffle Cake
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 waffles
From the Recipe Creator:
These super fun waffles—soft on the inside, crisp on the outside—taste just like cake batter! They are quick to whip up anytime but would make birthday mornings feel even more special. —Andrea Fetting, Franklin, Wisconsin
There isn’t a better way to start someone’s birthday than blowing out the candles on their waffle cake. Cream cheese frosting adheres the waffle cake layers, and rainbow sprinkles make it all feel extra celebratory.
11/53
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Maple syrup sweetens these lovely little cinnamon buns. I make the dough in my bread machine before popping the rolls in the oven. My husband prefers them warm. —Juanita Carlsen, North Bend, Oregon
These cinnamon rolls have a secret, and it’s not the ease of a bread machine! Maple syrup is in both the rolls and icing, creating a delicious autumnal breakfast treat.
12/53
Chocolate Monkey Bread
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a family treat we enjoy regularly. With chocolate inside, the pull-apart bread is impossible to resist. —Heather Deterding, Odenton, Maryland
While impressive to look at, this chocolate monkey bread is dead easy. Refrigerated buttermilk biscuits forgo any need to make bread from scratch. Cut them into quarters, and close them around chocolate kisses.
13/53
Mini Nutella Doughnuts
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
35 min
Servings
32 doughnuts
From the Recipe Creator:
You can make these bites in advance and refrigerate them before frying. Just be sure to bring the dough to room temperature before frying. —Renee Greene, Smithtown, New York
There’s no tricky yeast dough needed to make mini Nutella doughnuts! Buy a tube of large refrigerated biscuits, cut them into quarters, then stuff them with everyone’s favorite sweet breakfast spread: Nutella.
14/53
Dulce de Leche French Toast Bake
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a big fan of dulce de leche and am always looking for a way to incorporate it into sweet dishes. I decided to make a breakfast dish that was reminiscent of a luscious dulce de leche cheesecake. The pecan topping takes the dish over the top without making it overly sweet. No maple syrup is needed for this French toast casserole!—Anna Stigger, Katy, Texas
This French toast is a little more involved than most, but the outcome is nothing short of rave-worthy. Feel free to substitute day-old brioche, challah or French bread for the Texas toast.
15/53
Strawberry Scones
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 scones
From the Recipe Creator:
This strawberry scones recipe is rich with cream and packed with berry goodness. If you are like me, you won't be able to eat just one! —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
Traditional scones are dry and barely sweet. There’s a time and a place for those, like afternoon tea, but these strawberry scones are more likely to sit on my breakfast table. I adore these with homemade whipped cream and lemon curd or strawberry sauce on top!
16/53
Chocolate Babka
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 loaves (16 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I love this chocolate babka. It's a rewarding recipe for taking the next step in your bread baking. Even if it's slightly imperfect going into the oven, it turns out gorgeous. Look at those swirls! —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Who could resist a slice of soft, buttery babka with a ribbon of chocolate braided in? It’s wonderful with a smear of Nutella alongside a cup of coffee.
17/53
Upside-Down Banana Monkey Bread
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone digs in to monkey bread thanks to its pull-apart shape. We add banana slices and pecans to top this already scrumptious showpiece for a brunch or family gathering. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts
This sweet breakfast is a three-for-one: banana bread, monkey bread and pecan sticky buns. After baking, invert it in front of everyone so they can ooh and ahh, then finish the bread with extra caramel-pecan sauce and sliced bananas.
18/53
Cinnamon-Walnut Sticky Buns
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The sweet honey-walnut topping and tender texture make these sticky rolls a surefire crowd-pleaser. —Debbie Broeker, Rocky Mount, Missouri
Imagine setting down this plate in the middle of the table, and everyone pulling off their own warm, sticky roll. There’s so much of the delicious honey-walnut topping that it may end up being a fork and knife situation.
19/53
German Chocolate Ring
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
50 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is modeled after German sweet chocolate cake, which is my favorite, so it's no wonder I enjoy making and eating this sweet-tasting bread! You can make it ahead and freeze to bring out when you need an easy showstopper. —Anne Frederick, New Hartford, New York
German chocolate cake lovers, rejoice! The best parts of your favorite cake have made it into this breakfast bread ring. Coconut, chocolate chips and pecans are rolled into the ring, baked and topped with more chocolate chips and coconut.
