Winter Breakfast Classics That Warm Everyone Up

With winter’s chill in the air, walking away from cozy blankets and warm slippers may not sound appealing – that is, until you consider the delicious and warm breakfast you can make. A hearty meal to start your day can not only warm you up but also provide online culinary students the basis for an active, productive day.

Here are some warm and welcoming wintertime breakfast ideas to treat yourself to this season:

Discover new French toast styles

French toast is a fun wintertime meal because you can turn just about any type of bread into a flavorful, filling breakfast. Use homemade sandwich bread, banana bread, sourdough or even croissants to create a unique plate of French toast. Even after choosing the bread to focus on, you have endless possibilities on how to flavor your breakfast. Here are a few ideas you’ll be glad you tried:

Molasses and berries

Most people will reach for the maple syrup to top their French toast, but that doesn’t mean you need to limit your options. A rich, delicious molasses and cinnamon syrup can liven up your brunch, Simple Bites pointed out. To make this dark syrup, whisk together brown sugar, molasses, water and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a slow boil, then remove from heat and whisk in a tablespoon of butter. Pair this sweet syrup with mixed berries.

Banana bread French toast

The perfect use for overripe bananas, this bread can be converted into a decadent breakfast, How Sweet Eats found. To make the banana bread, combine overripe bananas, an egg, milk, butter, sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Mix in flour, nutmeg and cinnamon. Bake in a 9X5 loaf pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-55 minutes.

Once cooled, your loaf is ready to be transformed into French toast. Whisk together some eggs, cream, cinnamon and vanilla. Slice your banana bread, coat each one with the egg mixture and cook in a buttered frying pan or skillet. Top with bananas and chopped nuts.

Pumpkin pie French toast

Don’t be afraid to mix in new ingredients into the egg bath you prepare your French toast with. Averie Cooks shows that whisking in pumpkin puree and spices makes for a seasonal breakfast you’ll love. Beat together eggs, vanilla-flavored almond milk, pumpkin puree, nutmeg, cinnamon, white and brown sugar, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Make your French toast as usual and top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Dress up your porridge

Hot cereals like oatmeal, Cream of Wheat and rice or quinoa are a great way to start your day with a meal that’ll keep you full until lunch. They’re all made essentially the same way: boiling water and adding your grain, stirring until fully cooked.

Simple and filling, these are wonderful options, but alone they can be a bit bland. Luckily, as any culinary student knows, this makes for a blank canvas you can flavor any way you please. Here are a few options to consider:

Orange and seeds

Stir in some orange juice, top with orange slices and sprinkle chia, poppy or flaxseeds for depth of flavor and healthy profile.

Cinnamon and honey

This combination tastes amazing together and can be added to your dish of rice, quinoa, oatmeal or polenta for a delicious and warm morning meal.

Yolk and nutmeg

Upgrade your Cream of Wheat with a cooked egg yolk, some sugar and a dash of nutmeg, The Kitchn suggested. First, bring your milk, water and salt to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Whisk in your Cream of Wheat. When it starts to thicken, add sugar and an egg yolk. You can use a whole egg if you want, but the whites tend to curdle and make the dish look less appealing. Once it’s thoroughly cooked, add some vanilla and nutmeg.