The Restaurant Breakfast Copycat Recipes You've Been Waiting For
Life can be tough sometimes: early morning meetings, to-do lists, spilled coffee, work drama, after-lunch comas. Feeding, clothing, and cleaning a ravenous family. Weekend chores after an already busy week. You deserve a break.
Vacation time seems ages away, but that doesn't mean you can't sneak a little me time for yourself each morning. Skip the Starbucks or McDonald's drive-thru line and consider the benefits of making your own restaurant-quality breakfast in the AM. You'll save on food costs, gas, and driving time. Best of all, you can dine in the comfort of your own home instead of dropping half the meal onto your lap as you drive.
Mashed has all the recipes you need to brunch like royalty at home. We scope out the original restaurant recipes to figure out how you can recreate the magic in your own kitchen. From hot, crispy hash browns à la McDonalds to Krispy Kreme's classic glazed donuts, we've rounded up all the breakfast copycat recipes you've been waiting for. We've even got your favorite coffee treats covered. Breakfast in bed never looked, or smelled, so good.
Copycat McDonald's hash browns recipe
What is it about those delightfully fried oval-shaped potato treats from McDonald's that has us drooling for more? We find ourselves forgetting about our McMuffins once we've got our paws on these show-stealing hash browns. The good news is that you can avoid the morning chaos at McD's and make your very own copycat hash browns at home.
Our copycat McDonald's hash browns recipe takes the beloved classic one step further with authentic plant-based ingredients so that your favorite breakfast side is not only fresher and healthier but gluten-free and vegan too. This, ahem, rehashed recipe means you can satisfy the whole family with a wholesome and delicious breakfast that only takes ten minutes to fry to golden perfection.
The beauty of this recipe is once you've prepped and frozen the potatoes ahead of time, you can pop them in the freezer to prepare quickly in the morning. You can even make extra frozen hash browns so that they're at the ready anytime you desire a tasty, hot breakfast. Can't you already smell those fresh potatoes sizzling on a hot skillet?
Copycat Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew recipe
We're not waiting for autumn anymore, guys. Let's be honest and admit that pumpkin is a flavor we can vibe with all year long. With its spicy, clove-y kick and sweetly comforting taste, there's no doubt pumpkin coffee is fantastic hot or iced.
But the breakfast line at Starbucks is scarier than ten Halloween horror movies. Have no fear, caffeine lovers. Now you can get your java fix before leaving the house with our copycat Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew recipe. This refreshing drink is actually easy to make and at a much lower cost than the original version.
We've cracked the code on how to make your morning cold brew taste just like the one at Starbucks. If you follow the directions carefully, you'll get that same rich, creamy flavor and authentic pumpkin taste that'll have you running back to the kitchen for seconds. And that's perfect because the recipe also teaches you how to make your own pumpkin syrup, which you can store and use to make more pumpkin cold brew for the next two weeks. Thirds on coffee, anyone?
3-ingredient copycat Starbucks Vanilla Bean Créme Frappuccino recipe
Breakfast dessert in a cup is served, and it comes in the form of Starbucks' Vanilla Bean Créme Frappuccino. Equal parts creamy, icy, and smooth, this caffeine-free drink is perfect for any time of the day. Starbucks has wowed us many times with exciting and funky-colored frappes in the past, but this classic flavor has withstood the test of time.
We almost couldn't believe it ourselves, but our copycat Starbucks Vanilla Bean frappe recipe only takes three ingredients to make. Your wallet will sing when you realize just how much you're saving by making this dreamy drink at a fraction of the price. And you don't even need a fancy blender to make it. Your usual smoothie or bullet blender will do a fine job of recreating the Frappuccino experience at home.
But wait. It gets better. Vanilla Bean Créme is just the tip of the iced drink. Our tried-and-true recipe also guides you on how to copy some of your other favorite flavored Frappuccinos, like the Chai Crème Frappuccino and the Matcha Green Tea Crème Frappuccino. You'll be whipping up drinks like a seasoned barista in no time.
5-ingredient copycat Burger King French toast stick recipe
French toast sticks have got to be one of the best breakfast inventions of our time. Convenient, handy, snack-sized, and satisfying, these toasty soldiers pack so much flavor and satisfaction in one bite that we always devour half the box before we even remember to break out the syrup. What could be better than a breakfast you can eat like French fries and tastes like a maple-y, buttery slice of heaven?
Nothing, except having the luxury of enjoying them at home in a bathrobe and furry slippers. Level up your mornings with our simple five-ingredient copycat Burger King French toast stick recipe. You'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that this recipe only takes five minutes of prep time and five minutes of cooking time to make.
A breakfast like this can be whipped up quickly on a lazy Sunday morning for the whole family. And don't limit yourself to good ol' maple syrup either. Make a little breakfast bar for your loved ones by offering jam, chocolate sauce, Nutella, and peanut butter to dip your breakfast sticks into. With only a few ingredients and super easy prep, your mornings will be as golden as these deliciously crunchy copycat French toast sticks.