20/53
Frosted Pumpkin Doughnuts
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Our three children grew pumpkins to sell. During harvest, it was time to make these scrumptious doughnuts. Using canned pumpkin makes this recipe easy for anyone! The orange frosting is super. —Connie Simon, Reed City, Michigan
Who else is team pumpkin over apple cider? Between the pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg, they’re flavored for fall. The orange-flavored frosting is an unexpected twist that just works.
21/53
Chocolate Chip Dutch Baby
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I modified a traditional Dutch baby recipe given to me by a friend and came up with this version, which my family thinks is terrific. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to make. —Mary Thompson, La Crosse, Wisconsin
I love that Dutch baby pancakes are extremely quick to throw together, but look and taste so artisanal. Here, chocolate chips are scattered everywhere, but there’s still room for butter, maple syrup and strawberries.
22/53
Monkey Bread
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Is it possible for four kids to cook together without total chaos in the kitchen? Yes, with the right recipe! This cinnamon roll monkey bread is a favorite with my bunch. They get to 'play' as they roll pieces of refrigerated biscuit dough into balls. —Lisa Combs, Greenville, Ohio
Store-bought biscuits are the secret hack for making this stunning monkey bread absolutely effortless to pull off. Each roll is coated in cinnamon sugar and baked with a brown sugar glaze on top.
23/53
Blintz Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Blending sour cream and cottage cheese, ingredients traditionally associated with blintzes, into the batter of these pancakes gives them old-fashioned flavor. Top these family favorites with berry syrup to turn an ordinary morning into an extraordinary day.—Dianna Digoy, San Diego, California
Anyone who loves blintzes will love this pancake version that’s a lot easier to whip up. Top them with a fruity syrup made from strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or cherries.
24/53
Apple Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves these light and fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes. And best of all, they're sweet enough to enjoy even without syrup. —Kim McConnell, Tulsa, Oklahoma
This sweet breakfast is disguised as a decadent recipe, but whole wheat flour, fresh apples and honey as the sweetener make it a little more wholesome than your average stack of pancakes. Serve them with quality maple syrup, a drizzle of honey, sauteed apples with cinnamon or homemade whipped cream.
25/53
Blueberry Coffee Cake
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This blueberry coffee cake is my go-to recipe for all of our holiday get-togethers because it's perfect for breakfast or dessert. It's easy to make, and it's the most delicious coffee cake I've ever had. —Susan Ober, Franconia, New Hampshire
Juicy blueberries and a cinnamon-pecan crumbled trail throughout make every single slice of this blueberry coffee cake irresistible. Just remember to grease the Bundt pan properly so this beauty inverts crack-free.
26/53
Homemade Croissants
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A traditional dinner roll like this one is always welcome at holiday dinners. These homemade croissants make a big batch, so they're great when you're entertaining. —Loraine Meyer, Bend, Oregon
Although a labor of love, there’s nothing as cathartic as learning how to make croissants, building all those flaky layers of butter and dough into a masterpiece of bread-baking. Add in chocolate batons or chocolate chips to turn them into pain au chocolat.
27/53
Coffee Cake
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love the excellent texture of this easy cinnamon coffee cake recipe. Always a crowd-pleaser, its pleasing vanilla flavor enriched by sour cream may remind you of breakfast at Grandma's! Make it the night before a holiday to save time in the morning. —Eleanor Harris, Cape Coral, Florida
This is the perfect coffee cake. (Just look at the reviews!) Buttery, muffin-like cake is swirled with ribbons of cinnamon-sugar and walnuts. Warm from the oven, it’s excellent with a cup of coffee.
28/53
Mini Caramel Rolls
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's the perfect warm treat for pajama-clad family mornings. These ooey-gooey baked rolls come together in moments—thanks to a tube of refrigerated crescent rolls—and disappear just as quickly. —Kayla Wiegand, Congerville, Illinois
If there’s anything we’ve picked up on in the baking world, it’s that a tube of crescent rolls can do so much more than kick off Thanksgiving. Here, we roll them up with cinnamon sugar and cut them into mini cinnamon rolls, then bake them in a sticky brown sugar glaze.
