Lighter American Breakfast & Brunch Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: Oxmoor House

Here are dishes that fit any morning routine, whether you're in need of a quick weekday smoothie or a more decadent weekend brunch. But each is made just a little bit healthier, and that feels just right.

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Lighten Up, Breakfast!

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: All-American Granola

Whether you're running on full speed before work or sitting down to a leisurely brunch on Saturday morning, you'll find recipes here to fill you up and keep you going the rest of the day. Best of all, these classic dishes have been lightened without losing their incredible flavor.

First, enjoy bit of crunch in the morning with a serving of All-American Granola.

Sweetened with maple syrup and studded with dried cherries and sliced almonds, this pantry staple is easy to customize. Try dried blueberries, cranberries, or even apples, and maybe even a little flaxseed for fiber. Or toss with fresh berries before serving.

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Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

It's hard to resist the sweet smell of cinnamon buns—now you don't have to. Chopped pecans add richness and just the right amount of crunch to these sticky treats.

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Savory Egg Muffins

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Savory Egg Muffins

The Stove Top Stuffing Mix we all grew up with is making its way to breakfast. Prepare these the night before so you can pop two into the toaster oven for a quick—but filling—breakfast.

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Egg and Cheese on a Roll

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Egg and Cheese on a Roll

This is a popular grab-and-go breakfast for New Yorkers on the run. Countless variations exist, and we've added one more with our own homemade favorite. Lighten up the cheese and eggs, swap the roll for an English muffin, and doctor the sandwich with ketchup and a healthy dose of hot sauce, just like they do in the Big Apple.

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Peach and Blueberry Pancakes

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View Recipe: Peach and Blueberry Pancakes

Each third-cupful of this thick batter produces a pancake that is wonderfully fluffy and filled with fresh fruit. The combination of peaches and blueberries never fails to please.

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Red Flannel Hash

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Red Flannel Hash

This hash is a Yankee tradition, so called, some say, for its colors, which resemble a red flannel shirt. It’s customarily served the morning after a New England boiled dinner, when there's plenty of leftover corned beef and potatoes. Our version combines roasted beets and potatoes with a small portion of corned beef for a lighter take on the original.

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Monkey Bread

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View Recipe: Monkey Bread

The sticky-fingers aspect of this dish makes it a surefire hit with the kids, and the spiced and buttered rounds go a long way.

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Alabama Cat-Head Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Alabama Cat-Head Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

No, there's no cat in these biscuits; they've earned their name because of their size. This recipe is a riff on the Southern classic from Demetri's BBQ in Birmingham, AL.

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Mini Donuts

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Mini Donuts

Adorable and delicious, these mini donuts are the perfect treat to satisfy the strongest sweet tooth cravings. We dressed these breakfast beauties in a sweet maple syrup glaze. Use a mini donut pan, available in most cookware stores.

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Cajun-Style Shrimp and Grits

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View Recipe: Cajun-Style Shrimp and Grits

At Castaways Raw Bar and Grill on Holden Beach in North Carolina, they serve up huge portions of spicy shrimp and grits. This version is inspired by theirs—zesty with green onions and tasso ham, with a generous dose of Cajun spice.

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Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

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View Recipe: Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

This make-ahead breakfast casserole streamlines a morning routine like few other recipes can. Assemble it the night before, then pop it in the oven about an hour before you want to eat.

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L.E.O. Scramble

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View Recipe: L.E.O. Scramble

L.E.O. refers to the winning combination of lox, eggs, and onions in this savory scramble. It's a New York diner favorite that’s easy to prepare at home.

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Tex-Mex Migas

$Tex-Mex Migas$

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Tex-Mex Migas

“Migas” means “crumbs,” and that’s just what this dish is—small bits of tortilla, cheese, salsa, and eggs scrambled up into one of the Southwest’s signature specialties. A staple of the Lone Star State, migas can also be found in Mexican breakfast spots across the country.

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Cranberry-Orange Scones

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View Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Scones

Although scones are among the most quintessentially British teatime treats, the addition of cranberries, a fruit indigenous to America, keeps them firmly on our side of the pond. This recipe is courtesy of food writer Susan Axelrod.

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Shakshuka

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View Recipe: Shakshuka

Shakshuka is an Israeli dish that is becoming increasingly popular across America. Serve spoonfuls of the spicy tomato-and-pepper sauce over rice.

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Baked French Toast

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View Recipe: Baked French Toast

Don't be surprised to hear your kids bolt out of bed when they smell this delicious dish cooking.

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Philly Scrapple

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View Recipe: Philly Scrapple

There are many local variations of this breakfast staple, but it commonly includes various bits of pork, ground cornmeal or wheat, and seasonings. In Philadelphia, it’s served with a sunny-side-up egg, and elsewhere it’s served with everything from grape jelly to apple butter and honey to ketchup and mustard.

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Maine Blueberry Cake

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Maine Blueberry Cake

This dish is often served as dessert after traditional Maine lobster bakes, but it makes for a fantastic breakfast treat as well.

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Lighter American Breakfasts

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Lighten Up, Breakfast!

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Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

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Savory Egg Muffins

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Egg and Cheese on a Roll

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Peach and Blueberry Pancakes

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Red Flannel Hash

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Monkey Bread

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Alabama Cat-Head Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

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Mini Donuts

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Cajun-Style Shrimp and Grits

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Mushroom, Bacon, and Swiss Strata

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L.E.O. Scramble

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Tex-Mex Migas

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Cranberry-Orange Scones

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Shakshuka

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Baked French Toast

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Philly Scrapple

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Maine Blueberry Cake

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