Photo: Amanda Drozdz

The Lazy-Day Muffin for a Crazed Morning
Ever since we discovered the nearly instant breakfast (or dessert!) that is the mug muffin, we've been smitten. Mug muffins satisfy the craving for a freshly baked muffin when we just don't have 30 minutes to whip up an entire batch, and are an indulgent way to start (or end) the day—while also keeping our portions in check. This nostalgic version from Amanda Drozdz's new book, Easy Flourless Muffins, Bars & Cookies, tastes just like chocolate chip cookie dough—though you'd never know it was gluten-free and low in sugar.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Minute Muffin

Photo: Anshu18/iStock/Thinkstock

A Classic A.M. Food with a Twist
Stuffed French toast may sound fancy or fussy, but it's actually a snap. Plus, it'll fill you up, thanks to its high levels of fiber and protein. First, you prepare a pear-almond butter sandwich; then, you plunge it into a mixture of milk, egg, vanilla extract and lemon zest. The final step is to sauté the soaked sandwich until it's golden and crispy on both sides.

Get the recipe: Pear-Almond Butter Stuffed French Toast

Photo: Marshall Troy

The Old-School Splurge
The idea of eating anything "brûléed" for breakfast feels special. But if a bowl of custard with a burnt-sugar topping is a little too out-there for your a.m. meal, try it with grapefruit. You don't even need a blow torch since the broiler does a great job of caramelizing the sugar. The resulting interplay of sweet-tart fruit with a slightly burnt and crunchy topping is a delicious way to treat yourself.

Get the recipe: Brûléed Grapefruit

Photo: Paul Delmont

A Chocolate Breakfast That Actually Has Some Nutrition, Too
You'd expect master pastry chef Jacques Torres, aka Mr. Chocolate, to eat the stuff for breakfast, but not like this. First, he fills a coffee mug with very cold water, gently cracks an egg into it and microwaves it for a minute. (He likes his poached egg runny, but you can cook the egg longer if you prefer yours more solid.) Next, he microwaves a handful of fresh spinach in a bowl covered with a plate until it's wilted. Last, Torres lifts the poached egg out of the water with a slotted spoon, lays it over the spinach and—ahem—sprinkles cocoa nibs and a little salt on top.

Get the recipe: Poached Egg with Spinach and Chocolate

Photo: Daily Harvest

The Stress-Free Smoothie
Rooting through the fridge, rinsing fruits and chopping vegetables is no way to start a morning. That's one reason this smoothie is our hero: The only ingredient that needs to be prepped is an apple (just peel, core and chop it into chunks). Everything else is ready to go: raw oats, almond butter, spinach (grab a handful from a prewashed bag), coconut oil, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. The other reason we love it: It tastes amazingly like pie (we're serious!).

Get the recipe: Green Apple Pie Smoothie

Photo: Johnny Miller

A Restaurant-Worthy Egg Dish at Your Kitchen Table
The Middle Eastern tomato-and-egg dish known as shakshuka need not be something you only enjoy at Sunday brunch. This single-serving rendition comes together in minutes: just combine some chopped onion, bell pepper and garlic with hot sauce and some spices in a mug, and microwave for a minute or two, until the vegetables are soft. Stir in crushed tomatoes and some spinach, microwave two more minutes; and, finally, crack an egg on top and zap until the white is firm but the yolk is still runny. Crumble feta on top and dig in to a surprisingly rich breakfast.

Get the recipe: Shakshuka in a Mug
Published 02/09/2016