The Lean Green Bean

15+ Christmas Breakfast Ideas

Lindsay — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Here are 15+ easy Christmas Breakfast Ideas that are sure to be a hit! Christmas Breakfast Casserole, cinnamon rolls, frittata and more holiday breakfasts to feed a crowd.

*Originally published 12/2013. Updated 12/2025*

Hi Friends!

With the holidays fast approaching, I’m sure many of you are starting to think about meals, especially if you happen to be hosting this year. While a lot of the focus is often on the main holiday dinner, I happen to think breakfast is equally important- especially if you’re hosting overnight guests!

Christmas Breakfast Ideas

There are lots of ways to feed a crowd on a holiday morning. One of the best options is something that can be prepped ahead of time so all you have to do is stick it in the oven in the morning.

You could opt for something hearty like a casserole, or something nice and sweet like cinnamon rolls. Or choose a more traditional option like French toast or pancakes and turn it into a casserole to make your life easier!

Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas Morning Breakfast

To make sure your morning goes smoothly, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Do whatever you can the night before! Holiday mornings are always crazy and anything you can prep ahead of time will be helpful.
Preheat the oven as soon as you get up so you don’t forget! You can stick a casserole in to bake while opening presents or put it in as soon as you’re done.
To keep dishes warm, cover with foil or place in a oven at a low temperature (like 180 – 200 degrees F). You can also try a warming mat (aff link)

Recipes For Christmas Breakfast Casseroles

Here are some easy Christmas breakfast casseroles that are hearty and filling. These are perfect for a holiday morning because they can be prepped the night before and all you have to do is stick them in the oven to bake while you’re opening presents!

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Just 5 ingredients required and can be prepped ahead of time.

Grab the recipe!

Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Packed with bacon and cheese for an easy morning breakfast.

Grab the recipe!

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

The perfect mix of hash browns, sausage, egg and cheese cooked in the crockpot.

Grab the recipe!

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

The perfect combination of ham, cheese, eggs and potatoes make a tasty breakfast casserole.

Grab the recipe!

Holiday Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a classic holiday breakfast. They can be prepped the night before and stored in the fridge and once you pop them in the oven in the morning, the whole house will smell amazing! Here are a few different recieps you could try!

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Extra fluffy and prepped the night before, served with a cream cheese icing.

Grab the recipe!

Cranberry Orange Breakfast Buns

An easy way to change up the flavor of traditional cinnamon rolls!

Grab the recipe!

Best Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat

Made with bread flour to keep them fluffy, these can be made overnight or ahead of time with an easy vanilla ceam cheese glaze.

Grab the recipe!

Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

A twist on traditional cinnamon rolls with a ginger molasses filling!

Grab the recipe!

Sweet Christmas Breakfast Recipes

If you’re craving something sweet for your next holiday breakfast, there are lots of options! Everything from French toast to Dutch pancakes to coffee cake can easily be made to feed a crowd. Here are a few ideas:

Overnight French Toast Casserole

The perfect way to use up those leftover dinner rolls!

Grab the recipe!

How To Make German Pancakes (Dutch Baby Pancakes)

Only six ingredients and it puffs up in the oven making it a showstopper for sure!

Grab the recipe!

Coffee Cake

A moist and tender cake with a cinnamon swirl and a butter crumb topping.

Grab the recipe!

Sweet Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Juicy berries, sweet cream cheese and a delicious vanilla glaze mean this casserole is sure to be a hit!

Grab the recipe!

Easy Christmas Breakfast Dishes with Eggs

Eggs are a breakfast staple for good reason. They’re full of protein and healthy fats and they’re SO versatile. Here are a few ways you could use them!

Breakfast Enchilada Casserole

A delicious mix of sausage, egg and potato with a creamy enchilada sauce.

Grab the recipe!

How To Make the Perfect Frittata

Customize it with your favorite vegetables and serve in slices with toast!

Grab the recipe!

Shakshuka

Easy poached eggs in a simmering tomato sauce. Serve with crusty bread for scooping!

Best Easy Quiche Recipe

This quiche comes together quickly thanks to some baking shortcuts but doesn’t sacrifice flavor!

Grab the recipe!

The Best Drinks To Serve on Christmas Morning

Don’t forget about drinks in all the holiday excitement! Here are some fun ideas:

Christmas Breakfast FAQs

What should I make for Christmas breakfast?

If you’re hosting Christmas breakfast for overnight guests, I would have a quick chat to determine their preferences. Keep it simple with fruit and muffins if they’re not big breakfast eaters. If they have a sweet tooth, try cinnamon rolls. If they wake up ready to eat, try something heartier like a christmas breakfast casserole.

What is the most popular Christmas morning breakfast?

Anything that can be served buffet-style is typically popular. Casseroles that can easily be cut into pieces, individual items like French toast or pancakes, or things like scrambled eggs and bacon that can be spooned onto plates typically go well. In addition, coffee cake, muffins, scones, croissants and other breakfast pastries are popular.

What is a good make-ahead Christmas breakfast?

There are a lot of casserole and egg-based dishes that can be prepped ahead of time. Breakfast casseroles with bread along with eggs and sausage or French toast casseroles often benefit from an overnight soak. Similarly, things with yeast like cinnamon rolls are great for making the night before so they can rise in the fridge overnight.

What’s a quick Christmas breakast I can make last minute?

You can’t go wrong with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage and some fresh fruit! Or grab some fresh bagels and put out toppings like cream cheese, smoked salmon, peanut butter and nutella.

What is a good high-protein Christmas breakfast?

Egg-based dishes like quiche or frittatas can be a good high-protein option. Or try savory cottage cheese bowls, protein pancakes or yogurt parfaits.

What are good gluten-free Christmas breakfast options?

You can choose something that’s naturally gluten-free like an egg and veggie bake with sausage and potatoes instead of bread. Or you can use gluten-free mixes to make things like gluten-free pancakes or muffins. Baked oatmeal is another good gluten-free option.

What can kids eat for Christmas breakfast?

Often kids are so excited for presents that it can be hard to get them to eat anything on Christmas morning. Try a smoothie, or a muffin and a glass of milk that they can eat quickly and get back to their presents. Or choose a make-ahead casserole that can bake while you’re opening presents so it’ll be ready when they come down from the excitement of opening presents.

What can I prep the night before for Christmas morning?

Many breakfast dishes reheat well if you choose to make them ahead of time. Many more can be prepped the night before and baked in the morning with minimal effort. Look into Christmas breakfast casseroles, French toast bakes, baked oatmeal and egg bakes.

What are fun Christmas breakfast ideas for toddlers or young kids?

Something as simple as making green pancakes and calling them Grinch pancakes can be fun at that age! Or try donut snowman or Santa pancakes! Here are 17 Kid-Friendly Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas.

What’s an easy Christmas brunch idea?

A themed breakfast bar is always a hit! Try a breakfast pastry bar with all your favorite muffins, scones and sweet treats, a yogurt parfait bar, a smoked salmon bagel bar or here are 10 Easy Brunch Bar Ideas.

What’s a festive Christmas breakfast idea using holiday flavors?

There are lots of seasonal flavors to choose from! Try Eggnog French Toast, Gingerbread Waffles, or this Cranberry Orange Buttermilk Breakfast Cake.

What’s an affordable Christmas breakfast that stil feels special?

I love the idea of using Christmas Eve leftovers in breakfast the next day. If you’re having a Christmas ham, it can be repurposed into a ham and cheese egg casserole. You could also add leftover potatoes or throw leftover potatoes on the waffle iron to make potato waffles! If you have leftover dinner rolls, use them to make a french toast bake! Here are 20 Budget Friendly Make Ahead Christmas Brunch recipes.

What breakfast dishes travel well if I’m bringing food to a holiday gathering?

Any breakfast casserole that can be baked in a casserole dish should be fairly easy to transport! You could also prep individual breakfast burritos and wrap them in foil or even cook a batch of pancakes or waffles ahead of time, transport them in tupperware and reheat when you get there.

