Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas

Whether you’ve got early risers or are heading out on an epic road trip, consider these make ahead breakfast ideas that are fun for kids of all ages!

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Whenever my nieces come to sleep over, I try to pull out all the stops. I tend to be the stricter, more uptight one of the aunties, so I gotta do what I can to keep my “fun auntie” status. The last time they were here, I made Breakfast Bags.

My eldest niece — who trends toward high maintenance like her Auntie Jess, ahem — had told me on a previous visit that she needed a bagel in the morning. If she didn’t have a good breakfast to look forward to in the morning, she wouldn’t sleep well.

Alrighty then.

On their next visit, though I had warned her to pack her own bagels, I planned ahead with Breakfast Bags, make ahead breakfasts that I could pack the night before. When the kids woke early in the morning, they were able to feed themselves a decent breakfast without waking the rest of us. Here’s what they had:

Obviously, it wasn’t super fancy: a juice box, a cereal bar, some applesauce, a cutie, and a bag of cereal. But, for the kids it was a blast. And I didn’t have to wake up early, wondering what I was going to feed everyone.

These easy make ahead breakfast ideas are just as awesome for rushed school days as they are for sleepovers!

I’ve brainstormed a huge list of make ahead breakfast ideas that are ideal for early risers, camping adventures, road trips, or a spontaneous early morning picnic to enjoy the outdoors before the day heats up.

If you aren’t yet set up with a Breakfast Bar, now’s the time, mamas! It makes mornings so much easier.

What to Include

So, first the food. These make ahead breakfast ideas are ideal for travel, easy to eat and simple to clean up. Try to include adequate protein which will give everyone a little staying power. You don’t want to hear “I’m hungry,” as soon as your day gets moving.

Try these make ahead breakfast ideas:

• hard cooked eggs
• mini quiches
• bite-sized frittata
• cooked sausage patties or sausage balls
• ham, salami, or turkey slices
• smoothie cups – you can make these in advance and freeze them
• yogurt parfaits
• yogurt drizzled with maple syrup
• granola with a jar of milk
• small bags of commercial cereal
• fresh seasonal fruit
• apple slices with whipped cream or cream cheese dip
• fruit kabobs
• fruit salad
• grapefruit sections
• apple compote
• veggies and hummus

• scones
• breakfast cookies
• muffins
• banana bread
• cheese sticks
• cheese and crackers
• bagels and flavored cream cheese
• chocolate butterhorns
• mini baked oatmeal
• waffles
• pretzels
• homemade crepes with nutella or jam
• cinnamon toast croutons
• coffeecake
• cinnamon rolls
• breakfast cakes
• hot cocoa in a thermos
• baked donuts
• energy bars
• pigs in blankets
• creamy rice
• apple turnovers
• not mushy oatmeal

Packaging

Admit it, part of the fun of food on the go is the packaging. That’s why the Happy Meal has seen 30 years of success. While your kids would do just fine with a plate of breakfast, remember that you can take it up a notch to make things a little more fun and exciting.

Consider these packaging options:

• teffin box
• galvanized metal bucket
• clean plastic sand pail 
• bento box
• divided plastic box with lid
• reusable meal prep boxes
• decorated paper bag
• freezer bags

And you know what, my kids and nieces were thrilled with paper sacks with their names written on them, so it doesn’t have to be fancy-schmancy. Somehow, a make ahead breakfast is just kinda fun, whether it’s summer break or a busy school day.