29/53
Gingerbread Belgian Waffles
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 waffles (1-1/2 cups icing)
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to combine the sweet and spicy taste of gingerbread with the cool and dreamy taste of cream cheese frosting. It's a heavenly way to start the day! —Jannine Fisk, Malden, Massachusetts
Wake up the family on Christmas morning with the smell of these gingerbread waffles permeating around the house. While maple syrup makes a fine topping, the included cream cheese frosting feels appropriately decadent for the holiday.
30/53
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen doughnuts plus doughnut holes
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
There’s nothing that kicks off fall quite like coming home from the farmers market with a jug of apple cider. Use that precious liquid gold for something worthwhile, like these apple cider donuts.
31/53
Churro French Toast
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The churro stand is always the first stop my family makes at the county fair. This is an easy way to enjoy the cinnamon-sugar goodness at home.—Kelly Silvers, Edmond, Oklahoma
The very best flavors of Spain’s iconic street food find their way into one of America’s favorite breakfast staples in this sweet dessert. Plus, the vanilla pudding mix makes the French toast extra custardy!
32/53
Banana-Nut Waffle Cake
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I wanted to use waffles in a creative way and came up with an idea of making a cake out of them. Not only did it take much less time than making an ordinary cake, it came out just as delicious as a traditional cake. Waffles can be made ahead, wrapped and stored in the fridge until ready to assemble this cake. —Kristina S., Yonkers, New York
Forgo the celebratory layer cake for a towering breakfast cake made of waffles, whipped cream, bananas, walnuts, pecans and homemade butterscotch syrup. I love this for someone who appreciates uniqueness, or the person that doesn’t make a huge fuss on their birthday.
33/53
German Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings (2 cups syrup)
From the Recipe Creator:
Piping hot and puffy from the oven, this golden pancake made a pretty presentation for a skier's theme breakfast I hosted. Served with homemade buttermilk syrup, it's an eye-opening treat. Make several German pancakes if you're feeding a crowd, and keep in mind that my easy syrup tastes great on waffles and French toast, too. —Renae Moncur, Burley, Idaho
German pancakes get their iconic shape from their eggy batter cooking quickly in the oven, interacting with the steam and producing puffy edges with a shallow, custardy center. Top it with everyone’s favorite pancake toppings, like maple syrup, blueberries and powdered sugar.
34/53
Eggnog French Toast
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is a favorite of our family and not only at Christmas. We especially like to prepare this hearty breakfast when we go camping. —Robert Northrup, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Anyone with a pint of the best eggnog in their fridge is saving it for something special. I can’t think of a more fitting purpose for it than in a Christmas morning French toast.
35/53
Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
8 servings (1-3/4 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
A local blueberry grower shared this recipe with me, and it's the best breakfast dish I've ever tasted. With the cream cheese and berry combination, this French toast casserole reminds me of dessert. —Patricia Axelsen, Aurora, Minnesota
When serving large gatherings, make-ahead brunch recipes are the secret ingredient to easy hosting. Here, French toast isn’t cooked on the griddle—it bakes in the oven instead.
36/53
Drop Doughnuts
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Remember this recipe after your next holiday dinner. I use any leftover mashed potatoes to make these light and fluffy doughnuts. The dish was originally created by my neighbor's mother-in-law as a breakfast treat or a snack. —Marilyn Kleinfall, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Leftover mashed potatoes are the unexpected ingredient in these drop doughnuts. Mashed potato doughnuts are nothing new; Amish communities (who are excellent bakers) have made them for years!
37/53
French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This yummy French toast casserole is a breeze to whip up the night before a busy morning. My family loves the richness it gets from cream cheese and maple syrup. —Cindy Steffen, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
I can’t decide which part of this casserole is better: the hunks of custard-soaked bread or pockets of tangy, warm cream cheese. Luckily, it’s easy to get a perfect forkful of each.