Whatever you choose to feed your guests, I hope your holiday morning is full of contentment and love!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies

Lindsay — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

These Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies are soft and fluffy! They’re naturally sweetened, made with real food ingredients and absolutely delicious.

*Originally posted 3/2016. Updated 10/2025*

Hi friends!

These Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies have now been a go-to of mine since 2016. I love them for a quick snack and they came in super handy during the newborn phase when I often needed to eat quickly and with one hand.

They’re very forgiving, and you can easily change up the mix-ins to make them more kid-friendly or to suit your tastebuds.

I find myself making these cookies year round, but they’re especially perfect for a Fall snack or dessert. If you’re looking to do some additional Fall baking or whip up a treat over Thanksgiving, here are some ideas:

Why You’ll Love These Sweet Potato Cookies

These would make a great sweet potato breakfast cookie. They’re low in added sugar and high in protein and fiber—a great way to start your day. They’d also be great for a snack, and if you throw in some chocolate chips, they could even pass as dessert to curb a sweet tooth.

Eating these for breakfast works out well for me because I can eat them quickly while I’m trying to feed three kids. Plus, I can make a batch on Sunday and eat them all week! Food prep for the win.

Ingredients for Sweet Potato Cookies

To make these cookies, you’ll just need a few simple ingredients:

Sweet potato – I cook mine in the microwave for 5-6 minutes and let cool a few minutes before scooping out of the skin and mashing with a fork
Nut or seed butter – I use peanut butter but you could use almond butter or sunflower seed butter to make them nut-free
Eggs
Cinnamon and vanilla -for flavor
Maple Syrup – You could sub sugar if you prefer
Seeds – Chia or hemp seeds work great in this recipe
Pepitas – An easy way to add a boost of nutrients
Dried fruit – works well with raisins or Craisins, or you can swap in chocolate chips
Flour- To make these gluten-free, use oat flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. You can also use AP or white whole wheat flour

How To Make Sweet Potato Cookies (Step-by-Step)

Once you see how easy it is to make these cookies, you’ll be adding them to your weekly meal prep in no time!

Cook your sweet potato in the microwave, remove the skin and mash.
Combine the mashed sweet potato, nut butter and eggs and stir until well combined.
Add the vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup, seeds and pepitas and mix well.
Stir in the flour and baking soda until just mixed, then scoop onto cookie sheets and bake!

Make-Ahead and Meal Prep

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store these cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days. You can also freeze the cookies once cooled on a cookie tray, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and pull them out as needed to defrost.

In addition, you can make this dough ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to bake, or scoop into balls and freeze until ready to bake.

How To Sweeten Sweet Potato Cookies

I love this recipe because it’s very lightly sweetened compared to most cookies and uses maple syrup. If you don’t want to use maple syrup, you could swap regular sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar or even honey.

Sweet Potato Cookie Baking Tips

My best tip for getting the perfect sweet potato cookies is to not over mix. Mix everything really well before you add the flour so you only need to stir enough to just combine it at the end.

And don’t overbake these cookies! If you want them to spread a little more you can lightly flatten with a fork before baking but these cookies are meant to be light and fluffy!

Sweet Potato Oatmeal Cookies

If you’d like an added boost of fiber, feel free to add some rolled oats into the mix! You could start with 1/2 cup and increase if you like the added texture they provide.

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Cookies

If you make this recipe as written, the cookies will be naturally gluten-free as long as you’re using certified gluten-free oats. Be sure to also check your Craisins to make sure they’re gluten-free as they sometimes have additional ingredients to sweeten them

You can also use a 1:1 Gluten-free flour blend. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure.

Vegan Sweet Potato Cookies

To make these cookies vegan, swap the eggs for flax eggs. Here’s how to make flax eggs.

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies

To make these cookies a little more dessert-like, try swapping the dried fruit for chocolate chips.

Sweet Potato Cookies vs Pumpkin Cookies

In a recipe like this, you can easily swap pumpkin puree for mashed sweet potato and there won’t be much of a difference. In general, both pumpkin and sweet potato cookies will be light and fluffy vs dense and chewy. If you’re looking for a chewy pumpkin cookie recipe try these Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Sweet Potato Cookie Flavor Variations

No added sugar sweet potato cookies

To make these cookies free of added sugar, you could try swapping mashed banana or baby food prunes (pureed) to add some sweetness naturally.

Nut-free sweet potato cookies

I use peanut butter but you can make them nut-free with sunflower seed butter. Just know that they will likely turn green when baked due to a reaction with the baking soda. Perfectly safe to eat!

Other mix-ins

For a Fall twist, try adding chopped pecans and a maple glaze. For a more tropical twist, swap raisins for dried pineapple and add some shredded coconut!

Easy Sweet Potato Cookies Recipe

Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

No protein powder required for these Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies! They’re gluten-free, made with real food ingredients and packed with protein and fiber. Enjoy them for breakfast or an afternoon snack!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 8-12 cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
1/2 cup nut butter (i use peanut butter but almond butter or sunflower seed butter would be great)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
2–3 Tbsp maple syrup (depending on desired level of sweetness)
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup Craisins or raisins
1/4 cup oat flour (white whole wheat flour also works)
1 tsp baking soda

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Instructions

Combine sweet potato, peanut butter and eggs in a large bowl and mix well.
Add vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and Craisins and stir to combine.
Add oat flour and baking soda and stir.
Scoop onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (8-12 cookies).
Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

These are fluffy and delicious. I used white chia seeds, in case you noticed they’re not black in the photos.

Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies FAQs

Can I use canned sweet potato puree instead of fresh homemade in this recipe?

Yes! Canned sweet potato puree will work just fine in this recipe.

Can I replace the sweet potato for pumpkin? Can I make pumpkin cookies instead of sweet potato cookies? Can you use canned pumpkin puree?

Yes! I get this question frequently and you can definitely replace the sweet potato with pumpkin if you’d like to! I almost always have a can of pumpkin in the pantry so I do this often.

Can I freeze sweet potato cookies?

Yes, these cookies freeze well! Just let them cool completely and then wrap in plastic wrap and tranfer to a freezer-safe bag. Let them thaw on the counter when ready to eat!

Could I make these with butternut squash?

Yes, canned squash can also be substituted for the sweet potato. I’ve even tried it with homemade roasted squash that I roast and puree until smooth.

And if you’re not craving sweet potato but have bananas to use, try these Banana Lentil Muffins instead!

Can I make gluten-free sweet potato cookies?

These cookies are gluten-free since they use oat flour (be sure to use certified gluten-free if needed). However, you can also make them with regular wheat flour if you have that on hand and don’t need them to be gluten-free.

How to reheat sweet potato cookies?

These cookies are great at room temperature but you can also pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to warm them back up!

How do I make vegan sweet potato cookies without eggs?

Just replace the two eggs in this recipe with flax eggs.

Can I add oats to make sweet potato oatmeal cookies?

Yes, I would start with 1/2 cup of rolled oats and increase up to 1 cup if you like the texture.

How do I store sweet potato cookies to keep them soft?

Once cooled, store these cookies in an airtight container to help them stay soft and perfectly moist without drying out.

Other Sweet Potato Recipes That Are Delish!

Need more ideas? Try these:

Sweet Potato Waffles

These Sweet Potato Waffles are kid-friendly and perfect for breakfast, pre-workout fuel or an afternoon snack. Add some peanut butter in the middle for a fun waffle sandwich!

Grab the recipe!

Sweet Potato White Bean Bars

These Sweet Potato White Bean Bars are perfect for breakfast or snack time. They’re kid-friendly, nut-free and full of fiber!

Grab the recipe!

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies

These Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies are flourless, sweetened with dates and full of chocolate flavor. They taste so good you’ll never believe they’re a healthy dessert!

Grab the recipe!

Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

These gluten-free Sweet Potato Banana Bites have just four main ingredients and make a great snack for both kids and adults!

Grab the recipe!

20+ Baked Sweet Potato Dessert Recipes

If you’re in the mood to bake with sweet potatoes, you’ll definitely find something that catches your eye in this round-up!

