9 Impressive Breakfast Pastries That Are Surprisingly Easy to Make

Your family won’t believe you did this all yourself.

closeup of pecan-topped sticky buns
Sticky Buns. Photo:

VRoth

Whether you are hosting a celebratory brunch, have houseguests that deserve special breakfasts, or just want to start your day with a treat, breakfast pastries are always a great thing to have in your repertoire. A baked treat is comforting, portable, and often can be made ahead or even frozen. What’s not to love? Here are nine show-stopping breakfast pastries that are surprisingly easy to make.

01 of 09

Clone of a Cinnabon

a pan of icing-topped cinnamon rolls
Clone of a Cinnabon.

Carson's Mommy

Cinnamon rolls might just be the single most classic breakfast pastry, and more than 7,000 4.8-star reviews make this Cinnabon-inspired recipe that leans on a bread machine for easy prep one of the best. If you want that truly decadent morning sweet, you can’t go wrong with this version.

02 of 09

Bacon and Egg Breakfast Tarts

four savory tartlets on a white plate
Bacon and Egg Breakfast Tarts.

Sugarplum

Not all breakfast pastries are sweet. If you prefer savory and want a little protein to boot, give these little bacon and egg breakfast tarts a try. Similar to a mini quiche, they are single-serving tartlets that are portable and simple to make.

03 of 09

Shelly Hospitality’s Blueberry Turnover Hand Pies

closeup of golden-brown blueberry turnovers on a cooling rack
Shelly Hospitality's Blueberry Turnover Hand Pies.

Aredendra

If your kids love a Pop-Tart situation, but you want to avoid that extra-sugary breakfast pastry, these easy breakfast hand pies will convert them! Frozen blueberries and premade pie crusts make them come together in a snap.

04 of 09

Apple Strudel Muffins

closeup of a streusel-topped muffin on a white plate
Apple Strudel Muffins.

Tracey Storm Davis

Apple strudel is a wonderful dessert pastry, but it is complicated to make. Muffins, on the other hand, are ideal in the morning and super simple. Which means this mash-up will be super popular with your strudel fans.

05 of 09

Best Monkey Bread

closeup of a caramelly ring of pull-apart monkey bread
Best Monkey Bread.

 Tracy K

Breakfast pastries can also be fun. A pull-apart treat like this monkey bread is an easy-to-pull-together centerpiece. Just put it on the table and let everyone pluck morsels to their hearts’ delight.

06 of 09

Baked Apple Roses

closeup of an apple pastry shaped like a rose
Baked Apple Roses.

cheesemite

Sometimes you need a breakfast pastry that is especially beautiful. If you are hosting a Mother's Day brunch, or want to give someone a special birthday breakfast in bed, these stunning baked apple roses are as pretty as they are delicious. You’ll be surprised at how simple they are to put together!

07 of 09

Danish Kringle

an almond-topped pastry braid on a cutting board
Danish Kringle.

myoldasskitchen

Breakfast pastries aren’t always meant to be delicate individual portions. Sometimes you want a slice-and-serve pastry for a crowd. This Danish kringle is wonderful when you have people staying over: You can put it out for folks to slice for themselves before you’re out of bed.

08 of 09

Chocolate Babka

two slices of babka on a plate
Chocolate Babka.

Lady at the Stove

The thing about a great breakfast pastry is that it works well with coffee and tea, which also makes it do double duty for afternoon breaks! One of the best “eat it all day” breakfast pastries is chocolate babka, a yeasted dough swirled with chocolate for a sliceable loaf you can enjoy anytime.

09 of 09

Sticky Buns

closeup of pecan-topped sticky buns
Sticky Buns.

VRoth

Sticky buns might be the most delicious and messy morning treat imaginable. Pillowy dough covered in caramel and toasty nuts is a lovely treat to make for special guests (or yourself!), and this recipe comes together more easily than you might think. You can also bake these buns ahead of time and pop in the microwave for a quick reheat in the morning.

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