5-ingredient copycat McDonald's Sausage McMuffin with Egg recipe
The McDonald's Sausage McMuffin with Egg breakfast is the ultimate breakfast of our time. It has everything: savory sausage, melting cheese, and fluffy egg sandwiched between pillowy English muffin halves. The mere thought of this beautifully composed brekkie is enough to get our hearts racing and our stomachs rumbling.
Well, just when you thought mornings couldn't get any better, we developed a five-ingredient copycat McDonald's Sausage McMuffin with Egg recipe for you to try at home. From the brand of sausage to the buttery biscuit, we think we've cracked the code on McDonald's popular morning item. We even share the best way to make those cute little eggs fit perfectly inside your sandwich.
And because sometimes one just isn't enough, we also include directions on making multiple copycat McMuffins at once. You can store the prepared sandwiches in a freezer-safe bag and then reheat them in the microwave for an easy morning fix or late-night snack. Is your mouth watering yet? Start cooking now and thank us later!
Krispy Kreme glazed donuts copycat recipe
Don't even get us started on the unadulterated joy of biting into a soft, fresh Krispy Kreme donut. That shiny glaze bursting with sugary flavor, the fluffy fried dough cooked to perfection, the way your first bite melds seamlessly into the next bite so that you don't even have to come up for air. We think this divine experience is one every foodie should have at least once in their life.
Now, what if we told you that you could make these airy angels in your own kitchen, minus the preservative-y type ingredients like soy lecithin, diglycerides, and calcium and monocalcium sulfate? We're not saying our Krispy Kreme glazed donuts copycat recipe is any less sugary than the original (sorry, family dentist!), but at least we've cleaned up the ingredients list a bit for you.
This recipe is a fun one, complete with some dough rolling and good ol' deep frying. We even provide some tips on shaping your donut if you don't have a donut cutter at home. And we can't wait for you to try our version of the glaze, which features a hint of vanilla that really hits this yummy recipe out of the park. Pair these donuts with piping hot coffee for a next-level breakfast experience at home.
Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole copycat recipe
Wait, is it just us, or does your mouth water when you even look at a picture of Cracker Barrel's hashbrown casserole? We aren't sure if it's the cheese melting on top, the crispy bits of bacon, or the gorgeous golden edges on every slice, but something about this casserole just screams "Eat me right now!" This creamy, legendary Cracker Barrel favorite is perfect as breakfast or a side dish for lunch or dinner.
We couldn't help trying to recreate this hash brown-laden perfection in our own kitchens at home. Cracker Barrel doesn't list its ingredients, so we had to do some guessing and get creative to come up with a copycat Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole recipe. What we ended up with was basic ingredients you likely already have at home, such as butter, flour, and frozen hash browns and shortcuts like packaged shredded cheese to cut down on prep time.
With only 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking time, you can have your very own Cracker Barrel-style hashbrown casserole piping hot and ready to serve in under an hour. Bonus: If you leave out the optional bacon topping or put it on the side, you can serve this to your vegetarian friends as well!
Texas Roadhouse cinnamon butter and rolls copycat recipe
Texas Roadhouse is well known for its hearty breakfast entrees, but you gotta give it up for their house-made rolls too. In fact, we'd even go as far as to say that a Texas Roadhouse dinner isn't complete without those soft, fluffy rolls accompanied with cinnamon-spiced butter. It's like a warm-up round before you get your stomach into high gear for the main event.
If you want to learn how to make those buttery rolls at home, look no further. We're pretty sure we nailed the copycat Texas Roadhouse cinnamon butter and rolls recipe, right down to the cinnamon butter on the side. Texas Roadhouse doesn't post their ingredients, so we had to hunker down and do some trial and error to develop a good copycat recipe. After several tries, we discovered the right type of yeast and the perfect quantities to get the softest roll. And only a few test batches yielded the best technique for making that famous whipped butter to go with.
Pull out that old stand mixer you've been neglecting, and get ready to learn a few new tricks in the kitchen. You'll learn how to scald milk and how to make the perfect-sized rolls even if you don't own a kitchen scale. Once your dough has risen, you're only 15 minutes away from the butteriest, softest dinner rolls ever. We even included instructions for making and storing these ahead of time so you can break these delicious treats out any time you like.
Cinnabon cinnamon rolls copycat recipe
You know the aroma well. You can smell it a mile away. Even in a changing room on the other side of the mall, the trademark cinnamon scent of Cinnabon's rolls will beckon you until you push aside the pile of jeans you didn't want to try on anyway and scoot your hungry self over to the food court to meet your destiny. Don't blame yourself, hungry reader, this happens to the best of us. We're only following our natural instincts to chase down the most delectable of foods wherever we go.
But what if you actually need to get some shopping done? What if you really do need new jeans and shoes and maybe a coat? What then?