Click for recipe ideas!

35+ Sweet Potato Dinner Recipes

Need sweet potato dinner recipes? Here are 35+ recipes by category including slow cooker, with chicken or beef, vegetarian and more!

Grab the recipe!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Lindsay — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Make these Baked Pumpkin Donuts for a weekend breakfast treat or a fun dessert. Enjoy them plain or with simple glaze. Ready in 20 minutes!

*Originally published 9/2010. Updated 9/2025*

Hi friends!

I originally shared this recipe for baked pumpkin donuts way back in 2010 and they’re still a household favorite. I just made my first Fall batch this week!

Why You’ll Love These Baked Pumpkin Donuts

I love these donuts because they are quick, easy and they allow me to use my mini donut pan, which is totally adorable.

They have a great flavor and texture but don’t require any frying – just one bowl and an oven!

If you’re looking for more pumpkin recipes, try:

Healthy Pumpkin Donuts

While I would still consider these more of a treat than a snack, they are certainly healthier than most store-bought donut options.

How Do I Make Baked Pumpkin Donuts Healthier?

To make them even healthier you could play around with the ingredients – try reducing the sugar to 1/3 cup, using white whole wheat flour, or skipping the glaze.

You could also experiment with swapping the brown sugar for coconut sugar, replacing milk with almond milk, etc.

Can I Freeze Baked Pumpkin Donuts?

Yes! To freeze these donuts, bake and cool completely. Then freeze in a freezer-safe bag until ready to eat. Do not glaze before freezing. Glad is best added just before serving as they don’t store well once they’re glazed.

How Do You Reheat Baked Pumpkin Donuts?

It’s easy to reheat these donuts! Just pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to warm them up and they’ll taste like they’re fresh out of the oven!

Common Mistakes When Making Pumpkin Donuts

A few common mistakes to avoid:

Over-mixing: Mixing too much will result in dense, not fluffy, donuts. When you add the dry ingredients, use a whisk and mix until just combined. Stop mixing as soon as the flour blends into the batter.
Over-baking: Don’t bake the donuts too long. Mini donuts typically only require 6-8 minutes. Check them with a toothpick starting on the low end of the time range and take them out as soon as it comes out clean when inserted.
Glazing too soon: If you want the glaze to stay on the top of the donuts, let them cool completely before glazing. If the donuts are still warm, the glaze will be absorbed into the donuts.

Pumpkin Donut Glaze Options

I use the most basic glaze option for these donuts because it’s the easiest – just mix powdered sugar with a tiny bit of milk until the glaze reaches your desired consistency and then either drizzle on top or dip the tops of the donuts. If you want a little more flavor, try adding some cinnamon to the glaze mixture.

If you’re looking for other glaze options, you could try:

Maple Glaze for Donuts
Easy Cream Cheese Glaze
Cinnamon and Sugar coating – dip the top of each donut in melted butter and then dip in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, or place the donuts in a ziploc bag with cinnamon and sugar while still warm and toss to coat

When To Serve Baked Pumpkin Donuts

While these donuts can definitely be enjoyed all year long, Fall is one of the best times to enjoy them. You could add them to a snack tray with some of these 10+ Easy Halloween Snacks.

They’d also be a great treat for tailgating at your next football game! Or try serving them at Thanksgiving brunch along with my Overnight French Toast Bake or a Breakfast Enchilada Casserole.

Easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts Tips

Can I make gluten-free baked pumpkin donuts?

To make these gluten-free, simply swap the wheat flour for an all-purpose gluten-free baking mix. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure.

How To Make Pumpkin Donuts without A Donut Pan

If you don’t have a donut pan, you can make these as mini muffins! Or bake in mini loaf pans and cut into slices.

Are baked pumpkin donuts healthier than fried donuts?

Yes, baking the donuts is a healthier alternative. While frying gives the doughnuts a unique flavor, it can be intimidating and messy to make at home. Baking allows for a hands-off approach and still yields a donut that tastes great!

How Do I Make Vegan Pumpkin Donuts?

To make these donuts vegan, you could try replacing the melted butter with oil, using flax eggs and replacing the milk with almond or soy milk. Keep in mind that alterations to the original recipe may change the texture.

Easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Ready to give them a try? Here’s the recipe:

Baked Pumpkin Donuts

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Make these Pumpkin Mini Donuts for a weekend breakfast treat or a fun dessert Enjoy them plain or with an easy cinnamon glaze.

Author: Lindsay L
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 min
Total Time: 15 min
Yield: 18 -24 small donuts

Ingredients

4 Tbsp melted butter
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.75 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp cinnamon
Optional glaze – 1/2 cup powdered sugar + 1 Tbsp milk + cinnamon if desired

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Instructions

Combine the melted butter, pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir until well combined.
Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon and stir with a whisk until just mixed. Do not over-mix.
Spoon mixture into ziploc bag, cut off the corner and pipe into greased mini donut pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the exterior springs back when touched**

Notes

**Baking time will vary depending on the size of your donuts. For full-sized donuts, cook time may be longer. Mine are medium-sized and I got about 18 donuts from this recipe. If you have a true mini donut pan, you may get more like 2.5 dozen donuts.

For the glaze, mix 1/2 c powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp milk, 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional) in a small bowl. You may need additional milk or powdered sugar to get your desired consistency. Let donuts cool, then drizzle glaze over donuts or dip tops in just prior to serving.

Baked Pumpkin Donuts FAQs

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree in donuts?

I wouldn’t recommend it. Pumpkin pie filling has added sugar and spices and may make the donuts overly sweet.

What glaze goes best with baked pumpkin donuts?

This will depend on your personal preference! I like a simple powdered sugar glaze but a maple glaze or cinnamon cream cheese glaze would also pair well!

Can I make gluten-free baked pumpkin donuts?

Yes! These donuts are super easy to make gluten-free by swapping the flour with an all-purpose gluten-free baking mix.

How long do baked pumpkin donuts last?

You can store these donuts at room temperature in a sealed container for 2-3 days unglazed. Or freeze any extras and pull them out as needed.

What flour works best for pumpkin donuts? Can I make baked pumpkin donuts with whole wheat flour.

I use white whole wheat flour when making these donuts but all purpose wheat flour or a gluten-free baking mix also work great! I wouldn’t recommend regular whole wheat flour as i’ve found it makes baked goods very dense.

What spices are best in pumpkin donuts?

I typically use just cinnamon but you could add any of your favorite Fall spices like ginger, nutmeg, allspice or even pumpkin pie spice.

How do I make pumpkin spice donuts extra moist?

You could try replacing the butter with oil or replacing the milk with sour cream to add extra moisture!

Can I bake pumpkin donuts in an air fryer?

Yes! Most recipes for air fryer donuts will cook at about 350 degrees F. You can look specifically for a recipe with thicker dough that you can need and form into donut shapes, or you can drop the batter with a cookie scoop onto parchment paper on the bottom of the air fryer and they will turn out more like donut holes!

If you’re looking to specifically use your air fryer, here’s a recipe for Air Fryer Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes!

What’s the best topping for baked pumpkin donuts?

I think a simple glaze is best. You can jazz it up by adding sprinkles or change things up and toss in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar instead!

Can I double this recipe to make even more donuts for a crowd?

Yes! This recipe can easily be doubled.

I definitely wouldn’t skip the glaze! It’s the best part!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crepes

Lindsay — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:13:00 +0000

These gluten-free buckwheat crepes are made with just a few simple ingredients! Add your favorite sweet or savory toppings for an easy breakfast!

*Originally published 8/2011. Updated 8/2025*

These gluten-free buckwheat crepes are naturally gluten-free and packed with protein and fiber. The batter can be made ahead of time, making them an easy, affordable option for busy moms.

Hi Friends!

If you’re looking for a new breakfast recipe, you’ve got to give these buckwheat crepes a try. They’ve been a breakfast staple at our house for 10+ years now and they couldn’t be easier to make!

Plus, you can fill or top them with so many different things! Make them sweet with fruit and yogurt or savory with veggies, meat and cheese. Think of them kind of like a breakfast taco!

