A healthy, nutritious breakfast is an important part of our daily routine. But let's be honest—sometimes you need a little sugar to start your day. From sugar-dusted donuts to fruit-filled pancakes and Nutella buns, these sweet breakfast treats make ideal accompaniments for a morning cup of coffee.
Donuts are awesome. What's not to love about a rich, moist circle of dough, deep fried to perfection? If you like cake donuts, try our blueberry donuts with a blueberry jam glaze or triple coconut donuts made with coconut extract and oil and covered with toasted coconut flakes. For the yeast donut lover, you can’t go wrong with the berliner, a classic strawberry jelly-filled donut.
Sweet buns are a hearty way to start you day. You can't beat a classic cinnamon roll with nuts, raisins, and cream cheese. If that's not rich enough for you, try adding Nutella. For something that's still rich but has a citrusy kick, our fragrant sweet orange buns are just the thing.
Crepes are a fun, elegant dish that can be customized however you'd like. For a fruity variation, try filling them with fromage blanc and maple syrup and topping them stewed blueberries, strawberries, and peaches. For something especially indulgent, roll crepes up with maple syrup and brown sugar.
As a kid you might have started your day with Pop-Tarts. We update the classic toaster pastry with tangy goat cheese and sweet strawberry jam.
Blur the line between breakfast and dessert with these sweet breakfast recipes.
Crazy Day Crêpes
These crêpes stuffed with fromage blanc and maple syrup and are topped with stewed blueberries, strawberries, and peaches. Get the recipe for Crazy Day Crêpes »
Monkey Bread
This decadent pull-apart monkey bread loaf is composed of bite-sized yeasted rolls that get covered with a sticky-sweet brown sugar glaze and then baked together in a bundt pan.
Jelly-Filled Donuts (Berliners)
If piping the jelly into these donuts proves challenging, use a paring knife to hollow out the side of the donut, making a cavity for the jelly.
Blueberry Donuts
Fresh blueberries bolstered by jam make these donuts especially flavorful. Get the recipe for Blueberry Donuts »
Coquito French Toast
Rich with coconut flavor and spiked with rum, this recipe falls somewhere between a decadent French toast and bread pudding.
Pain au Chocolat
Beautiful homemade croissants, each containing a bar of high-quality dark chocolate, make for an impressive and indulgent addition to a breakfast spread.
Sweet Orange Buns
Home cook Linda Worsley gave us the recipe for these luscious buns filled with fragrant orange-flavored butter.
Poppyseed Strudel (Mak Pirog)
Filled with a moist, sweet poppy seed paste, this rustic yeast-dough roulade is a comfort food eaten throughout Eastern and Central Europe.
New England Cinnamon Sugar-Cider Donuts
A simple glaze of boiled-down apple cider, butter, and confectioners’ sugar makes for a great donut dip. Get the recipe for New England Cinnamon Sugar-Cider Donuts »
Cottage Street Bakery Dirt Bombs
The crust of muffin-like donuts, a specialty of Cottage Street Bakery in Orleans, Massachusetts, is achieved by double dipping them in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. Get the recipe for Cottage Street Bakery Dirt Bombs »
Powdered Sugar Donut Holes
The secret to the snowy dusting on these donut holes is to toss them with far more confectioners’ sugar than you would think necessary. Get the recipe for Powdered Sugar Donut Holes »
Strawberry Rhubarb Hand Pies
For these portable fruit pies, Georgia-based chef-restaurateur Hugh Acheson uses rice wine vinegar to make the flavors pop. Get the recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Hand Pies »
Blueberry Quinoa Pancakes with Lemon Crema
Granola and quinoa lend a sneaky earthy-crunchy vibe to these substantial, fluffy pancakes from Dennis Bernard, chef de cuisine of Chicago’s Dove’s Luncheonette. Get the recipe for Blueberry Quinoa Pancakes with Lemon Crema »
Spudnuts
SpudnutsTo ensure these potato-based donuts turn out pillowy and soft after frying, take care not to overwork the dough. Get the recipe for Spudnuts »
Strawberry Griddle Cakes
Fresh strawberries turn ordinary pancakes into something scrumptious; wild blueberries, or any other kind of berry, make an excellent substitute. Get the recipe for Strawberry Griddle Cakes »
Top Pot Triple Coconut Donuts
Coconut milk gives these donuts from Seattle’s Top Pot donut shop a super-moist interior and a gratifying crust. Get the recipe for Top Pot Triple Coconut Donuts »
Catalan Biscotti
The Hotel Empordà in Figueres often serves these cookies with its famous burnt cream ice cream.
Belgian Waffles
Maurice Vermesch baked these waffles (properly called Brussels waffles and, in Belgium, topped with just confectioners’ sugar) at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, but only after he sold them at the 1964-65 New York fair did they soar in popularity in this country. Vermersch’s daughter Mariepaule wouldn’t divulge her family’s recipe, but we think we’ve come very close. One tip she did reveal: Aunt Jemima self-rising flour produces a flavor that is the most like that of the original waffle.
Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Spreading cream cheese into the layers of dough enhances the richness and moistness of these rolls. This dough may be prepared a day in advance and left to rise in the refrigerator overnight. Get the recipe for Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls »
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
A buttery cinnamon crumble tops a sweet breakfast favorite; the cake itself gets an extra boost of flavor from cinnamon extract. Get the recipe for Cinnamon Coffee Cake »
Mom's Banana Bread
Bananas and pecans come together in an exceptionally moist quick-bread from food editor Ben Mim’s mom—it’s irresistible at any time of day. Get the recipe for Mom’s Banana Bread »
Hungarian Sour Cherry Cake
Sweet and tangy, this Hungarian cake pairs perfectly with coffee. Frozen and thawed cherries can be used whenever fresh sour cherries are not in season.
Tozzetti (Anise, Almond, and Hazelnut Biscotti)
These Roman-style biscotti are a favorite of Nick Malgieri’s for their distinctive anise flavor and atypical baking method: the loose batter is poured onto a baking sheet and baked like a cake. The result is light biscotti with large chunks of almonds and hazelnuts.
Crepes with Maple Sugar & Syrup
These simple crepes, rolled up with maple sugar and syrup while still warm, make an indulgent breakfast. Get the recipe for Crepes with Maple Sugar & Syrup »
Nutella on Ciabatta
Nutella, the hazelnut-chocolate spread, is perfect on ciabatta toast. It’s a popular breakfast throughout Europe.
Nutted Cheese Sandwich
Chock Full o’Nuts, the storied chain of New York City lunch counters, serves this sweet sandwich of date-nut bread, cream cheese, and walnuts. Get the recipe for Nutted Cheese Sandwich »
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