Yes, those are pancakes in that picture. Want to know how to produce pancakes on a frantic morning when you need to get out the door and no one has pants on yet? Here are five super fast (and healthy) breakfasts that—bonus—won't dirty a single pot or mixing bowl in your kitchen.
Not that cereal isn't a fine choice on busy mornings. But if you want some alternatives, these ideas have been successful in my house (with a two-year-old who isn't really into smoothies—which of course are always a good option, even if you do have to clean the blender).
Two require a tiny bit of advance planning, but it'll save you a lot of time on a Monday.
1. Pancakes. If you're making pancakes on a Saturday or Sunday, make extra. (To be honest, we always have leftover pancakes even when we don't double the recipe.) Lay several on a cookie sheet, slide it into the freezer until they're firm, then pile into a freezer bag. You can pull two or three out on a crazy morning and microwave them in 10 seconds. Better yet, put them in the toaster.
2. Avocado Toast. So healthy! So easy! I rarely even mash the avocado in a bowl first, which means one less dish to clean. Just smush it down on a piece of toasted bread and sprinkle a bit of salt. Call it guacamole if necessary. Here's our basic "recipe."
3. Hard-Boiled Eggs. Not that they take a ton of time (here's the best method), but if you make a few on a Sunday night, you only have to peel them in the morning, and that takes what, 20 seconds? You can slice one onto toast, although I recommend letting a toddler bite into a whole one. The slipperiness of it is fun, and somehow finding the yolk is a surprise every time.
4. Banana Slices with Peanut Butter. Lay out banana slices and top each with a little dab of peanut butter. Protein-packed, sweet, and quick. For an older kid, you can use the slices to make the first letter of his name.
5. Toast with Cream Cheese and Jelly. Most kids like toast with jelly, but jelly alone doesn't offer a ton of nutritional benefits. Cream cheese and jelly is an underrated combo, and the cream cheese adds a little protein and calcium. You can swirl it if you have time.
What are your favorite quick breakfasts for kids?
Related: 10 Make Ahead Breakfasts to Start Your Day Off Right
(Images: Tammy Everts; Faith Durand)
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Laying flappers on a sheet to freeze is a great idea, but I always forget about them once they are in the freezer. I cut 4in squares of freezer paper and slide them between the extra flappers; it helps avoid freezer burn, and they are pretty easy to pop apart when you're ready to take them out of the freezer.
I discovered Flapper Freezing about 2 years ago and it totally changed my breakfast life (as did the mason jar oatmeal thing)-- it works!!
Martha Stewart's Best Buttermilk pancakes keep so well in the freezer-- the recipe is a must-try!
Yogurt, granola and fruit. You can layer it the night before and add granola, or grape nuts or even nuts in the morning. You can also let kids that are a little bigger build their own.
For older kids, serve with a piece of toast with just butter or PB. Whole grain, of course.
"Flapper Freezing" - I'm picturing a 1920s speakeasy patron with a bob haircut and a fringe dress standing in a walk-in freezer. :o)
Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, cheese grits, and cinnamon toast. Not all together, but the cinnamon toast and the eggs are a good combo and they think they are getting dessert with breakfast. Also yogurt and dry cereal or granola on top for a nice crunch.
My son likes to sprinkle his eggs with a little cinnamon sugar and as long as he eats them, it's ok with me.
We do pancakes that way and waffles too.
pita bread stuffed with banana and peanut butter and sprinkled with granola
sliced apple dipped in yogurt with granola (for when you don't have time to layer)
Enthusiastic YES! on the leftover pancake/waffle idea. These are usually reserved for weekend mornings when we have more time on our hands so the leftovers are extra special for my daughter to eat on weekday mornings.
Also, banana bread or any other quick bread, muffin is good to make ahead and portion to place in the freezer for easy defrosting and eating.
Unsweetened smoothies (plain yogurt, lotso fruit, juice to thin) are popular with kids. Even more popular? Popsicles made from said unsweetened smoothie.
