"I firmly believe that fall is the best season of the year, especially when it comes to food. And I’m not just talking about pumpkin spice—I like to indulge in anything and everything apple, cinnamon, and chai during the autumn months, too. The flavors of fall are delightful and comforting, and they make every meal better, especially breakfast. During pumpkin spice season, I love to treat myself by adding delicious yet nutritious fall breakfast recipes to my usual meal prep rotation. After all, baking muffins and scones is a wonderful way to indulge in sweet morning treats, and preparing overnight oats is an easy hack for healthy breakfasts that don’t take up extra time in the mornings.
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Whether you love a treat with your morning coffee or prefer a protein-packed breakfast, here are some of the best fall breakfast recipes full of cozy flavors you’ll want to make all autumn long.
1. Fall Breakfast Quinoa Bowl
When you think of quinoa bowls, you might picture a savory lunch or dinner, but they’re also an incredibly underrated breakfast choice. This recipe brings all the flavors of fall into a comforting bowl, making it a fantastic way to start your day. The base combines quinoa, chia seeds, cinnamon, maple syrup, and milk, topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds and almonds. You can prep the bowl a few days in advance and add the toppings just before serving for a quick and satisfying breakfast.
2. Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies
Eating cookies for breakfast might not be your usual routine, but once you try this recipe, it will become a staple. Though they taste just like dessert, they’re surprisingly healthy and incredibly easy to make. You can even prep the dough ahead of time and store it in the freezer for up to three months, then just pop them in the oven whenever a craving strikes.
3. Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
These pumpkin overnight oats have the usual base of oats, milk, and chia seeds, with the addition of pumpkin purée, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice. This recipe is delicious as is, but you could also add in some pecans, chocolate chips, or even a dollop of whipped cream on top to really jazz it up.
4. Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
This sweet potato hash kicks off your day with protein and a variety of seasonal veggies, so it’s hearty enough to keep you satisfied until your lunch break. To save time in the morning and avoid sacrificing precious sleep, prep all the ingredients ahead of time and store them in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat, simply warm the vegetables and sweet potatoes in a skillet, then add the eggs.
5. Pumpkin Waffles
These pumpkin waffles offer all the convenience of Eggos with a flavor in a league of its own. Enjoy them fresh after making, or stash them in the freezer for a quick reheat in your toaster when you’re ready to eat. With pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, they’re far superior to anything you’ll find in the freezer aisle.
6. Chai Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
Pumpkin and cheesecake are such a perfect flavor combination. I didn’t think it could get any better until I discovered these chai-spiced pumpkin cheesecake muffins. These muffins are definitely more of a dessert-for-breakfast kind of vibe, but there are no rules when it comes to autumn treats. The recipe makes just over a dozen muffins, and they’re easy to freeze if you want to save some for later.
7. Maple Breakfast Sausage
Breakfast sausage is a year-round favorite, but the maple flavor in this recipe really shines during the fall. These sausages are perfect for keeping in your freezer, whether you’re making quick breakfast sandwiches, pairing them with eggs, or enjoying them on their own when you’re on the go. Packed with protein and full of flavor, they make a deliciously convenient morning option.
8. Apple Smoothie
Smoothies are such a quick and tasty breakfast, and I love them in the morning, no matter how cold it is outside. This apple smoothie is irresistibly creamy, with a generous amount of cinnamon that brings all the cozy fall vibes into one glass. For an even easier morning, prep your ingredients in freezer bags ahead of time—just toss them in the blender, and breakfast is ready.
9. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pop Tarts
Pop-Tarts were a childhood breakfast staple (at least in my house), but these gluten-free pumpkin versions are on a whole new level. Not only are they filled with pumpkin butter, but the maple cinnamon glaze on top adds extra seasonal flavor. You can cut the dough into little rectangles or circles, but using a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter makes these mini tarts even more fun.
10. Chai Oatmeal Cups
While I love good old-fashioned oatmeal for a nutritious and filling breakfast, these baked oatmeal cups are a great alternative if you don’t have time to cook in the morning. This recipe packs in all the flavors of chai and pecan into muffin-sized cups for an easy, on-the-go breakfast that’s both cozy and filling. Plus, the chai spices are guaranteed to warm you up on the coldest autumn mornings.