What is buckwheat flour?

Buckwheat flour is naturally gluten-free because it actually comes from a seed-like grain that is not directly related to wheat. It’s technically known as a pseudo-grain. It has a earthy, nutty flavor and contains both some fiber and a little protein as well as minerals like magnesium and manganese.

It’s used all over the world to make everything from noodles, to porridge to baked goods. It’s often used in combination with another flour to add depth and texture to recipes.

Are buckwheat crepes healthy?

Yes. Buckwheat crepes make a great base for a healthy meal. However, choosing healthy toppings or fillings is important. I always try to add some protein along with fruits or veggies to make a nutritionally complete meal.

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crepes

To make these crepes, you need just a few simple ingredients:

Milk – I like to use 2%
Water
Eggs
Salt
Oil – If you prefer, you can sub melted butter
Buckwheat flour – you can find it in grocery stores made by companies like Bob’s Red Mill or order online from Amazon – I like this brand. (aff link)

How To Make Easy Buckwheat Crepes (Step-by-Step)

To make the crepes:

Place all ingredients in a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Let the batter sit at least 15 minutes.
Pour by 1/4 cup into a pan greased with butter, tilting the pan to create a thin layer.
Let cook for a minute, flip and remove from heat.
Top as desired and enjoy!

Best Toppings for Buckwheat Crepes

The great thing about these crepes is that they’re not overly sweet, so you can easily add sweet toppings like yogurt, fruit, syrup etc without them tasting too sweet. Here are some ideas:

Sliced fruit
Yogurt – plain or flavored
Fruit compote
Syrup or powdered sugar
Peanut butter or nutella

Savory Buckwheat Crepes

Since the crepes themselves are not sweet, you can also give them a more savory spin. Try adding:

Sauteed vegetables – caramelized onions or sauteed mushrooms would be great
Cheese
Deli meat
Eggs
Smoked Salmon or breakfast sausage

Buckwheat Crepe Variations

Buckwheat crepes without milk

To make these without dairy milk, you can sub a plant-based milk like almond, soy or oat milk.

Can I make buckwheat crepes without eggs?

This recipe is not vegan because it uses both eggs and milk. You could try this recipe with flax eggs, or try this recipe for vegan crepes.

Buckwheat crepes vs traditional crepes

The main difference between buckwheat crepes and regular is the type of flour used. Using buckwheat flour makes these crepes gluten-free and allows you to try a type of flour you might not typically use. You could also do a combination of half buckwheat, half regular flour for a more mild flavor, just keep in mind that the crepes would no longer be gluten-free.

Buckwheat Crepes Recipe

Here’s the recipe:

Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crepes

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5 from 1 review

These gluten-free buckwheat crepes are made with just a few simple ingredients! Add your favorite sweet or savory toppings for an easy breakfast!

Author: Lindsay
Yield: Makes 10 crepes

Ingredients

1 cup milk (2% or whole milk works best)
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp oil (I use avocado oil, you could also use melted butter)
1 cup buckwheat flour
Toppings/fillings – fruit, yogurt, nutella, peanut butter, ham, turkey, cheese, scrambled eggs, avocado, etc

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Instructions

In a small blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.
Let batter rest for 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours in the fridge.
Heat a pan over medium heat and add a little butter.
Pour 1/4 cup batter, tilting the pan to spread the batter into a thin circle.
Let cook for 1 minute, flip and cook 30 seconds more.
Repeat with remaining batter.
Top or fill the crepes as desired and enjoy!

Notes

*If needed, add a bit more water to thin out the batter when ready to make the crepes*

Buckwheat Crepes FAQs

Are buckwheat crepes gluten-free?

Yes! Buckwheat flour is naturally gluten-free and this recipe does not contain any other ingredients with gluten.

Do I need to let crepe batter rest? Can you make crepe batter ahead of time?

Yes! Crepe batter does best if it’s left to rest at least 15-30 minutes and even up to 24 hours in the fridge. This helps the dough fully hydrate and gives you crepes that are softer and more tender. If your batter starts to thicken a bit while resting, you can always add a bit more water to thin it out.

Can I freeze buckwheat crepes?

Yes. To freeze crepes, let them cool completely. Stack them with parchment or wax paper between each one, then wrap the whole stack in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag.

How do you store and reheat crepes?

Store them in a glass container in the fridge. To reheat, either warm 20-30 in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel, or heat about a minute per side in a pan over medium heat.

Buckwheat Crepes Troubleshooting

Do I need a crepe pan?

No. A good 8 or 10 inch skillet should be fine. Just make sure it heats evenly and is easy enough for you to pick up and tilt to move the batter around to make thin crepes.

Why are my buckwheat crepes breaking apart?

Buckwheat crepes don’t contain any gluten, so it’s extra important to let the batter rest so it is well hydrated and flexible. You can also sub out some of the buckwheat flour with an all-purpose or gluten-free flour blend.

How do I make buckwheat crepes without sticking to the pan?

Crepe batter can be a bit tricky. Make sure your pan is heated to medium heat and that you’re not trying to make your crepes too thin. Also, coating the pan with a little butter before each crepe will help avoid sticking.

How thin should buckwheat crepes be?

For crepe batter, you want it to be fairly thin, easy to pour into the pan and thin enough that it moves easily around the pan when tilted. For the crepes themselves, you want them to be fairly thin – thinner than pancakes, but not so thin that you can’t flip them without breaking.

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Want more breakfast recipe ideas? Try:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Overnight French Toast Bake

Lindsay — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

This Overnight French Toast Bake is beginner-friendly and foolproof – perfect for using up leftover dinner rolls or bread after a holiday meal. Prep the night before, let it sit in the fridge overnight and enjoy it for breakfast in the morning.

*Originally published 11/2015. Updated 8/2025*

This overnight baked French toast is the perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy moms hosting brunch or out of town holiday guests! An easy, budget-friendly way to feed a crowd.

Hi Friends!

This post for an overnight French toast bake is perfect for Christmas morning breakfast or as one of your go-to holiday brunch recipes! It actually first came about almost 10 years ago when I was looking for ways to use up my Thanksgiving leftovers. I was in charge of bringing a Costco-sized bag of dinner rolls to Thanksgiving dinner and we had a bunch leftover.

So I diced them up and make a french toast bake. It was perfect because I threw it together the night before, let it sit in the fridge overnight and baked it in the morning.

Best Bread For Overnight French Toast

The good news is there’s lots of flexibility here! I often make this with leftover dinner rolls but you could easily use a leftover loaf of Italian or French Bread. Any bread or rolls that can be sliced and cut into cubes that aren’t too thin will work. You could try brioche or King’s Hawaiian Bread for a richer-tasting option or sourdough for something slightly less sweet.

Remember that this recipe actually works best with bread that is slightly stale so feel free to let your loaf sit out for a day or two before making. Stale bread is a bit sturdier than fresh bread and it will hold up well to being soaked in the egg mixture without getting too soggy.

Overnight French Toast Bake vs Skillet French Toast

While both options have their place, an overnight french toast bake is definitely an easier way to feed a crowd. You can easily prep a large quantity AND it can be prepped ahead of time to make the morning easier.

This is also a great option for breakfast before school! Bake one up on Sunday and just cut and reheat a piece all week long. No need to babysit and flip the french toast on the stove while you’re running around trying to get everything else ready!

Ingredients for Easy Overnight French Toast Bake

In addition to being able to make this ahead of time, this recipe is also made with just a few simple ingredients, which is a major bonus. You need:

Bread – Dinner rolls or other leftover loaf of bread
Eggs and milk – These are French toast staple ingredients and you’re making a big pan so you need a lot!
Vanilla and Cinnamon – To add flavor
Berries– You can use fresh or frozen. I like blueberries best but mixed berries also work.
Brown sugar – To make a sweet crust on the top after baking

What Toppings Go Best with Overnight Baked French Toast?

