13 Recipes That Basically Give You Permission To Eat Dessert for Breakfast

If you, too, grew up in the ‘90s, you’re familiar with the cereal commercials that portrayed exactly what’s “part of a balanced breakfast.” At the time, we were told that was cereal, milk, orange juice, fruit and toast topped with big pats of margarine. A couple decades earlier, the “ideal” breakfast was a platter of bacon, sausage and eggs. These days, a dietitian-approved morning meal might look more like a bowl of oatmeal topped with fruit and nuts, with a side of spinach scrambled eggs.

Regardless of the diet du jour, sweet breakfast recipes like pancakes, French toast bakes and cinnamon rolls are rarely recommended as an everyday option. Still, sweet breakfast ideas can be good for both the body and the soul. In fact, there’s a bit of science to suggest that eating a little dessert with breakfast may affect hunger hormones in a way that reduces cravings for the rest of the day. And the grams of happiness they deliver? Too many to count.

So on the days when you’re in the mood for something a little more decadent, dive into one of the sweet breakfast recipes ahead. We’re firm believers that a serving can be part of your balanced breakfast — and will set the tone for a sweet and spectacular day ahead.

Everyone around the table flips when we bring a stack of these bouncy, soufflé-like cakes to the table. The secret that helps these Japanese pancakes stand tall? Whipped egg whites. By gently folding that airy element into the batter — then cooking it in nonstick spray-coated ring molds — you’ll end up with ‘cakes that are custardy in the center and golden on the outside. This sweet breakfast recipe looks great and tastes even better. In fact, it’s the reason why we always have a back-up bottle of maple syrup in our pantry.

You’re just four ingredients away from a sweet breakfast recipe that one fan deems “dangerously delicious.” (Another admits, “I'm glad I gave half of it to neighbors before we started eating or else we would have eaten it all up!”) Simply coat pieces of refrigerated biscuit dough in melted butter and cinnamon-sugar, then bake in a Bundt pan until puffy and caramelized. It’s excellent as-is, but folks really go bananas when we add chopped toasted pecans or walnuts to this monkey bread recipe.

Keep those sprinkles handy, as you’ll probably want to shower them on top of these irresistible homemade doughnuts. Playfully nicknamed “long Johns” due to their stick-like shape, these yeast doughnuts taste remarkably similar to the ones you might order by the dozen at a Midwestern bakery. Not in the mood for chocolate today? Swap in this 2-ingredient Maple Glaze instead.

On those mornings when you can’t decide if you’re craving coffee cake or French toast, turn to this sweet breakfast recipe. Since Ree Drummond lives on a ranch and frequently hosts guests, kids and grandkids or ranch hands, she designed this make-ahead breakfast to feed a crowd. And you’ll be glad it does, as each slice of the custardy bread pudding is crowned with a thick layer of cinnamon-brown sugar streusel. We’ll take two scoops, please!

Ever since Food Network Kitchen perfected this boxed cake mix creation, we haven’t celebrated a birthday breakfast without it. Chocolate batter “bakes” in a minute or two per layer in waffle iron, and the mascarpone frosting is sweet, tart and oh-so showy thanks to freeze-dried raspberries. Layered together, the results are “divine,” according to one fan who tried this at home.

Inspired by those iconic toaster pastries, Ree Drummond’s 5-star breakfast tarts feature all of the elements of the original. It all starts with a lightly-sweetened all-butter pie crust. After mixing, rolling, and cutting the dough, stuff two rectangles with a spoonful of your favorite flavor of jam. Bake until golden, then once they’re cool, finish with a generous coating of jam-infused powdered sugar glaze — and sprinkles, of course.

True, zucchini gets top billing here. But there are actually several sneakily-nutritous elements hiding in this zucchini dessert-slash-breakfast. Mashed avocado lends a lovely buttery quality, while whole wheat pastry flour gives just a hint of nutty flavor. In tandem with cocoa powder, cinnamon, and mini chocolate chips, these muffins are moist, cake-like and packed with dark chocolate flavor.

“The world is a better place with this cheesecake banana bread in our lives,” a 5-star reviewer raves. To take traditional banana bread batter to the next level, we suggest swirling it with a ribbon of sweetened sour cream and cream cheese. Together, the combination is incredibly moist, flavorful and the perfect fusion of dessert and breakfast. (Inspired to make this now, but don’t have any brown bananas? Try our “oven ripening” trick that explains how to roast bananas to bring out their residual sugars.)

This puffy pancake looks like you fussed over it for hours. However, only you need to know that it’s foolproof and low-fuss to DIY. To help the supersized pancake rise to the occasion, be sure to preheat your cast-iron skillet for about 15 minutes before filling it with the simple blender batter. Immediately after removing the golden and sweet breakfast recipe from the oven, top with berries and slice into single servings. Or place the skillet on the table alongside a stack of spoons, and invite everyone to dive in.

“Having moved away from south Florida nearly 10 years ago, this is probably one of the things I've missed the most,” one Food Network fan says of this Cuban treat. Luckily, we’ve cracked the code and will coach you through how to get these bakery-quality beauties oven-ready in just 20 minutes. Starting with store-bought puff pastry, all that’s left to do is stuff squares with a cube of cream cheese and guava paste. Brush the tops with a beaten egg, bake until golden brown and puffy and top with glaze, if desired. Another viewer verifies the result is “a definite KEEPER” no matter the time of day you indulge.

Any cookie can be a “breakfast cookie” if you eat it before noon. This rendition really fits the bill — and won’t tempt you into eating the entire sleeve like those popular mint-chocolate cookies — because they feature bananas, oats, peanut butter and honey. It’s like a bowl of oatmeal shaped into bites, then studded with chocolate chips. Serve with an optional (yet highly recommended pairing): a glass of cold milk for dunking.

We can’t be the only ones who have dreamed of having a Cinnabon-scented air freshener. Well this sweet breakfast idea makes that fantasy a reality and treats you to six supersized cinnamon rolls, too. Our formulas for the dough, filling, and glaze are all such close copycats to the chain’s recipes that multiple home bakers declare these “the BEST cinnamon rolls I have ever made or tasted.” Another jokes, “well that backfired on me! Everyone loves these cinnamon buns so much they don’t want any from anywhere else.”