40 Make-Ahead Kid-Friendly Breakfasts

Baked French Toast

Any day is special when Mom makes one of her French toast recipes, like this do-ahead baked version. —Jill Baughman, New York, New York

Breakfast Biscuit Cups

The first time I made these cups, my husband and his assistant coach came into the kitchen right as I pulled the pan from the oven. They devoured the biscuits! —Debra Carlson, Columbus Junction, Iowa

Cheddar and Chorizo Strata

Stratas are a wonderful way to use up bits and pieces of leftovers you have on hand. You can make them meatless or substitute the cheeses and the meats. This dish can be made a day before baking. If you like more heat, use pepper jack cheese. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California

Pigs in a Pool

My kids love sausages and pancakes but making them during the week was out of the question. I bought the frozen variety on a stick but wasn't keen on the calories, additives or price. This version of pigs-in-a-blanket is a tasty, thrifty alternative. —Lisa Dodd, Greenville, South Carolina

Princess Toast

I made these sparkly treats for my daughter's Brownie troop and they're great for princess parties. Sometimes I use lemon curd in place of the jam. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Ham & Cheese Breakfast Strudels

These get the morning off to a cheery start! Sometimes I assemble the strudels ahead and freeze them individually, then bake them as needed. —Jo Groth, Plainfield, Iowa

Pork Sausage Patties

Savory pork sausage patties will give any breakfast a boost. These little beauties will have everyone coming back for seconds. —Carole Thomson, Komarno, Manitoba

Ham & Egg Wraps

This is a great kid-friendly recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and cook.—Sharon Haswell, Cheshire, Massachusetts

Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Whenever I make these zucchini chocolate chip muffins, I freeze several. As I'm leaving for work in the morning, I pull one out and enjoy it at the office with a cup of coffee. —Janet Pierce DeCori, Rockton, Illinois

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

The classic flavors of peanut butter and bananas come together in this kid- and adult-friendly oatmeal. I tweaked one of my diet recipes to fit my husband’s taste buds. We have eaten it many mornings. —Debbie Perdue, Westland, Michigan

Fluffy Banana Pancakes

I love to make pancakes for my family on Saturday mornings. Since we often have ripe bananas, I decided to add them to a batch of pancake batter. The results were delicious!—Lori Stevens, Riverton, Utah

Favorite Loaded Breakfast Potatoes

My four young children are experts at eating with their hands. This breakfast potato recipe (or "brunchskins") with veggies makes an easy finger food that they love. —Mindy Campbell, Rapid City, Michigan

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

I like to try different fun fillings in these soft rolls, and each one is packed with cinnamon flavor. They are definitely worth the overnight wait. —Chris O'Connell, San Antonio, Texas

Coastal Carolina Muffin-Tin Frittatas

Incorporating the flavors of a low country South Carolina crab boil, these tasty frittatas are easy to make and fun to eat. If you have leftover cooked potatoes (roasted or boiled), try dicing them and substituting them for the refrigerated shredded potatoes in this recipe. —Shannon Kohn, Summerville, South Carolina

Best Ever Banana Bread

Whenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Baked Blueberry Ginger Pancake

My kids love pancakes, so I came up with this baked version that saves a lot of time in the morning. My kids always gobble these ginger-kissed breakfast squares right up! —Erin Wright, Wallace, Kansas

Sausage Cheese Biscuits

These breakfast-in-a-biscuit goodies will appeal to the young...and the young at heart. It's one of my favorite recipes because it doesn't require any special ingredients. —Marlene Neideigh, Myrtle Point, Oregon

Raspberry Coconut French Toast Slow-Cooker Style

I put the ingredients in the slow cooker crock the night before, refrigerate it, then pop the crock into the slow cooker in the morning. You can use regular milk or half-and-half, include your favorite jam, and substitute almond extract instead of vanilla. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Greek Salad-Inspired Quiche

I love using my cast-iron skillet to create this meatless, family-sized Greek quiche for a quick meal. Just add a green salad and some pita bread, and dinner is on the table with little fuss and no extra dishes to wash! — Donna M. Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

Chewy Honey Granola Bars

There's sweetness from the honey, chewiness from the raisins, hints of chocolate and cinnamon, and a bit of crunch. To save a few for later, wrap individual bars and place in a resealable freezer container. When you want a satisfying treat on short notice, just grab one and let it thaw for a few minutes. —Tasha Lehman, Williston, Vermont