Not into blueberries? Try:

Cinnamon and sugar – skip the mix-ins and top with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar
Maple Pecan – add some chopped pecans instead of blueberries and drizzle with a little cream cheese sweetened with maple syrup
Try mixing in some pumpkin seeds or ground flax for a heart-healthy boost of omega 3 fatty acids
Make an easy fruit compote for topping or top with diced fresh fruit of your choice
Apple cinnamon – Add extra cinnamon and stir in some chopped apples and walnuts

How To Make Blueberry French Toast Bake Casserole

To make this recipe you need a 9×13 pan. Line it with parchment paper for easy removal or grease it well.

If your bread isn’t stale, you can cube it and put it in the oven at 170 degrees F for 15 min or so.

To make the casserole:

Cube the bread and put it in a 9×13 pan.
Add the blueberries.
Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon and pour over the bread.
Use your hands to mix it all up and make sure all the bread is coated.
Cover with saran wrap and press down to flatten and refrigerate overnight.
When ready to bake, remove the saran wrap, sprinkle with brown sugar, bake and serve.

If you had extra cranberry sauce, you could mix some of that in as well!

Mom tip – For food safety reasons, remember to refrigerate the pan after you mix everything together, until you’re ready to bake!

Make Ahead Baked French Toast Troubleshooting

Should I cover baked French toast when baking?

No need to cover unless you add something like chopped nuts on top. If you notice they start to brown, you can cover with foil towards the end.

How do I make this recie dairy-free?

Feel free to use any type of plant-based milk in this recipe like soy, almond, etc.

Can I make a smaller version in a loaf pan?

Yes! Feel free to cut the recipe in half and bake in a loaf pan!

Should I grease the baking dish for French toast casserole?

Yes, either line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper or grease well before adding the bread and egg mixture to the pan.

How To Freeze and Reheat Overnight French Toast Bake

To freeze, let cool completely, then cut into squares and transfer to a freezer-safe bag (we love Stasher Bags – aff link). Then freeze until needed. Move to the fridge to defrost and microwave to warm.

Easy Overnight Baked French Toast Recipe

Here’s the recipe I use:

Overnight Baked French Toast

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 2 reviews

This Overnight Baked French Toast is the perfect recipe to use up leftover dinner rolls after a holiday meal. Prep the night before, let it sit in the fridge overnight and enjoy it for breakfast in the morning.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 9×13 pan

Ingredients

10 cups cubed dinner rolls or bread (approx 12 rolls)*
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
8 eggs
1.5 cup milk
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar for sprinkling (optional)

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Instructions

Cube rolls and place in a 9×13 pan lined with parchment paper.
Add berries.
In a bowl, mix eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon with a whisk.
Pour over bread mixture in pan.
Use your hands to make sure all the bread gets covered with the egg mixture.
Cover with saran wrap, press down gently to flatten and place in the fridge overnight.
When ready to bake, sprinkle top with brown sugar if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min and serve.

Notes

*Stale bread works best. Cube and leave your bread out overnight or bake at 170 degrees for 15 minutes before using.

Overnight French Toast Bake FAQs

How long should overnight French toast soak?

I find it does best when you soak it for 10-12 hours. You want to give the bread time to absorb the egg but don’t leave it sitting so long that the bread starts to break down.

How to store an overnight french toast bake?

After baking, store the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can use the microwave!

Could this be a crockpot French toast bake?

I haven’t tried this overnight French toast bake recipe in the crockpot but I think it would work. If you’re looking specifically for a Crockpot recipe, try:

Could you make an overnight French toast bake with cinnamon rolls?

Yes! This would be delicious, I think. I would probably not replace more than half the bread with cubed cinnamon rolls, and I would skip the brown sugar sprinkle on top since cinnamon rolls are quite sweet.

Could this be a cream cheese french toast bake?

If you’re specifically looking for a cream cheese French toast bake, try one of these:

What to serve with overnight French toast bake?

Need a brunch menu idea? Serve this and let the French toast be the star! Cut into squares in the pan and let everyone serve themselves! Leave out lots of additional toppings like powdered sugar, chopped nuts, syrup, fruit compote and fresh fruit! You could also add easy breakfast sides like scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, yogurt and coffee.

Does baked French toast need to be refrigerated overnight?

Yes! After mixing the bread and egg mixture and placing in the pan, be sure to store in the fridge until ready to bake.

Overnight French Toast For A Crowd

This overnight French Toast Bake is easy, affordable and sure to be a hit for your next brunch, holiday breakfast but can just as easily help out a tired mom on a busy weekday morning.

Easy Breakfasts To Feed A Crowd

Need more ideas? Try:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Lindsay — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 04:30:00 +0000

These healthy blueberry muffins are lightly sweetened and bursting with flavor. They’re kid-friendly and make a great breakfast or snack! Plus they freeze well!

*Originally published 6/2014. Updated 5/2025*

Hi Friends!

I’ve been making these healthy blueberry muffins for 10+ years now and they’re still a favorite of mine. This particular recipe was originally a small-batch recipe that made about 7 muffins and I recently re-tested it to make a full batch of 12 muffins with just a few little tweaks.

So if you haven’t tried them yet, now is the perfect time, especially since blueberry season is almost here.

Blueberry Muffins – Easy & Quick!

When it comes to baking, muffin recipes like this are the absolute best for beginners. You just need one bowl, do a little pouring, a little mixing and stick them in the muffin.

You can do it ahead of time so you have them ready for the week or they’re quick enough and easy enough to whip up a batch on a weekday morning.

Are these low sugar blueberry muffins?

Yes! Compared to most muffins, these are relatively low in sugar. I use white sugar but you could substitute maple syrup if you’d like.

I like to rely on the natural sweetness of the blueberries with just a small amount of added sugar. Plus adding a sprinkle of sugar on top before baking really helps carry the sweetness into each bite, allowing you to use less sugar in the recipe.

One Bowl Blueberry Muffins Ingredients

You don’t need any fancy ingredients to make these muffins. In fact, you likely have almost everything you need already in your pantry including:

Oil – I use avocado oil
Egg
Yogurt – I use plain Greek yogurt but plain regular yogurt or even vanilla yogurt will work
Vanilla extract
Maple syrup – you can swap white sugar if you prefer
Milk
Baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon
Blueberries – fresh or frozen

How To Make Moist and Fluffy Blueberry Muffins

To make these muffins just follow a few simple steps:

Mix the yogurt, eggs, oil, milk, vanilla and sugar.
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and stir to just combine.
Toss the blueberries in 1 -2 tsp flour to coat, then add and mix gently to combine.
Scoop into muffin tins, sprinkle the tops with blueberries and a pinch of sugar and bake!

Blueberry Muffins Variations

Blueberry Muffins Made with Buttermilk

I’ve found that a lot of people are looking for muffin recipes made specifically with buttermilk. While this recipe doesn’t call for buttermilk, it uses plain Greek yogurt which is similar. If you don’t have yogurt, you can swap in one cup of buttermilk.

Don’t have buttermilk? It’s so easy to make your own – just add a splash of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Streusel For Blueberry Muffins

Let’s talk about them. They’re big & fluffy, packed with blueberries and not overly sweet. In these blueberry muffins, yogurt is used to keep the blueberry muffins moist. And I always add a sprinkle of sugar on top because it’s a quick and easy way to add a little sweetness in every bite. However, you could also add a streusel topping. It’s a little bit more work but mixing some cold butter, brown sugar and oats together and sprinkling on top would be delightful!

Blueberry Muffins with Frozen Blueberries – Should I thaw frozen blueberries before baking?

If you don’t have fresh blueberries, you can use frozen. Be sure to always toss blueberries in about a teaspoon of flour before mixing into the batter. If you pick blueberries in the summer, or even when you see them on sale at the store, stock up and freeze them. They’re great for baking!

Blueberry Muffins Protein – Can I add protein powder to blueberry muffins?

These muffins do get a boost of protein from the Greek yogurt but if you wanted to add some additional protein, you could add a scoop or two of protein powder to the batter before mixing in the flour. Adding protein powder can dry out the muffins so I would start with one scoop and if it’s not noticeable, add another scoop the next time.

