Breakfast upgrade with very minimal effort. I don’t mess with dough – especially first thing in the morning and a few touches made for a fun breakfast.
Mocha Cinnamon Rolls: Ingredients: 1 roll cinnamon rolls (with frosting) 1/4 cup chocolate chips 1 espresso shot (or 1-2 oz very strong instant coffee) cooled
Directions: Separate out the cinnamon rolls into a baking pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Push the chocolate chips into the cinnamon coiled parts.
Bake according to the package. While the rolls are baking, Mix the espresso into the frosting. Spread the frosting onto the baked rolls.
Enjoy!
These were fun. I mixed up a double-y strong few tablespoons of instant coffee. It worked so well. Also, next time I’d go for full frosting- instead of the glaze that comes with it. That would be even better!
While I’d be most likely to head savory for breakfast – this idea stuck with me for ease of prepping in advance, and I love love nutella.
I’m also into this because it wasn’t so so so sweet – and was something I could feel good about.
Nutella Chia Pudding with Strawberries Ingredients: (serves 2) 1/3 cup cocoa powder 1 tablespoon Nutella 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup chia seeds ~1-2 cups strawberries (mine were frozen, defrosted, sliced) Sprinkle of sugar & sprinkle of water whipped cream
Directions: Mix together the cocoa powder, nutella, vanilla extract, and a splash of milk to mix into a paste. Then add more milk until completely mixed. Add in the chia seeds and stir well.
Refrigerate overnight, or at least 3+ hours (give an additional stir after the first 30-minutes). Slice the strawberries & add a sprinkle of sugar and water (can be done ahead). Serve with strawberries & whipped cream.
Enjoy!
The nutella provides the flavor and sweetness and the cocoa powder adds to the chocolate flavor without being sugary.
Let’s talk about the texture – it is slippery and cool. It wouldn’t be for everyone. I need some variety in texture – the strawberries help that for me. This would be good topped with something crunchy like granola, nuts, cereal, etc. Frozen dark cherries would be delightful too!
Two servings is ideal so you aren’t committed to eating this all week. It is so much easier than baked oatmeal or anything that requires any cooking!
Happy 2022! We started the new year with this fun breakfast after getting to sleep in and it was great – a bit decadent from the bacon and the maple aoli but a bit smartly balanced from the sweet potato and egg.
Both the bacon and sweet potato can be made ahead – or cooked a few ways. That would even turn it into a speedy weekday breakfast too!
Sweet Potato & Bacon Hash Ingredients: (for 2) 1 sweet potato 4 strips of bacon 2 tablespoons mayo 2-3 teaspoons maple syrup 2-4 eggs
Directions: Peal and chop the sweet potato into bite-sized pieces. Then cook (bake ~20 minutes or airfry ~10 minutes or pan fry ~ 10 minutes & bonus points if cooking them in the bacon fat!) Fry the bacon – ~20 minutes in the oven or chop into small pieces and pan fry for ~7 minutes. Mix together the mayo and syrup together. Start with some of the syrup and add more to taste.
Mix together the sweet potatoes and chopped bacon and divide onto plates. Drizzle half of the aoli on top. Cook the eggs sunny-side or over easy with salt and pepper. Put the eggs on top and drizzle remaining maple aoli on top. Enjoy!
I loved this. The runny yolk is the best. The aoli could swap the maple with hot sauce instead! Add some onions and peppers. Add some garlic. Add in some black beans. Go for what you like! A shred of cheese would be delicious too.
Our bacon was leftover from NYE sliders. Sometimes I make it in the oven or anytime it is crumbled means pan frying in little pieces would be easy too. This would be ideal as breakfast-for-dinner too!
These took a few tries to get real lemonade flavor but were so fun! They are lemony and sweeter than a regular pancake. Top with some strawberries for arguably one of the best combos out there!
Lemonade Pancakes with Strawberries Ingredients (for ~5 pancakes) 1 cup pancake mix 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest 3/4 cup lemonade 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 drops yellow food coloring (optional) ~6 large strawberries 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Directions: Mix together the pancake mix, lemon zest, and lemon juice until really well mixed.
Add in the lemonade and yellow food coloring (if using). Preheat a griddle or large skillet. Spray with non-stick spray or butter and scoop the batter onto the pan. Cook for ~3 minutes, once they bubble, flip and cook another few minutes. While the pancakes cook, cut the strawberries into slices. Sprinkle in a little sugar and a tablespoon of water. Stir well. Top the pancakes with the strawberries. Enjoy!
I loved these! The yellow was just to further encourage the lemon-ness. We made them first with just lemonade and there was zero lemon flavor.
Alternatively, spread some lemon curd (often sold near jelly) on a pancake and top with some strawberries for a similar vibe!
For the 10th year of a Birthday Burger, we had this breakfast burger on a waffle with sausage mixed into the patty, a maple aoli, and some goey gouda cheese. Happy birthday my love!
Waffle Breakfast Burger Ingredients: (serves ~4 with a smaller burgers like sliders) 1 Belgian waffle ~3/4 pound ground beef/pork/chicken ~1/4 pound breakfast sausage 2 tablespoons mayo 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce 4 slices gouda cheese 1 small sliced tomato
Directions: Prepare waffle (optional: I added some shredded cheddar into the batter) and let it cool. Slice into 4ths, and sliced in half width-wise for 4 ‘buns’. (2 ‘buns’ pictured). Toast them before serving if they were made in advance.
Mix together the ground meat and breakfast sausage until incorporated but not overworked. Preheat the grill. Grill the burgers until cooked through (depends on the ground meat and the pork). Top with cheese. While the burgers cook, whisk together the mayo, maple syrup and hot sauce.
Assemble the burgers with a spread of sauce on the insides of the waffles (since I halved mine) and add the burgers and sliced tomato. Enjoy!
These were so fun! I had ground pork with the breakfast sausage. I could definitely taste both flavors. Maple breakfast sausage might be very sweet but give it a go!
They would be so fun for a brunch. Using formed sausage patties on tiny waffles (with the cheese and tomato and sauce) would be a great finger food for a breakfast spread!
Adaptations: Use frozen waffles (a standard one, like an Eggo waffle, would need a whole waffle as the top bun and a whole waffle as the bottom bun – those cannot be halved width-wise! They could be cut smaller to fit a slider-size burger too) Swap any cheese! Add a fried egg! Use maple sausage! Go for all the hot-sauce you’d like – for me, it was really to keep the sauce from being so so sweet.
The Historical Timeline of the Birthday Burgers: 2020 it was a BLT burger with ground bacon IN the burger and tomato jam 2019 it was a Manchego Burger with manchego, quince jam, and arugula 2018 it was a Garlic Lovers Burger with garlic butter, chips, garlic aoli and white cheddar. 2017 it was an Ultimate Mexican Burger with queso, guac, and beans. 2016 it was a Mac & Cheese Stuffed Burger topped with bacon, onions, and tomato. 2015 it was a Picnic Burger with slaw & potato sticks 2014 it was a German Burger with horseradish, caramelized onions, pickles and a pretzel roll 2013 it was a Vermont Burger with maple mayo, cheddar, bacon, and spinach 2012 it was a Bacon Wrapped Burger – enough said 2011 it was a Stuffed Burger stuffed with bacon & cheddar or bacon & blue cheese