38/53
Caramel Rolls
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These irresistible rolls are perfect as an Easter brunch idea! - Louis Jacobsen, Dallas, Wisconsin
Those who can’t get behind cream cheese frosting will find their cinnamon roll fix through these caramel rolls. Instead of frosting, the rolls are covered in a gooey caramel-pecan glaze.
39/53
Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls
Skill Level
Medium
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 cinnamon rolls
From the Recipe Creator:
These cinnamon rolls feature a homemade blueberry jam that brings a sweet and fruity essence to the already delicious breakfast bakery. And yes, the vibrant blue colors are all natural! —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
Just when the cinnamon roll dough is rolled out and covered in butter and cinnamon sugar, homemade blueberry jam is spread on top for a fruity cinnamon roll filling. Save some of that jam to flavor the stunning blueberry cream cheese icing!
40/53
Pecan Chocolate Waffles
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 round waffles
From the Recipe Creator:
If you like waffles and chocolate, this recipe is for you. These tender but crunchy waffles are great for breakfast, brunch or an after-dinner dessert. Instead of chocolate topping, top with berries and whipped cream or simply sprinkle with powdered sugar. —Agnes Golian, Garfield Heights, Ohio
If you’re going to the trouble of pulling out the waffle iron, make sure it’s for something good. Pecan chocolate waffles are that. Don’t forget the chocolate butter topping!
41/53
S’mores Stuffed French Toast
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I had a craving for something sweet one morning, but all I had around the house was a handful of ingredients. I had to get creative, and this was the delicious outcome. Now I make it all the time. —Diana Palmer, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
While there are many iterations of French toast, none are as creative as this s’mores-inspired one. After dunking the bread in the custard, each piece is covered in graham cracker crumbs, then griddled. Mini marshmallows and chocolate chips are stuffed between two pieces and finished with chocolate sauce.
42/53
Glazed Doughnut Holes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a simple recipe to create a colorful and fun breakfast—or snack! For the glaze, use any type of juice you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
No food dye here! These donut holes are covered in a glaze that’s made with grape, cherry-pomegranate or cranberry concentrate for both color and flavor.
43/53
Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You can do all the prep work for this monkey bread the night before. I prepare the dough pieces and put all the sauce ingredients in the pan so it's ready for the morning. You can sprinkle chopped nuts in with the dough pieces before pouring the sauce on and baking. — Diana Kunselman, Rimersburg, Pennsylvania
Frozen bread dough and vanilla pudding mix truly make this monkey bread a snap to bake. Feel free to dot in chocolate chips, nuts or even bacon bits for added flavor.
44/53
French Banana Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These pancakes are a real breakfast favorite in our family. Even our 8- and 10-year-old daughters make them all by themselves when they have friends spend the night. Now their friends' mothers are asking for the recipe! —Cheryl Sowers, Bakersfield, California
A from-scratch caramel-banana filling is rolled into homemade crepes in this very French breakfast. Homemade whipped cream is the pièce de résistance!
45/53
Caramel Bubble Ring
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Lots of caramel topping makes this quick pull-apart bread oh, so gooey and delicious. It truly is a finger-lickin' good baked good. —Laura Clifton, Wenatchee, Washington
Refrigerated breadsticks make quick work of this cinnamon roll ring. While it looks impressive, this recipe is so easy and quick to make that there’s room to hit snooze a few times on the alarm clock.
46/53
Beignets
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet French doughnuts, inspired by the ones found in Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, are square instead of round and have no hole in the middle. They're a traditional part of breakfast in New Orleans. —Beth Dawson, Jackson, Louisiana
Anyone who has been to New Orleans knows how special these pockets of yeasty brioche covered in a mound of confectioners’ sugar taste in the morning. Berries and whipped cream are option, but they must be served with a strong cup of coffee.
47/53
Pumpkin Doughnut Drops
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I always have a few special treats handy when the grandchildren visit. These cake doughnuts are one of their favorite snacks. —Beva Staum, Muscoda, Wisconsin
If working with yeast has always put you off from making doughnuts, try just-as-delicious cake doughnuts. Even easier, there’s no need to form the rings. Just scoop the batter and drop it in the oil!
48/53
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
20 min
Servings
16 pancakes
From the Recipe Creator:
At our house, Saturday morning always means pancakes for breakfast. I make the menu special by servings up stacks of these fluffy buttermilk treats studded with mini chips. —Julianne Johnson, Grove City, Minnesota
Growing up, whenever friends slept over, my dad would always make chocolate chip pancakes in the morning for us. Food traditions are such a treat (literally and figuratively) and even something as easy as chocolate chip pancakes can become so special to your loved ones.
49/53
Apple-Stuffed French Toast Bake
Skill Level
Advanced
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is baked stuffed french toast casserole a great breakfast dish to make ahead for holidays or Sunday brunch. I run a bed and breakfast and tea room cafe, and this recipe is often requested by customers. —Kay Clark, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Feeding a crowd in the morning? This make-ahead French toast bake (that’s stuffed with cinnamon, apples and pecans) is assembled the night before. Just be sure to take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking. A very cold pan in a hot oven can cause it to crack!
50/53
Mini-Chip Cocoa Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whip up a batch of cocoa pancakes dotted with mini chocolate chips to satisfy your chocolate cravings first thing in the morning. Yum! —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
Double-chocolate pancakes toe the line between breakfast and dessert; no complaints here! They’re so chocolatey that you might want to have a glass of milk nearby.
51/53
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I first made this recipe back in 1987 and have since made it many times over the years because it's my children's favorite muffin recipe. —Wendy Stenman
A rich, tangy cream cheese swirl is a welcomed complement to a fall-spiced pumpkin muffin. For anyone that appreciates a bit of texture, bake a streusel on top.
52/53
Blueberry Kuchen
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In the summer, we can get beautiful, plump blueberries, which I use in this easy-to-make coffee cake. I like to freeze extra blueberries so I have them available anytime I want this treat. —Anne Krueger, Richmond, British Columbia
Kuchen—a coffee cake-like breakfast pastry—is loaded with blueberries, bright lemon zest and warming nutmeg. You can use other types of fruit instead of blueberries, but the streusel in non-negotiable.
53/53
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Skill Level
Easy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings (1-1/3 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a firm believer that rhubarb recipes cannot be too plentiful. Here, it is featured in the sauce for lovely lemon pancakes. These are yummy for brunch.— Marilyn Rodriguez, Spark, Nevada
After the first bite, you’ll wonder why ricotta isn’t a main ingredient in all pancake recipes. This cheese makes the pancakes extra soft and fluffy. They’re excellent paired with the bright lemon juice and lemon zest, and the rhubarb topping is the perfect finishing touch.
Sweet Breakfast Ideas FAQ
How can you have dessert for breakfast?
A sneaky way to enjoy dessert for breakfast is by cooking or baking a recipe that’s a mash-up of a breakfast and a dessert. For example, our German chocolate ring fuses a German chocolate cake into breakfast bread. Our carrot cake pancakes really taste like you’re eating a piece of carrot cake for breakfast but in a socially acceptable breakfast form. Cinnamon rolls and cake donuts make it perfectly OK to have frosting for breakfast, and French toast makes a great blank canvas for dessert fusion. A few recipes in this list combine it with iconic desserts like churros, s’mores and bananas Foster.
What are some of the sweetest breakfast recipes?
Some of the sweetest breakfast recipes include our “waffle cakes.” They’re waffles stacked on top of one another like cake layers and frosted with whipped cream or frosting. Any of our cinnamon roll recipes here are super sweet since they’re finished with cream cheese frosting, but our red velvet cinnamon rolls take the cake. Bananas Foster French Toast tops slices of brioche with bananas in a sticky butterscotch glaze. Similarly, a cinnamon bun and sticky bun recipe get coated in a gorgeous caramel sauce and nut topping.
Is it healthy to have a sweet breakfast?
“Healthy” means something different to everyone, so it’s hard to say whether sweet breakfasts are good for you or not. While we can probably all agree that red velvet cinnamon rolls aren’t very nutritious, something like a matcha chia pudding can be more debatable. If you’re looking for something more wholesome to start your day, try one of our healthy breakfast ideas or low-carb breakfast recipes instead.