Best Fluffy Blueberry Muffins Recipe

Here’s the recipe:

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 15 reviews

These Blueberry Muffins are lightly sweetened and bursting with flavor. They’re kid-friendly and make a great breakfast or snack!

Author: Lindsay
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients

1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar + 2 tsp for sprinkling
1.5 cups white whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1.25 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen) + 1 tsp flour

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix together oil, milk, eggs, yogurt, vanilla and sugar until well combined.
Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and stir until just combined.
Toss 1 cup berries in 1 tsp flour to coat, then gently mix in berries.
Scoop in greased or lined muffin tins.
Lightly press remaining 1/4 cup berries into the top of the muffins and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
Bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean

Notes

Feel free to use frozen blueberries instead – no need to thaw before baking!

You can use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend to make these muffins gluten-free.

Saving a few blueberries to press into the top of each one makes them look extra fancy…and sprinkling with just a pinch of sugar on top is crucial, in my opinion!

Healthy Blueberry Muffins FAQs

What makes blueberry muffins moist and fluffy?

Including yogurt and baking soda helps make these muffins light and fluffy. The acid in the yogurt, especially Greek yogurt reacts with baking soda and creates carbon dioxide which helps the muffins rise.

What’s the difference between using milk and buttermilk in muffins?

Buttermilk (and Greek yogurt) are more acidic and will help make muffins taller and fluffier than just using regular milk.

Are blueberry muffins healthy?

As always, it depends on the ingredients but I consider this muffin recipe to be fairly healthy. It uses Greek yogurt and hemp hearts which add protein, plus white whole wheat flour to add some fiber. It’s also fairly low in added sugar.

How do I make blueberry muffins vegan without eggs?

You can try replacing eggs in muffin recipes with flax eggs. Here’s how to make a flax egg.

What type of flour is best for blueberry muffins?

I like white whole wheat flour. It has the benefits of wheat flour but it’s lighter and has a more mild flavor. You could also try replacing some of the flour with almond flour.

Can I freeze blueberry muffins for later?

Yes, just cool completely and place in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw on the counter or in the microwave when ready to eat.

Can I make these blueberry muffins gluten-free?

Yes! To make these muffins gluten-free swap the white whole wheat flour for a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure.

How to store blueberry muffins?

Store in an airtight container on the counter for a couple of days. If keeping longer than that I would store in the fridge to prevent spoilage.

Healthy Muffin Recipes

Looking for more muffins? You can find all my healthy muffins and bars recipes here.

If you’re looking specifically for cornbread muffins with blueberries, you can use my Cranberry Corn Muffins and swap blueberries and bam! Corn muffins with blueberries!
If you want paleo blueberry muffins, try these Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins from my friend Ashley at Fit Mitten Kitchen.
Want vegan blueberry muffins? Try The Best Vegan Blueberry Muffins from Jessica in the Kitchen or these Vegan Blueberry Muffins from Eating Bird Food.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Zucchini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Lindsay — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

These high-fiber Zucchini Oat Bars are naturally sweetened with dates. Top them with peanut butter for a quick, kid-friendly breakfast or snack!

*Originally published 5/2019. Updated 6/2025*

Hi friends!

Allow me to introduce you to this Zucchini Oatmeal Breakfast Bars. They’re perfect for breakfast or snack time and my kids gobble them up! I developed this recipe when my youngest needed to add some extra fiber to his diet and found that the moist texture made them a great snack for toddlers and young kids as well.

Why You’ll Love These Zucchini Oat Bars

Here are some of the highlights of these bars:

Simple ingredient list. You’ll probably have most of them on hand.
The combination of oats, dates and ground flaxseed give these bars a good amount of fiber per serving.
I packed a whole cup of zucchini in there so they’re perfect for summer when gardens and farmers markets are overflowing with zucchini.
This is a one bowl recipe, no mixer required and they’re ready in under 30 minutes!
Great for baby-led weaning and good for packed lunches as well.

Zucchini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Let me just say right off the bat that these bars are not overly sweet. They are soft, moist and lightly sweetened with dates and applesauce – no added sugar except the chocolate chips.

If you’re looking for something more dessert-like, you’re gonna want to add some sugar or maple syrup to this recipe. I like that they’re lower in sugar so I feel good about serving them to my kids for breakfast or at snack time.

They’re fairly low in fat, so you could add a smear of peanut butter to the top, or even mix some peanut butter into the batter for a dose of added fats. And these bars are moist…so definitely store them in the fridge so they don’t get moldy.

Nutritional Benefits of Zucchini Oat Bars

There are tons of nutritional ingredients packed into these bars including:

Zucchini – Zucchini contains fiber and is a good source of Vitamin C and potassium
Oats- A good source of soluble fiber as well as some protein, manganese and B vitamins
Dates – A good source of fiber, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants
Ground flax – Another good source of fiber and heart-healthy omega-3’s

Zucchini Oat Bars Mix-Ins

Another great thing about these bars are they are easy to customize. You could try adding your favorite mix-ins like:

Chopped pecans or walnuts
Chia seeds
Raisins
Dried blueberries
Hemp hearts
A scoop of peanut butter
Protein powder

You can also pair it with something like yogurt or a cheese stick to add some protein to your snack or warm up a bar and top with vanilla ice cream for dessert!

Zucchini Bars Recipe

Here’s how you make them:

Zucchini Oat Bars

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 13 reviews

These high fiber Zucchini Oat Bars are naturally sweetened with dates. Top them with peanut butter for a quick, kid-friendly breakfast or snack!

Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

1.5 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup medjool dates (pitted and roughly chopped – approx 5–7 dates)
2 eggs
1 cup shredded zucchini (excess water removed)
1/4 cup oil (i use avocado oil)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or more if desired)

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Instructions

Place the oats and dates in a food processor and process until well chopped.
Add remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips or other mix-ins) and process until smooth.
Add chocolate chips (or other mix-ins) and pulse a few times to mix.
Pour into 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper and bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.
Let cool at least 15 min in the pan before cutting. Store in the fridge.

Notes

You could sub raisins, craisins, dried blueberries, shredded coconut etc for the chocolate chips if you want.
You could also mix in some peanut butter or hemp seeds to add some healthy fats.
If your dates are not super soft and squishy, soak them in hot water for 10 min before using.

I’m just so in love with these guys. And the food processor helps chop up the shredded zucchini even further so my kids pretty much just focus on the fact that they’re eating something with a few chocolate chips in it and they’re happy.

Zucchini Oat Bars FAQs

Do I need to peel zucchinis before adding?

Nope! No need to peel, just shred, squeeze and add!

How do I shred zucchini for baking?

You can shred the zucchini by hand using a box or hand grater or use the grater attachment to your food processor.

Can I make zucchini oat bars gluten-free?

These zucchini oat bars are naturally gluten-free. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats and ground flax if needed.

How do I keep zucchini oat bars from being soggy?

Be sure to squeeze the zucchini in a clean towel or paper towels after shredding to remove the excess water before adding to your recipe!

How do I store zucchini oat bars and how long do they last?

Because these bars are so moist, I do recommend storing them in a container in the fridge to prevent rapid spoiling! They should last about 4 days in the fridge.

Can I serve these bars as a healthy dessert?

Definitely! They’re great on their own but would also pair well with vanilla yogurt or ice cream.

What kind of oats are best for baking these bars?

I use rolled oats. You could sub instant oats but I would decrease the amount to one cup.

Can I add protein powder to make these bars more filling?

Yes, feel free to add 1-2 scoops of protein powder to this recipe.

Healthy Bars and Muffins

Want more bars and muffins to try? Find all my healthy bars and muffins recipes here or try one of my favorites:

And if you’re looking for other zucchini bar recipes, here are a few you could try:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Lindsay — Thu, 08 May 2025 14:16:00 +0000

This easy homemade whole wheat pancakes recipe will quickly become your favorite. Perfect for breakfast and freezer-friendly!

*Originally published 5/2023. Updated 5/2025*

Hi friends!