Ooooh, breakfast popsicles would be a BIG hit in my house. Love that idea!
my kids love whole wheat or raisin toast with a little butter and topped with cottage cheese. sometimes i sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top of the cottage cheese. also cottage cheese pancakes is a great way to add some protein:
1/2 cup flour (all purpose or whole wheat)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup cottage cheese
2 eggs
Mix into a batter and cook like regular pancakes. These are great served with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top or with a side of applesauce. I make a large batch on weekends and they reheat well during the week.
This'll probably sound totally OC, but the best way to reheat frozen pancakes is to put them in the microwave for about 15 seconds, then finish them in the toaster. This way you don't have to choose between crisp yet frozen in the middle or thawed in the middle but burnt. :)
My children love toast with a slice of Gouda on top.
The mornings I have fresh croissants made, I scramble eggs and
Make a sandwich out of it. We like to add cheese and bacon too.
Who needs to toast the pancakes? I munch on them cold for snacks. In fact, I often make extra just for this purpose.
For extra protein on reheated pancakes my mom would often smear them with jam and top with plain full fat yogurt. She did it on Sundays, but it would be fabulous weekdays too. And it's a nice change from maple syrup.
English muffins are super in the morning. With peanut butter and jelly, nutella, cream cheese, a fried egg - the possibilities are endless.
Maybe we're just the last to know, but we recently discovered that old fashioned oats (NOT quick!) can be made like instant oatmeal. Pour the oats in a bowl, pour boiling water on top, wait a few minutes and serve. No messy pot to wash, and no clumpy, gelatinous, mushy oatmeal. Delicious, especially once you throw in some raisins and bananas and pour a little milk over it. Kids can't get enough of it.
My son, who eats like he's attending an art gallery opening, often eats pistachio nuts, cheese cubes, hummus and pita, crackers, or grapes for breakfast. I just had to get over my assumptions that hummus is for lunch, I guess (but then I watched "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" and realized it's always a good time for hummus.)
Thickly sliced banana bread smeared with PB plus some of us like a little honey drizzled on top! M-M good!
This is a total iranian thing to do but it's so easy. As kids we never bought flavored yogurt because plain yogurt goes into so many meals. So for breakfast or a snack, we would just dollop a spoonful of our favorite fruit jam into some plain yogurt, stir and consume. Very tasty!
you can also freeze french toast, I'm not a huge pancake fan and hate making waffles, so french toast is my favorite. Pop them into the toaster and then I smear some honey and cream cheese or do the pb&j thing to make a sandwich
@Kiana1002... Not totally iranian, I'm French and have always done that! Especially with my Mom's homemade jams! So much better than all those artificial flavoured yogurts... My nieces and nephews see me as an alien for doing that...
Multi-grain toast smeared with thin layer of coconut oil, Nutella, thin banana slices & sometimes minced pecans or almonds ... heavenly!
You are all so fancy with your breakfast preparations! I keep it easy... cereal, fruit, OJ. Classic.
Baked oatmeal with flax (kept in the fridge and warmed for a few seconds in the microwave) lasts days, smoothies as already mentioned, pumpkin waffles frozen and then toasted, and definitely yogurt/fruit/granola parfaits with a good non-sugary granola. All easy quick options.
breakfast couscous is our new favorite. Make the couscous (5 min) then put out bowls of raisins, nuts, fresh fruit, etc. pour in some warm milk, and top with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. yum.
My 5 year old son's favorite breakfast is eggs and crackers. First you poach 2 eggs...make sure the yolk is still runny. Then in a serving bowl crunch up cheez-it crackers and add a dollop of butter and a good sprinkling of Mrs.Dash seasoning. When eggs are done, put on top of cracker mixture, stir and serve :) This was my favorite breakfast that my grandma made me when i was little. She used saltine crackers though, but he cheez-its give it a great taste!
I second the muffins and breads comment...with just two of us in the house I usually freeze half of my batches anyway, and they make great on-the-go breakfasts. My current go-to is whole-wheat toast with peanut butter. Quick, delicious, and I can take it in the car with me if I'm really running late.
I made these quinoa oat squares (http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/chefs_recipes/12160) cut them up into single servings and then refrigerated them. We reheated them for about 40 seconds in the microwave and then topped them with cold milk. Instant breakfast and we didn't get tired of it over 4 days. I wouldn't make them every week but good to serve a crowd in advance.
My friend's kids are picky eaters - the pancakes and banana idea are great