Coronacation has created a community of bakers and cooks. Over the past few months, I’ve experimented with a variety of 10-15 minute breakfast recipes that are easy to make before school–here are a few of my favorites.

10. Overnight chia seed pudding

This recipe is the least-time consuming recipe on this list, and easily modifiable. To a glass container that can be closed, add ¾ cup of milk, sweetener (ex. sugar, maple syrup, honey, etc.) to your likening, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and three tablespoons of chia seeds. You can also add cocoa powder (1-2 tablespoons). Stir well, then let the mixture sit for one minute and stir again. If using cocoa powder, wait for ten minutes until you stir again. Close the lid on the container and place into the refrigerator for at least six hours. After taking it out of the refrigerator, add toppings of your choice. Common toppings include fruits (bananas, berries, etc.), chocolate chips, granola, and nuts (walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, etc.). 

9. Sweet oatmeal

Oatmeal is the perfect comfort food for a cozy day inside. Start by boiling one cup of milk for five to seven minutes, then add one-half cup of oatmeal and a dash of salt, and allow it to cook for five minutes. There are many different variations of oatmeal, but I generally like to start by adding one cup of milk and fruit (blueberries, bananas, or strawberries) to a saucepan, and allow the mixture to boil for five minutes–you can also add any sweeteners (sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc.), cocoa powder, or peanut or almond butter. Top the oatmeal with fruits, nuts, peanut or almond butter, or chocolate chips. 

8. Egg sandwich

Also known as the viral TikTok sandwich, this recipe is extremely filling. First, mix together eggs, a splash of milk, a dash of salt, and the seasoning of your choice (paprika, southwest seasoning, cajun, everything but the bagel seasoning, etc.). Let the mixture sit for fifteen minutes. Pour your mixture onto the heated and buttered pan. Add your two pieces of bread onto the egg as depicted in the image. Once solid, flip your omelet and bread, then fill with cheese (pepper jack, cheddar, mozzarella, etc.), greens (arugula, spinach, etc.), sliced tomato, avocado, and dressing (dijon mustard, hot truffle sauce, pesto, chipotle paste, etc.). Fold the sides of the eggs onto the top of the filling, close the sandwich, then serve. 

7. French toast sticks

French toast, the simpler sibling of waffles and pancakes, never disappoints. To create this dish, first mix together one egg, half a cup of milk, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a dash of salt. While your pan is heating, cut your two pieces of bread into strips–I prefer making french toast sticks rather than full pieces of toast because it allows you to cook the sides of the pieces, making for a crispier french toast. Butter your pan, dip both sides of your french toast sticks into the mixture, then lay the sticks onto the pan. Make sure not to leave the sticks in the mixture for too long, otherwises the pieces will be soggy and may break. Flip your french toast sticks as needed to ensure that all four sides are golden brown. Meanwhile, in a bowl combine sugar and cinnamon. Once your sticks are finished cooking, quickly coat with the sugar cinnamon mixture and add the toppings of your choice (maple syrup, butter, melted nutella, banana, berries, apples, nuts, etc.).

6. Avocado toast

A food trend of the 2010’s, avocado toast remains a classic with its numerous unique combinations. The following are my three favorite variations of avocado toast. The first is topped with “everything but the bagel seasoning”, a fried egg, and hot truffle sauce. The second is topped with half-cut cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, and salt. The third is topped with sliced pears, honey, and sea salt.

5. Savory oatmeal

Though seemingly unappetizing, savory oatmeal is probably one of the best paradoxes I’ve ever encountered. Start by boiling old-fashioned oats in water with salt and paprika. Once the oatmeal is finished cooking, scoop it into a bowl. Top with “everything but the bagel” seasoning, a fried egg seasoned with paprika, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, avocado, and hot truffle sauce.

4. Overnight oatmeal

Much like overnight chia seed pudding, this recipe is refreshingly simple and modifiable. To a glass container that can be closed, add ½ a cup of milk, ½ a cup of greek yogurt, ½ a cup of old fashioned oats, ¼ a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and one tablespoon of chia seeds. Mix well, then refrigerate for at least four hours. After taking it out of the refrigerator, add toppings of your choice. Common toppings include fruits (bananas, berries, etc.), chocolate chips, granola, and nuts (walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, etc.).

3. Garlicky-toast with spinach and tomatoes

This recipe, taken from TikTok, is packed with flavor. To make it, first drizzle a pan with oil. Then, toss a bunch of cherry tomatoes onto the pan along with two cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary or thyme. Heat until the tomatoes are jammy, then take your piece of bread and rub the sides against the oil and let it toast with remaining tomato juices and garlic until golden. Place the toast onto your plate and smear with the cooked garlic, and leave the tomatoes on the side. Add a handful of spinach, salt, and minced garlic to the pan along with lemon juice, then place the cooked spinach onto the plate next to the toast. Wipe down the pan, add a drizzle of oil, then crack an egg and season with paprika, salt, and red pepper flakes. Allow to simmer, then sprinkle the pan with water and cover the pan with a lid for one minute. Place the fried egg onto the toast.

2. Egg-in-avocado

This dish has become one of my morning staples, with the ability to dress it down or up depending on time and ingredients. There are two ways to make this dish. The first way is to cut an avocado in half, carve out a hole in the avocado (wider is better than deeper), fill with an egg, top with salt, pepper, and seasoning (I recommend cajun or southwest), and place the eggs in the oven for 10-15 minutes (pull the avocados out a few minutes before it is finished baking to top with cheese, then place them back into the oven). In the second method, instead of placing the avocados in the oven, fill the avocado with scrambled eggs or a fried egg.

1. Goat cheese & arugula omelet

Stuffed with goat cheese and arugula, this simple omelet is a healthy go-to and savory breakfast. To make it, mix the preferred number of eggs with a splash of milk and a dash of salt. Let the mixture sit for fifteen minutes, then add butter or oil to a pan. Pour the mixture onto the pan and let the mixture settle until the omlet is solid, then layer with goat cheese and arugula or spinach. Once finished, fold the omelet four times.