It’s been a while since I shared a pancake recipe and this is one I’m really excited to share. For a while now we’ve been using Kodiak Cakes pancake mix and it’s been great. My kids like it. I can get it at Costco for a reasonable price.

Recently, however, our Costco was out of the mix so I challenged myself to create a simple, homemade pancake recipe that all my kids would eat. Easier said than done of course, but I finally nailed it.

How do I keep whole wheat pancakes from being too dense?

Use white whole wheat flour

This recipe uses white whole wheat flour, as do most of my muffins and bars. I prefer it to whole wheat flour because it’s just a bit less dense and hearty. It bakes very similar to all-purpose flour but with the benefit of being whole grain. You can learn more about whole grains here, but they’re such an important part of our diet and are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber.

The fiber in white whole wheat flour will help these pancakes be more filling and can help avoid blood sugar spikes.

Healthy Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe

Pancakes are pretty simple by nature but it’s all about getting the right combination of the simple ingredients so you end up with something that tastes good and that you also feel good about serving. You probably have all the ingredients you need on hand already:

White whole wheat flour – this is my preferred flour for most things. It’s whole grain but lighter than regular whole wheat flour.
Baking soda
Baking powder
Cinnamon
Sugar – just a tablespoon for a bit of sweetness
Egg
Butter – a few tablespoons of melted butter add richness and flavor
Vanilla – a key ingredient. Don’t leave it out and don’t skimp!
Buttermilk – make your own by just adding a splash of vinegar to regular milk

Can I make whole wheat pancakes without milk?

If you’re looking for a whole wheat pancakes recipe that’s dairy-free, you can easily substitute the cow’s milk for your favorite plant-based milk like almond, soy or oat milk. Here’s how to make vegan buttermilk.

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Applesauce

If you’d like to replace the 1 Tablespoon of sugar in this recipe, you can try using 2-3 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce.

Protein Whole Wheat Pancakes

You also have the option to add extra protein. I use Promix Unflavored Whey Isolate (referral link). It’s just powdered whey protein, no other ingredients or sweeteners and it mixes so well into pancakes, smoothies etc. I just add a couple of scoops to bump up the protein by a couple of grams, nothing major. You can leave it out or add some hemp seeds instead!

Want to see how easy this recipe is? Watch my 4 year old make these whole wheat pancakes!

https://youtu.be/YwFz-8AsfK0

PS. Did you know we have an entire separate website called Let The Kids Cook full of quick and easy recipes kids can make all by themselves?! Check it out! We show you how to make Oven Baked Bacon and Scrambled Eggs which would go great with these pancakes.

Just combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, add the wet ingredients, then whisk until smooth and cook on a griddle!

Easy Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe

Here’s the recipe:

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

These easy homemade whole wheat pancakes will quickly become your go-to pancake recipe. Perfect for breakfast and freezer-friendly!

Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tablespoon sugar
pinch of salt
1.75 cups buttermilk
3 Tablespoons melted butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
optional – 2 scoops protein (approx 1/2 cup)*

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Instructions

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and protein if using.
Add buttermilk, melted butter, egg and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
Pour onto a buttered griddle and cook over medium heat.

Notes

Make your own buttermilk by adding a splash of vinegar to regular milk.

I use unflavored whey protein isolate with no added sugar/stevia/etc

Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe FAQs

Are these whole wheat buttermilk pancakes?

Yes because this recipe calls for buttermilk! Why do we use buttermilk in this recipe? The buttermilk activates the baking soda and helps make the pancakes nice and fluffy! If you don’t have buttermilk or the vinegar or lemon juice to make your own you can use plain kefir, or try sour cream or yogurt thinned slightly with a little water or milk.

Can you freeze whole wheat pancakes?

Yes! To freeze, let the pancakes cool completely, then freeze flat on a baking sheet or plate for a couple of hours. Then transfer to a freezer safe bag. To reheat, transfer to the fridge overnight or microwave straight from frozen.

Are these whole wheat pancakes healthier than regular pancakes?

This recipe is made with white whole wheat flour which adds some fiber and milk and egg which adds protein. You can also add additional protein to this recipe with protein powder or hemp seeds. It’s also low in added sugar.

How long do these pancakes last in the fridge?

Let the pancakes cool completely, then store them in a glass container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can I make this a whole wheat pancake mix?

You could easily portion the dry ingredients of this recipe into a large mason jar ahead of time. It would be perfect to give as a gift! Just attach a tag that says “When ready to make, pour into a bowl and add 1.75 cups buttermilk, 3 Tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla and an egg! Whisk and cook on a griddle.”

Can I add Greek yogurt to pancake batter?

If you’re looking for a pancake recipe that specifically uses Greek yogurt, try these Fluffy Greek Yogurt Pancakes.

Can I make these pancakes egg-free?

Yes, simply replace the egg with a flax egg. Learn how to make a flax egg here.

Whole Wheat Pancake Variations

There are tons of add-ins for whole wheat pancakes that you can use to personalize this recipe – try things like bananas, berries, pumpkin and chocolate chips!

Whole wheat pancakes banana

If you’re a banana-lover, this is a great recipe to add bananas to. You can mash up some ripe bananas and mix them right into the batter or add sliced bananas to the tops of the pancake once you pour them onto the griddle. My favorite is actually adding sliced bananas as well as a sprinkle of granola to make banana crunch pancakes!

Whole wheat blueberry pancakes

This recipe would be great for adding fresh blueberries! Stock up on fresh blueberries during the summer when they’re on sale and freeze them. Then just add a scoop to your pancake batter when making them!

Whole wheat pumpkin pancakes

To add a Fall spin to this recipe, add 1/2 cup pumpkin and some cinnamon.

What toppings go well with whole wheat pancakes?

Try adding:

sliced fruit
chia jam
syrup
yogurt
peanut butte
chopped nuts and seeds

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Looking for more healthy breakfast recipes? Try these:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

Lindsay — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

These gluten-free Sweet Potato Banana Muffins have just four main ingredients and make a great snack for both kids and adults!

*Originally published 2/2013. Updated 2025*

Hi Friends!

These are the very best Sweet Potato Banana Muffins and I developed this recipe way back in 2013. I previously called them Sweet Potato Banana Bites. They’re one of the first homemade snacks I made for all three of my kids when they first started eating solids and they’ve been a favorite each time. Now my kids are 6, 4 and 2 and I still make them several times a month! Watch my younger two make some to see how easy it is.

Sweet Potato Muffins for Babies

All you need are four simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand – sweet potato, banana, peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter) and eggs. Then you can add your favorite mix-ins if you’d like – cinnamon and vanilla, chocolate chips, frozen blueberries etc. The thing I love most is that you don’t really even need to measure. I never do.

I grab a medium-large sweet potato, stab it a few times with a knife and throw it in the microwave for 5 minutes. Once it’s cooked, I slice it open, scoop the insides out into a bowl, add a medium banana and a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter and mash it all up. Mix in two eggs, a few shakes of cinnamon and a handful of chocolate chips and you’re done!

If you leave out the chocolate chips, there’s no added sugar so these moist mini muffins are perfect for baby-led weaning. I served them to my kids starting around 6 months. They’re a great way to introduce peanut butter and/or eggs- two common allergens.

Sweet Potato Recipes For Toddlers – Kid-Friendly Muffins

I always make these as mini muffins which makes them perfect for toddlers. If you don’t have a mini muffin tin, use a regular one but don’t fill more than half full. There’s no baking soda like in most muffins. If you’re making for babyled weaning, I actually prefer a regular muffin tin filled just slightly because it makes them a little wider and flatter, easier for young hands to grab. Baking time should remain about the same.

I find my silicone muffin tin works best. If you use a metal pan, be sure each mini-muffin hole is well greased! I store these in the fridge because they are pretty moist and my kids and I eat them cold at snack time. (If you need them to be nut-free you can try sunflower seed butter.)

What Easy Recipe Mix-ins Can I Add?

