20 Breakfast Pastry Recipes for a Sweet Start to Your Day

By

Food & Wine Editors

Updated on April 9, 2023

Blueberry and Meyer lemon Breakfast pastry — Photo: Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

If you ask us, there's no sweeter way to start the day than enjoying a hot beverage alongside a buttery breakfast pastry that's been baked to golden brown perfection. The experience may be even more magical if you're cozy at home, basking in the intoxicating, toasty aroma that lingers even after the oven's been turned off. These terrific breakfast pastry recipes include gooey cinnamon-pecan buns, brioche stuffed with chocolate cream, crunchy crullers with raspberry, and more.

01 of 20

Almond Croissants

Almond Croissants — Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford

The best thing to do with day-old croissants, whether homemade or store-bought: Split them in half; slather with a brandy-spiked, almond-scented cream; top with even more almonds; and bake until the aroma coming from the oven makes you swoon.

02 of 20

Orange Soufflé Coffee Cake

Orange Soufflé Coffee Cake — Victor Protasio

"I think of this as orange juice and eggs rolled into a single dish and puffed up with hot air," says food writer and cook Ruth Reichl of her light, satisfying breakfast cake. "I think it’s a perfect way to start the day. What I like most is its sheer simplicity; this cake is about as basic — and easy — as they come. But one word of warning: Don't open the oven too early. This cake will fall if provoked."

03 of 20

Pain au Chocolat

Pain au Chocolat — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Pain au chocolat, sometimes referred to as a chocolate croissant, means chocolate bread — and this recipe ensures that there's chocolate in every bite.

04 of 20

Guava Quesitos

Guava Quesitos — Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

This recipe comes from 787 Coffee, which has shops in Puerto Rico and New York. Their Quesitos de Guayaba use guava paste in the filling with the cream cheese, giving each pastry a unique sweetness underlined with hints of floral notes.

05 of 20

Zucchini Breakfast Bread

Zucchini Breakfast Bread — Jen Causey

From the irresistibly crunchy turbinado sugar crust to the perfectly moist and tender crumb, this super-simple zucchini bread delivers maximum breakfast delight. Studded with pecans and oats and perfumed with orange zest, cinnamon, and allspice, it makes a perfect grab-and-go breakfast. If you want to treat yourself, do like we do: Slather it with butter and give it a quick toast in a skillet.

06 of 20

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Rhubarb Coffee Cake — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This streusel-topped rhubarb coffee cake is a standout celebration of spring. With a tender, springy crumb, the cake is the perfect match for the rosy, tart rhubarb on top. The addition of buttermilk lends tanginess and richness to the cake batter, while the rhubarb is marinated in sugar before baking, softening the fibrous stalks to result in a deliciously jammy texture.

07 of 20

Cinnamon-Apple Babka

Cinnamon-Apple Babka — Cinnamon-Apple Babka.
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Tender, buttery pastry dough is wrapped around sliced apples that are seasoned with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and ginger for this fall treat. Make sure to slice the apples very thinly here; the thinner they are, the easier it will be to roll your babka.

08 of 20

Chocolate French Crullers with Dried Raspberries and Fudge Glaze

Chocolate Raspberry French Crullers with Fudge Glaze — Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

Pastry chef Clarice Lam's French crullers feature a crunchy crust, an airy center, and a colorful topping of dried raspberries and fudge. Dip the chocolate crullers in the warmed fudge glaze so the dried raspberries stick for a sweet-tart topping that's as tasty as it is beautiful.

09 of 20

Cherry and Cream Cheese Kolaches

Cherry and Cream Cheese Kolaches — Cara Cormack

For the filling in these kolaches, a quick jam of summer's fresh sweet cherries is dolloped over lemon-scented cream cheese. Feel free to use whatever jam you have on hand if you prefer not to make your own.

10 of 20

Blueberry and Meyer Lemon Breakfast Pastry

Blueberry and Meyer lemon Breakfast pastry — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Baking up flaky and buttery in a few short minutes, frozen puff pastry is the secret to simple morning pastries. Be sure to leave a 1-inch border around the edges of the filling to prevent the sweet jam and tangy Meyer lemon–flecked cream cheese from escaping during baking. The tart dried blueberries aren't just a pretty topping; they help balance the sweetness of this nostalgic breakfast treat.

11 of 20

Chocolate Cream and Orange Brioche Buns

Chocolate Cream and Orange Brioche Buns — Chocolate Cream and Orange Brioche Buns.
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Tender and lightly sweet, these brioche buns from Timmy Gibbons and Bobby Schaffer of Chicago’s Lost Larson bakery are the perfect canvas for the bold flavors of orange and chocolate. The buns begin with a rich brioche dough that includes a touch of whole-wheat flour, which adds a nutty undertone without distracting from the sweet and buttery base. The chocolate-dipped candied orange slices are an optional but fun topping.

12 of 20

Glazed Cinnamon Rolls with Pecan Swirls

Glazed Cinnamon Rolls with Pecan Swirls — © Matthew Armendariz

Baking these cinnamon rolls in big batches makes the effort worth it — they take time but are so satisfying.

13 of 20

Butterscotch Sticky Buns

Butterscotch Sticky Buns — © Con Poulos

"Over-the-top, sticky, gooey goodness — or, as I like to call it, 'love.'" That's how pastry chef Catherine Schimenti describes the thrilling moment she first dipped a warm sticky bun into sweet-salty butterscotch sauce. Schimenti flavors the sauce with a splash of Scotch for a touch of glamour.

14 of 20

Glazed Lemon-Ginger Scones

Glazed Lemon-Ginger Scones — © Con Poulos

Restaurateur Aimee Olexy's lemony, cream-based scones are light, moist, and laced with pieces of chewy candied ginger.

15 of 20

Peach Streusel Cake

Peach Streusel Cake — © Quentin Bacon

This crumble-topped cake is ideal for year-round baking because it calls for frozen peaches.

16 of 20

Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls

Raspberry-Swirl Sweet Rolls. Photo © Quentin Bacon — © Quentin Bacon

You can make these fruit-swirled sweet rolls any time of the year by taking advantage of frozen raspberries. They're terrific in these soft, puffy yeast rolls — a fun twist on a cinnamon bun that's perfect for a special morning breakfast.

17 of 20

White House Honey-Oat Muffins

White House Honey-Oat Muffins — © Pernille Pedersen

Chef Spike Mendelsohn was inspired by the beehive in the White House garden to make these lovely, not-too-sweet muffins. "I'm not a big breakfast eater, but I have muffins in my house right now," he says.

18 of 20

Crêpes with Sweet Yogurt and Raspberry-Apricot Sauce

Crepes with Sweet Yogurt and Raspberry-Apricot Sauce — © Lucy Schaeffer

These crêpes are like free-form blintzes, with thick and creamy Greek-style yogurt standing in for the cheese filling and a quick topping made with preserves and frozen raspberries.

19 of 20

Strawberry-Almond Scones

Strawberry-Almond Scones — © Con Poulos

When making these scones, be sure to use whole wheat pastry flour, which is less dense than whole wheat flour. Mixing in some all-purpose white flour also lightens the texture of the scones, so they're more delicate and tender.

20 of 20

Chocolate Chip and Banana Muffins

Chocolate Chip and Banana Muffins — Fredrika Stjärne

Like banana bread, these especially moist muffins are a great way to use up overripe bananas. Chopped toasted pecans would be delicious in them, too.

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