5 Make-Ahead Breakfast Ideas

The morning meal is one of our favorites to make—especially when so many of us have family gathering at home these days. And when it comes to hosting a crowd, nothing makes the task simpler than prepping the meal ahead, ready to bake when the first one awakes.

These are a few of your favorites. If you have a large group for breakfast, we recommend making two—one sweet and one savory—so everyone can find her morning respite. Make plenty of coffee, have tea bags set out, and maybe have cocoa available for any tiny ones (or tiny ones at heart). No one ever turned up her nose at “breakfast dessert,” either, so if you’re up for making three recipes, all the better. (Check out these cinnamon rolls!) Read on to find the right recipe(s) for your crew.

1. Raised Waffles with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote

Bright as can be in every sense, these raised waffles mingle rhubarb with its buddy the strawberry to delightful effect. The waffle batter is yeasted and made the night before you pour it into the irons; it makes for an earthy taste to the finished dish. If you have whipped cream, a generous dollop atop each serving is the finishing touch sure to be appreciated by everyone.

2. Breakfast Strata Lorraine

Whatever’s the matter, fix it with strata! This dish is the perfect choice to feed a crowd in the morning, and double as an easy dinner. This is quiche done one better: We’ve eliminated the crust and folded in a sweet loaf of bread, cubed. Ham, eggs, nutty Gruyère and half-and-half all tumble into the strata baking dish, which you can assemble the night prior.

3. Meyer Lemon French Toast

This overnight stand-by is a perennial favorite whether you make it with the recommended challah or a mix of leftover breads. Drenched in a rich lemon-scented custard, the thick slices soften to become some of the best French toast you’ve ever had. Make it in advance, bake it in the morning, and have one extra good reason to start the day.

4. Swiss Chard and Gruyère Quiche

Make and bake the simple crust in advance for this yummy vegetarian quiche. Gruyère, Swiss chard, sautéed red onion and plenty of thyme play very nicely together. Once you’ve finished baking the crust, the hearty, eggy filling is a snap to pull together.

5. Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

We’re just going to go ahead and say it: There is nothing in the world like a homemade cinnamon roll. Think about all it can do: It perfumes the house as it bakes, delights children and adults, and gives you a buzz like no other sweet as you unwrap layers of cinnamon and sugar. Do everything in advance except bake and apply a—wait for it—cream cheese frosting. This is the sort of indulgent, meditative treat that mornings together deserve.