Looking for winter breakfast ideas that go beyond your usual toast? Think iced cinnamon rolls, apple-topped oats and golden potatoes with eggs.
These pictures give you plenty to choose from, whether you’re planning a simple breakfast or a bigger weekend spread.
You can keep things sweet or go for something savory. There are a few festive drink ideas here too, plus little serving details worth borrowing for your own table.
Breakfast ideas to try this winter
iced cinnamon rolls
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous cinnamon rolls. I love how the pale icing settles into the spirals.
There’s one already on a little plate beside the baking dish.
Pair yours with coffee if you want to follow this simple breakfast setup.
fruit and walnut oatmeal
If you want your oatmeal to look a little different, this bowl is for you. Glossy golden fruit slices sit right in the middle, with walnut pieces scattered all around.
Try cooked apple or pear wedges on your own oats for a similar topping.
pancakes with butter and syrup
How good does this pancake stack look? The browned edges and syrup pooling around the bottom are my favorite parts.
Keep the topping simple with a pat of butter like this. If you want a winter-inspired variation, try a cinnamon pancake recipe.
pecan-topped breakfast bake
I am obsessed with this breakfast bake. The thick bread slices sit in overlapping rows, with pecans tucked between them and white dollops on top.
Save this as serving inspiration for a French toast casserole. I’d put extra topping on the side so you can add as much as you like.
potatoes and eggs in a skillet
Prefer something savory? Go with a potato-and-egg skillet like this one.
The golden potato pieces surround the eggs, with reddish chunks and chopped greens scattered throughout.
A little herb garnish is a pretty finishing touch to borrow for your own plate.
golden fruit-studded scones
These little scones are so pretty with their golden tops and red fruit pieces. I especially love the tall sides and all those visible layers.
If you’d like a festive flavor combination, look for a cranberry-orange version to serve with your morning tea.
waffles with chocolate spread
Don’t want to go all out with breakfast toppings? No problem!
Take inspiration from these waffles with chocolate-colored and caramel-colored spreads filling the little squares.
The floral cup beside the plate makes this simple setup even cuter.
eggs potatoes and sausage
This is another potato-and-egg idea, but it’s a little different from the skillet above. Browned sausage rounds sit between the potatoes, with bright yolks dotted across the whole dish.
I love the oval serving dish here. Bring your own breakfast bake to the table in its dish if you want a similar family-style presentation.
apple oatmeal squares
This baked oatmeal may just be one of my favorites here. I love the little fans of red-skinned apple slices on top, plus the apple pieces throughout.
Serve yours in squares to follow this picture. You could offer chopped pecans on the side too.
loaded breakfast burrito
If you love a breakfast with lots of filling, then this one is for you. The browned tortilla wraps around scrambled eggs, pink diced meat and little red and green pieces.
Try ham and peppers in your own version. Cut the burrito in half if you want to show off the filling like this.
festive cocoa board
How cute is this cocoa board? The little candy canes and bowls of whipped topping are adorable beside the mugs.
Read also: 20 Winter Desserts With Snowmen, Sweet Swirls and Holiday Sparkle
This is more of a sweet addition to breakfast than a full meal. Borrow the cocoa setup for a holiday brunch, with marshmallows and cookies kept in their own little groups.
golden loaf with a pale swirl
I love this sliced loaf with its orange-gold crumb and pale ribbon through the middle. The sugar-dusted top is just as pretty.
Read also: 20 Hanukkah Desserts With Doughnuts, Cookies and Blue-and-White Details
For a similar breakfast idea, look for a pumpkin loaf with a cream cheese swirl. Serve thick slices on a platter rather than copying the cooling-rack setup.
Read also: 20 Friendsgiving Desserts and Sweet Table Ideas to Save
biscuits covered in gravy
The gravy fans are going to love this! These tall biscuits have golden tops and visible layers, with thick gravy spooned generously over them.
The chopped green garnish is worth keeping if you want the same finish. There’s no need for elaborate plating here.
banana and pomegranate bowl
Don’t want a baked breakfast? No problem there!
This bowl has banana slices, pomegranate seeds and granola over a white base, with sliced nuts and chocolate pieces mixed in.
Try those toppings over your favorite yogurt. I’d keep the curved row of banana slices just like this.
savory breakfast casserole
If you’re looking for a savory bake to serve in slices, save this one. The golden square has red and green pieces throughout, along with browned crumbles.
Read also: 19 Overnight Breakfast Ideas With Berry Jars, Oats and Golden Casseroles
A sausage-and-pepper egg casserole would be a good direction for your own version. Finish with a few sliced green onions if you like that little extra garnish.
mini croissants and blueberries
OMG, how adorable is that little cookie on the mug? The miniature croissants are just as cute, sitting among blueberries over a pale breakfast base.
Try adding mini croissants to a bowl of porridge for a similar presentation. The cookie-topped drink would be a fun extra for a holiday morning.
layered apple oat jars
I am obsessed with these layered jars. The diced apples and thick brown spread make such pretty bands between the speckled oat mixture.
For your own version, try overnight oats with apple and your favorite nut butter. Keep a few apple slices and chopped nuts for the top.
colorful vegetable hash
Who says a savory breakfast has to look plain? The deep pink beet pieces, orange vegetable cubes and green avocado make this skillet so colorful.
Try a beet-and-sweet-potato hash with an egg if you want a similar combination. I’d keep the avocado slices on top rather than mixing them through.
bread and eggs in the pan
This one shows breakfast in progress rather than a finished dish. Eggs are being poured over torn bread pieces in a frying pan.
If that combination appeals to you, look for a tested bread-and-egg skillet recipe. The picture gives you the starting idea, but it doesn’t show the cooking method or finished result.
bagels and breakfast bites
Last but definitely not least, we have this lovely breakfast board. I love the mix of plain and seeded bagels beside bacon, sliced meat and bowls of pale spreads.
The grapes, blackberries and apple slices give you plenty of fruit to choose from too. Group your own ingredients in sections like this so everyone can put together a plate.
Read also: 20 New Year's Day Food Ideas for Dinner, Snacks and Sweet Treats
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Emily