We're here to help. What if you try our Cinnabon cinnamon rolls copycat recipe for breakfast before heading out into the wild? Maybe, just once, you'll be able to curb the urge to stagger, zombie-like, to the Cinnabon stand. We're pretty sure we can satisfy your insatiable hunger with our homemade version of Cinnabon's best, complete with cream cheese frosting.
You can even make the dough ahead of time, let it rise overnight, and pop it into the oven in the morning. Can't you already imagine that irresistible aroma invading your kitchen first thing in the morning? Just don't blame us if you end up never leaving the house again.
Copycat IHOP buttermilk pancakes recipe
We have a lifetime love affair going on with IHOP's buttermilk pancakes. We can't get over the fluffy, golden texture and perfectly sweet taste of this insanely popular breakfast item. In so many ways, this classic pancake is the ideal breakfast that all other breakfasts are measured by.
Mastering the perfect, traditional buttermilk pancake isn't easy, but we went ahead and tried it anyway. The trick is in the right ingredients if you want to make these at home. But don't worry. They're likely items you already have at home: all-purpose flour, eggs, buttermilk, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, vegetable oil, nonstick spray, and salt. Hint: It's the baking soda that gets your pancake as fluffy as the ones at IHOP.
We're proud to say our copycat IHOP buttermilk pancakes recipe turned out fluffy and maybe even a teensy more flavorful than its restaurant counterpart. What's that? You think we're bragging? Well, there's only one way to find out, so get that skillet fired up and save us a pancake too, please!
Copycat McDonald's breakfast burrito recipe
McDonald's breakfast burrito combines two of the most wonderful things in life: breakfast and burritos. Never was there a more perfect or satisfying pairing than when some genius chef decided that all the best elements of breakfast, including eggs, cheese, and sausage, would fit snugly rolled into a floury tortilla. This is finger food, breakfast food, and lunch at its finest. Dinner too, if we're honest. Really, there's never a time when a breakfast burrito isn't welcome, and we welcome you to test that theory once you master our copycat McDonald's breakfast burrito recipe.
The ingredients are pretty simple fare: eggs, skim milk, sausage, and tortillas, to name a few. You may have to do a grocery run for the dehydrated onions and green chiles, but we think you'll enjoy the fruits of your labor nonetheless. The recipe even includes a tip on how to serve these brilliant burritos piping hot the way McDonald's does it.
Our tasters thought the result tasted just like the original, with its melting layers of American cheese and hot steamed tortilla to hold it all together. Serve it with chilled salsa or picante for a spicy kick. With only ten minutes prep time and eight minutes to cook, this recipe will have your family chowing down faster than you can say "I'm lovin' it."
Copycat Starbucks pumpkin bread recipe
We found an epic reason to break out that jar of pumpkin spice you've been holding onto forever. We know you were just waiting for the right recipe to come along so you could unleash the magic. And what better way to savor that sweet, spicy flavor than with your own homemade pumpkin bread?
The copycat Starbucks pumpkin bread recipe we came up with is inspired by those thick slices you drool over every time you're rattling off your usual PSL order. But instead of ordering by the slice at Starbucks, which gets expensive, you can have an entire loaf of this pumpkin bread at home, ready to eat anytime. Bonus: Your kitchen smells amazing for the rest of the day after baking!
The beauty of this recipe is how versatile it is. You can make it in a standard loaf pan, the way Starbucks does it, but it works just as well in a square pan, a round cake pan, or even a muffin tin. It's also a quick bread recipe, which means you don't need yeast and you don't need to wait around for the dough to rise. With only ten minutes of prep time and about an hour in the oven, this recipe frees up time for you to do other stuff around the house. Or you can just wait in the kitchen like we did while drooling and sniffing the sweet scent of baking pumpkin until it was ready. Hey, we work hard here, okay?
Copycat Starbucks egg bites recipe
Who doesn't want to wake up to bite-sized breakfast treats? Fluffy eggs combined with melting cheese, deli meat, fresh veggies and plenty of flavor are baked to delicious perfection in these egg bites. We couldn't resist the version with ham, cheddar and peppers as a breakfast that is certain to power up our day. This savory morning muffin is a Starbucks staple for a reason.
We went ahead and mimicked the egg bites recipe with this Starbucks copycat egg bites recipe. The ham, cheddar, and pepper egg bites we replicated is similar to a Denver-style omelet. Our five-ingredient recipe is just as good as the original and free of preservatives. Plus, this at-home recipe is ready in only 30 minutes. At that rate, making these might be quicker than waiting in an actual Starbucks line.
We've simplified the overall recipe by baking the copycat egg bites instead of the more complicated sous vide method. This resulted in the same perfectly cooked and moist bites as the ones at your local Starbucks, thanks to the addition of some yummy cottage cheese. The best part is that you can update the flavor on your own with bacon and gruyere or else make another Starbucks copycat version with egg whites, Monterey jack, and roasted red pepper. If you're pressed for time, you can even make them the night before and warm the bites up to keep your morning all the more mellow.