11. Breakfast Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
If you’re looking to shake up your breakfast routine, these breakfast stuffed sweet potatoes are the perfect dish to try. The best part? You can top them with anything you like. This recipe features peanut butter, bananas, and cacao nibs for a sweet option, but if you prefer savory, you can go for eggs, bacon, and vegetables. The possibilities are endless.
12. Pumpkin Breakfast Casserole
If you dream about eating French toast every day but don’t have the time to make it, this recipe is for you. Easy to prepare for a busy week ahead, this breakfast casserole combines the sweet goodness of traditional French toast with the cozy flavors of pumpkin pie.
13. Cinnamon Apple Scones
Made with fresh apples, applesauce, and a combination of autumn spices, these cinnamon apple scones are perfect for fall mornings. Finding a scone recipe with the perfect combination of flavor, moisture, and texture can be hard, but this one checks all the boxes.
14. Mini Apple Butter Pop Tarts
Alright, so you’ve already seen pumpkin pop tarts—now for the apple butter version. With these two recipes, you can eat pop tarts all autumn long without getting tired of them (probably). These mini tarts are gluten-free, vegan, and filled with homemade apple butter for a yummy handheld treat that makes for a nostalgic breakfast.
15. Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Overnight oats continue to be a go-to breakfast for meal prep because they’re easy to make and always filling. Carrot cake is an overlooked autumn treat IMO, but these overnight oats capture the flavor perfectly, thanks to a combination of cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, raisins, and finely grated carrots.
16. Apple Peanut Butter Granola Bars
If you’re a breakfast-on-the-go kind of girl, these apple peanut butter granola bars are exactly what you need. They’re made with simple, healthy ingredients, like rolled oats, pecans, dates, honey, peanut butter, and dried apples. The great thing about these granola bars is they’re “no bake” and can last in the fridge for up to two weeks or the freezer for up to a month.
17. Apple Butter Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
Apple butter is officially a staple ingredient for me. If you haven’t already, this might be the year to get creative with apple butter recipes. These French toast sticks are soaked in the usual milk and egg mixture but with the apple butter mixed in. Then, as you bake them in the oven, you sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top for the perfect mixture of apple cinnamon sweetness.
18. Pumpkin Energy Bites
Made with nutritious ingredients like oats, pumpkin purée, chia seeds, and peanut butter, these pumpkin protein balls are an ideal energizing breakfast if you like to work out in the mornings. All you do is mix the ingredients in a bowl, roll them into small balls, set them in the freezer for around 20 minutes, and you’re set for the week!
19. Apple Pie Overnight Oats
If you prefer fall breakfast recipes with a more subtle autumn flavor, these apple pie overnight oats have just the right amount. This recipe takes a simple overnight oats base and adds shredded apple along with vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg to give you that authentic apple pie flavor.
20. 5-Minute Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake
This pumpkin protein shake can be whipped up in just five minutes, so it’s great for busy mornings. The main ingredients are pumpkin purée, Greek yogurt, pumpkin pie spice, and riced cauliflower. While the cauliflower might seem crazy, you actually can’t taste it, and it’s a sneaky source of veggies and fiber to add to your shake.
21. Caramelized Apple Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal Cups
These apple peanut butter oatmeal cups are almost like little apple crisps you can eat for breakfast. The recipe combines oats with mix-in including peanut butter, maple syrup, flax seed, vanilla, and cinnamon. But the real magic comes from the addition of caramelized apples, which are simmered in butter, cinnamon, and sugar for a deliciously cozy topping.
22. Crunchy Pumpkin Spice Granola
Last but definitely not least, this pumpkin granola is the most versatile breakfast recipe on this list. It makes a delightfully crunchy addition to yogurt, a seasonally appropriate alternative to your favorite cereal, or even just a snack on the go. The recipe combines pumpkin, maple, cinnamon, pecans, and cranberries for the perfect treat you’ll want to add to everything.
Emily Dumas, Contributing Writer
Emily is a Virginia-based content creator with over five years of experience creating content strategies for SaaS companies. Although she spends her days in the tech world, she has spent many years as a lifestyle writer for her personal site, as well as for several publications across the web.