20 Winter Breakfast Ideas Worth Getting Out of Bed For
I always find it harder to get out of bed on cold winter mornings, especially when it’s still dark outside! A decent breakfast definitely helps though, and I love having something warm and filling to start the day. There’s nothing wrong with a bowl of cereal, but sometimes it’s nice to have something a bit different.
I’ve put together 20 winter breakfast ideas that are perfect for this time of year. There are plenty of sweet recipes, including cinnamon rolls, muffins and pancakes, along with some more filling options like breakfast casseroles. I’ve included a few slow cooker recipes too, which are really handy when you don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen first thing in the morning.
Some of these are great for making at the weekend when you’ve got a bit more time, but there are also recipes you can prepare ahead for busy mornings. I think winter is the perfect excuse to make breakfast a little more interesting, so hopefully you’ll find a few things here that you fancy trying!
1. Bacon, Egg and Hashbrown Casserole
This is a great one for those cold mornings when you want something really filling. It’s packed with all the usual breakfast favorites, and I love that everything cooks together in one dish. Perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast or when you’ve got the whole family to feed.
GET THE RECIPE2. Hot Cocoa French Toast Casserole
If you love hot chocolate, you’ll definitely want to give this one a try! It’s rich, chocolatey and lovely served warm, especially on a freezing winter morning. It’s a bit more indulgent than your usual breakfast, but I think that’s half the fun of a lazy weekend morning!
GET THE RECIPE3. Black Forest Pancakes
Chocolate and cherries are such a lovely combination, and these are a real treat for breakfast! They’re perfect for a slow Sunday morning when you fancy something a bit more special than your usual toast or cereal. I’d happily have these for dessert too!
GET THE RECIPE4. Crockpot French Toast Casserole
I love a breakfast that pretty much takes care of itself, especially on a cold winter morning when I don’t fancy standing in the kitchen cooking! This is lovely and soft in the middle with plenty of cinnamon flavor, and you can leave the slow cooker to do most of the work. Just add some maple syrup and you’re sorted!
5. Sausage Gravy Breakfast Casserole
Now this is the sort of breakfast that’ll keep everyone full for hours! With sausage, creamy gravy and plenty of comforting flavors, it’s a great choice for those freezing winter mornings when you want something really hearty. I think this would be lovely for a weekend breakfast when everyone’s home and hungry.
6. Strawberry Banana Muffins
These are really handy to have ready for busy mornings, especially when everyone’s rushing to get out of the door. They’re soft, fruity and a great way to use up any bananas that are getting a bit too ripe. I like the idea of making a batch at the weekend so there’s something easy to grab for breakfast during the week.
GET THE RECIPE7. Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
Adding sweet potato to cinnamon rolls might sound a bit unusual, but it makes them lovely and soft! They’re full of warm cinnamon flavor and are especially nice served fresh from the oven. Definitely one to make on a lazy winter weekend when you’ve got a bit more time to spend baking.
8. Tiramisu Overnight Oats
If you love tiramisu, these are worth a try! They’ve got that lovely coffee flavor and make a nice change from regular oatmeal. You can make them the night before and just grab them from the fridge in the morning, which is really handy when you’re in a rush.
GET THE RECIPE9. Blueberry Muffins
You can’t go wrong with a batch of homemade muffins, and these are always a good choice! They’re soft, full of juicy blueberries and lovely with a cup of coffee on a cold morning. You could even warm one up with a little butter if you fancy something extra nice for breakfast.
10. Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Getting breakfast sorted in the slow cooker is such a good idea when you’ve got a busy morning ahead. This is a lovely hearty breakfast that you can leave cooking while you get on with other things. It’s great for feeding the whole family too, especially at the weekend when everyone’s getting up at different times!
11. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Muffins
Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combinations, and these are a lovely little treat for breakfast! They’re great for making ahead when you’ve got a busy week coming up, and I can’t imagine the kids complaining about having chocolate for breakfast either. I’d happily eat one with my morning coffee!
GET THE RECIPE12. Gingerbread Streusel Loaf
I love the smell of gingerbread baking, especially during the colder months! This has all those lovely warm spices and a crumbly topping that makes it feel a bit more special than your usual loaf cake. It’s delicious with a cup of coffee in the morning, and you can always save another slice for later in the day!
13. Strawberry Biscoff Croffles
These are a lovely little treat for a winter weekend breakfast, and they’re surprisingly easy to make too! You just cook crescent roll dough in a waffle maker until it’s golden and crispy, then pile on the Biscoff whipped cream, fresh strawberries and crushed cookies. The Biscoff cream sounds so good, I think I’d be tempted to eat it straight from the bowl!
14. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
Donuts for breakfast are always going to go down well in our house! These have that lovely cinnamon sugar flavor with a bit of crunch from the cereal, and they’re a fun change from regular donuts. I think they’d be great for a weekend breakfast when you fancy making something a little different.
GET THE RECIPE15. Greek Yogurt Banana Bread with Brown Sugar Pecan Glaze
This is a really nice way to use up those bananas that have been sitting in the fruit bowl a bit too long! The Greek yogurt keeps the bread lovely and soft, and the brown sugar pecan glaze is such a nice addition. I’d happily have a slice of this for breakfast with a cup of coffee, especially on a cold morning.
16. Strawberry Lemon Muffins
Sometimes it’s nice to have something a bit lighter for breakfast, especially after all the heavier winter meals! These are packed with juicy strawberries and have a lovely hint of lemon. They’re easy to make ahead too, so you can have a batch ready for those mornings when everyone’s rushing around.
GET THE RECIPE17. Banana Nut Bread Overnight Oats
Anything I can make the night before is always a winner on busy mornings! These have all the flavors of homemade banana bread, with banana, nuts and oats making a really filling breakfast. Just pop everything in the fridge overnight and breakfast is ready when you get up. So handy when you don’t feel like cooking first thing!
18. Maple Butter Chicken Bacon Sliders
Not everyone fancies something sweet for breakfast, and these are a really tasty option if you prefer something savory! The combination of chicken, crispy bacon and maple butter is so good, and they’re nice and filling too. I think they’d go down really well for a lazy weekend breakfast when everyone’s at home.
GET THE RECIPE19. Candied Bacon Twists
Bacon is always a popular breakfast choice in our house, but this is a really nice way to make it a bit different! The sweet coating goes all sticky and caramelized as it cooks, while the bacon gets lovely and crispy. I can see these disappearing pretty quickly if you put a plate of them on the breakfast table!
GET THE RECIPE20. Tater Tot Casserole
When it’s freezing outside, a nice hot breakfast is just what you need! This is a proper filling breakfast with crispy tater tots on top, and it’s a good one for feeding the whole family without having to make lots of different things. I’d definitely save this for a weekend morning when everyone’s hungry!
I hope you’ve found a few new breakfast ideas to try this winter! There are plenty of easy options for busy mornings, along with some really tasty treats for those days when you’ve got a bit more time. I think weekends are made for taking your time over a nice breakfast, especially when it’s cold outside and you’re in no rush to go anywhere!
