Recipes

Make-Ahead Breakfasts for Busy Days

By Chef Noel Cunningham

Published: 

Recipes by Chef Noel Cunningham

Breakfast Hand Pies with Sausage, Egg & Cheese
Breakfast Hand Pies with Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Hand Pies with Sausage, Egg & Cheese (Getty Images)

Baked Blueberry Pancakes

A fun twist on traditional pancakes — this baked version is light, fluffy, and bursting with juicy blueberries. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd without standing over the stove flipping pancakes. Serve it straight from the oven, topped with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

Make-Ahead Tip: Mix the dry ingredients the night before and combine with wet ingredients in the morning. Or bake ahead, refrigerate, and reheat covered in a 300°F oven for 10–12 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp melted butter (plus extra for greasing)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
  4. Combine wet and dry ingredients, fold in blueberries.
  5. Pour into the baking dish and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden.
  6. Slice and serve warm with maple syrup or fruit.


Breakfast Hand Pies with Sausage, Egg & Cheese

Golden, flaky puff pastry filled with scrambled eggs, sausage, and melty cheese — these handheld pies are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast or brunch bite.

Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the pies up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate unbaked. Or bake, cool, and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10–12 minutes.

Ingredients

  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 package (2 sheets) puff pastry, thawed
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup cooked sausage, crumbled
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tbsp milk or cream
  • 1 egg (for egg wash)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Whisk eggs with milk, salt, and pepper. Scramble until just set.
  3. Stir in sausage and cheese; cool slightly.
  4. Cut puff pastry into rectangles (4x6 inches). Add filling to one half, fold, and seal edges with a fork.
  5. Brush with egg wash and bake 15–20 minutes until golden and puffed.
  6. Serve warm or reheat later for an easy breakfast.