Don’t want to use chocolate chips? Try adding raisins or chopped dates. Or mix in some ground flaxseed or hemp hearts.

Want more sweet potato recipes? Here are 20+ Baked Sweet Potato Recipes.

Why You’ll Love These Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

They’re even easy enough for toddlers to make themselves and perfect for getting kids in the kitchen since the recipe is so forgiving. Here’s a video of my oldest making them as a toddler!

Nutritional Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

These muffins are made with sweet potato which means they’re packed with nutrients. Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and manganese. They also provide fiber and antioxidants.

Using sweet potatoes as the base of this recipe keeps them moist and adds natural sweetness along with the mashed banana.

Sweet Potato Bites (Muffins Alternative)

A few notes:

They’re not super sweet. There’s no added sugar except from the chocolate chips so make sure you use really ripe bananas
They’re gluten-free and dairy-free (as long as you use dairy-free chocolate chips if needed!
You can eat them for dessert, for an afternoon snack or before a workout
The recipe is very forgiving so your measurements don’t have to be exact. I never measure. I just eyeball it.

Sweet Potato Banana Recipes

This is my favorite way to combine sweet potato and banana, but you could also sub banana for maple syrup in my Sweet Potato White Bean Bars or Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies. If you have more bananas to use up, try these Banana Lentil Muffins.

How To Make Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

Here’s how you make them:

Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 15 reviews

These gluten-free Sweet Potato Banana Bites have just four main ingredients and make a great snack for both kids and adults!

Author: Lindsay L
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 14-16 mini muffins

Ingredients

1/2 c cooked, mashed sweet potato (approx 1 medium)
1/2 cup mashed banana (approx 1 medium)
1/4 c nut butter
2 eggs
cinnamon, to taste
Optional mix-ins: dark chocolate chips, fruit, chia seeds, etc

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Instructions

Smash the sweet potato and banana together in a small bowl.
Add the peanut butter, eggs and cinnamon & mix well.
Stir in any additional mix-ins and spoon into greased mini muffin tins.
Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes.

Feel free to customize by using your favorite nut butter. I’ve made them with peanut butter, almond butter and sunflower seed butter- all delicious.

Sweet Potato Banana Muffins FAQs

Can I use canned sweet potato instead of fresh in muffins?

Yes! Canned sweet potato can easily be used in this recipe. Feel free to substitute if needed.

How do I make gluten-free sweet potato banana muffins?

These muffins are naturally gluten-free since none of the 4 main ingredients contain gluten.

What can I use instead of eggs to make vegan sweet potato banana muffins?

I have made this recipe using applesauce to replace the two eggs but it makes the muffins almost overly moist and dense. My suggestion would be to replace with 1/4 cup applesauce and one flax egg.

How should I store sweet potato banana muffins to keep them fresh?

You can store these muffins in a container on the counter for a day or two. After that I would move them to the fridge to keep them from spoiling since they are so moist.

Can I bake this sweet potato banana muffin recipe as a loaf?

I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no flour in this recipe and no baking soda to provide lift and this would result in a very dense flat loaf that might have trouble cooking all the way through.

Can I freeze sweet potato banana muffins and how do I thaw them?

Yes. Cool muffins completely and then transfer to a Ziploc or freezer-safe bag and freeze. To thaw simply transfer to the counter!

What’s a good substitute for bananas in sweet potato muffins?

Try subbing 1/4 cup applesauce for the banana if needed.

Sweet Potato Banana Muffins – No Added Sugar

You can also mix-in things like chia seeds or fruit instead of chocolate chips- I love mixing in frozen blueberries or fresh cranberries!

Healthy Muffins

And If you’re looking for something like this that’s a little bit sweeter, you should definitely try my Healthy Brownie Bites! With just two extra ingredients, I transformed my sweet potato bites into a healthy, bite-sized chocolate dessert!

In the mood for more muffins? Try:

Looking for more healthy snack ideas? Check out some of my favorites:

See all my snack recipes here.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie

Lindsay — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie is kid-friendly and perfect for breakfast, lunch or snack. The silken tofu adds protein without changing the flavor or texture!

*Originally published 7/2020. Updated 2/2025.*

Hi friends!

This Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie is the latest obsession at our house and I’m so excited to share it with you. Both of my boys love smoothies as a snack so I’m always looking for new variations that are both simple enough that I usually have the ingredients on hand, and filling enough to tide them over until their next meal (ie not made with just fruit).

Why add silken tofu to smoothies?

There are lots of benefits of adding silken tofu to a smoothie. It will definitely increase the protein content of your smoothie but it will also up the creaminess factor considerably! If you’re looking for a creamy smoothie, especially if you’re looking for a non-dairy option besides yogurt, silken tofu is a great option.

Smoothie Recipes with Silken Tofu

Want more tofu smoothie recipes? Try these:

Ingredients For Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie

It’s taken some tweaks and adjustments but we’ve finally landed on this winner. Let’s review what’s in it:

Frozen berries- Any frozen fruit will work in this recipe. We use berries but frozen bananas, peaches, etc also work well.
Spinach – This is optional and you can use fresh or frozen baby spinach. Whenever I grocery shop I buy a bag or two of baby spinach and pop them in the freezer immediately. Then just open and grab a couple handfuls of frozen leaves to add.
Milk- we use cows milk but you can easily use a plant-based milk for a dairy-free version
Orange juice- this is optional as well. I like to add a splash for additional flavor
Silken tofu- make sure it’s silken for smoothies. Just spoon in half the package. It has a similar consistency to Greek yogurt!
Nut butter – I love to add a spoonful of peanut or almond butter to my smoothies for some extra healthy fats

What To Add To Silken Tofu Breakfast Smoothie

If you’re looking for extra smoothie additions to this smoothie, try a couple of scoops of ground flax, chia seeds or hemp seeds.

You can also add toppings like pumpkin seeds, slivered almonds, additional sliced fruit and more!

How To Make Smoothie with Silken Tofu

Smoothies are generally fairly easy to make and this one is no exception. Just add the ingredients to a blender and blend. No need to press the tofu or anything. It has a texture similar to Greek yogurt and you can easily just spoon it into the blender.

Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie Recipe

Here’s the exact recipe:

Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

This Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie is kid-friendly and perfect for breakfast, lunch or snack. The silken tofu adds protein without changing the flavor or texture!

Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

2 cups frozen mixed berries (or other fruit)
6 oz silken tofu (excess liquid in package drained)
1–2 handfuls baby spinach (fresh or frozen)
1.5 -2 cups milk
optional: spoonful of nut butter, splash of orange juice

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Instructions

Add berries and tofu to blender. Then add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
Add additional liquid if needed to blend until smooth.

Notes

Smoothie can be made, frozen and reheated in the microwave.

Add 1-2 medjool dates for additional sweetness if needed.

Dairy or non-dairy milk will work.

So easy and so delicious. Also, if you don’t already have them, get some mason jars with lids. I make a big batch of smoothies, portion into 8oz glass jars and freeze. Then when my kids want them for snacks, I just remove the lid, microwave for 45 seconds and serve!

Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie FAQs:

What can I substitute for silken tofu in smoothies?

If you want to make this smoothie without tofu, try subbing 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or a couple of Tablespoons of nut butter.

Is this considered a silken tofu protein smoothie?

Yes! I would consider this a high-protein smoothie. Both the milk (depending on the kind) and the tofu add protein. You can add even more my tossing in some hemp or chia seeds or some ground flax or by topping with pumpkin seeds!

Can I use firm tofu?

I would not recommend using any other tofu varieties in this smoothie. Silken tofu has a unique texture that blends well into smoothies. Firm or extra firm tofu will alter the texture.

How to make this silken tofu smoothie vegan?

To make this smoothie vegan, just use a vegan milk source- almond, oat or soy milk are all great options although some will have more protein than others.

Can I make a silken tofu smoothie bowl?

Yes! The creaminess would make this ideal for a smoothie bowl. Add your favorite toppings like granola, cereal, chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds etc and eat with a spoon.

If you’re looking for another smoothie recipe to try, here are a couple of others we love:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–