Easy Morning Waffles

Making your own fluffy waffles from scratch takes no time at all, and the touch of cinnamon in these beats any frozen store-bought version. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Italian Sausage Casserole

At the start of each week, my family is already looking forward to our traditional weekend breakfasts, when I serve warm and wonderful dishes such as this. The make-ahead convenience lets me relax with the family as the savory aroma fills the house. —Nancy Robinson, Kansas City, Kansas

Basic Banana Muffins

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

Sausage-Vegetable Egg Bake

When we were kids, our mom tucked homegrown Swiss chard inside this comfy casserole. Now I grow the chard, make the dish and savor the memories. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California

Maple Bacon French Toast Bake

Our family loves Sunday brunch. Each season I try to bring a little different flavor to the table. This French toast bake reminds us of fall. Whole or 2% milk works best, but I use regular almond milk because I can't have dairy and it works, too! —Peggie Brott, Milford, Kansas

Pressure-Cooker Steel-Cut Oats and Berries

This is a great alternative to a slow-cooked breakfast when you’re short on time. I woke up one morning realizing I had forgotten to make overnight oats the night before. I tried out an idea in the multicooker and it turned out great! Serve with fresh seasonal fruit; my favorite are spring and summer berries. —Mary Anne Thygesen, Portland, Oregon

Quiche Pastry Cups

My grandmother used to make egg cup surprises for family brunches on special occasions. The added fillings were always a surprise since she never seemed to use the same combination of ingredients twice. As children, we took guesses as to what we'd find in the tender crust—the game always added fun to our meals. —Denalee Standart, Rancho Mureta, California

Whole Wheat Pancakes

To fix a large batch of tender pancakes for my five children, I rely on this quick and wholesome recipe. It calls for whole wheat flour and buttermilk, which make the pancakes filling but also light. Serve them with hot chocolate for a breakfast that's sure to delight little ones. —Line Walter, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Grandmother's Toad in a Hole

I have fond memories of my grandmother’s Yorkshire pudding wrapped around sausages, a puffy dish my kids called The Boat. Slather it with butter and maple syrup. —Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, Ohio

Aunt Betty’s Blueberry Muffins

My Aunt Betty is quite a baker, but I look forward to these mouthwatering blueberry muffin recipe the most. She gives me enough so that I can freeze and enjoy them for weeks. —Sheila Raleigh, Kechi, Kansas

No-Bake Cereal Bars

With two kinds of cereal and peanut butter, these bars taste almost like candy. —Pauline Christiansen, Columbus, Kansas

Reuben and Rye Strata

This make-ahead dish is wonderful for brunch, lunch or supper. It is so easy to prepare. If you prefer it, substitute turkey pastrami for the corned beef. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia

Green Chile Brunch Bake

It's easy to make this ahead of time in a 13x9-inch pan. It is filling, is perfect for a crowd and helps out busy parents. —Trista Thinnes, Fort Worth, Texas

The Best French Toast

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

Apple Pie Ricotta Waffles

I had apples and ricotta cheese to use up, so instead of making a pie I decided to do something different. The result was these fluffy, tender waffles with just a hint of sweetness. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Hacienda Hash Browns

I use a clear glass dish to show off my hash brown bake. The bold pepper, cilantro, cumin and garlic make this potato-egg casserole extraordinary. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Cast-Iron Apple Nutmeg Coffee Cake

I'm not a great baker, but I do love coffee. In an effort to practice my baking, I use up the morning's last bit of coffee to make this cake—literally. It is super moist and crumbly, and tastes as if you dunked your cake right into a cup of hot joe. —Darla Andrews, Schertz, Texas

Maple Toast and Eggs

My home's in the country, right next door to my sister and brother-in-law's. They and their two children all enjoy this dish each time I serve it as a special evening meal—although it can also be made for breakfast or lunch. —Susan Buttel, Plattsburgh, New York

Sweet Potato Dutch Baby

I love a Dutch baby, so I created a savory version to serve for breakfast or brunch. Top with poached eggs, smoked salmon or sour cream. I also like to serve it with mixed greens tossed in olive oil and lemon juice. —Tom Doyle, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania