What to Make For Breakfast on Thanksgiving

Although Thanksgiving dinner tends to steal the show, at Bob’s Red Mill, we’re big fans of Thanksgiving breakfast! We think that nothing starts a food-filled holiday off in the right way quite like a wholesome, homemade breakfast. 

Whether we’re whipping up a batch of homemade pumpkin donuts or setting out a parfait table with all the fixings, we take our breakfast for Thanksgiving morning just as serious as our holiday dinner.

If you’re looking to get creative with Thanksgiving Day breakfast ideas, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a complete guide with an assortment of inspiration for Thanksgiving Day breakfast. From quick and festive smoothies, to sweet and gooey cinnamon rolls, read on for some of our team’s top favorites.

Tips for Thanksgiving Day Breakfast 

With a handful of simple tips, breakfast for Thanksgiving morning can become just as well-loved as the evening’s feast. Get set up for a day of delightful food surprises by incorporating some fun morning traditions into the festivities. 

1. Don’t Forget Fresh Fruit

It’s easy to load up on sweets and eggs in the morning, but don’t forget the importance of fresh fruit. Not only is fruit a nutritious way to start the morning, but it couldn’t be easier to slice up some seasonal fruit and set it out on the Thanksgiving table. Go for fruits that are in season, like apples, figs, pomegranates and pears. You can also set out some yogurt and granola to encourage family and friends to whip up a quick parfait. 

2. Jazz up the Coffee Bar

To make breakfast for Thanksgiving morning extra special this year, create a fancy coffee bar to get the early risers excited. Give your coffee a hint of seasonal flavor but adding pumpkin spice or cinnamon to the grounds. A pumpkin whipped cream, like this one from The First Year, is delicious and perfect for coffee and hot cocoa. 

3. Go for Casseroles

Casseroles and other make-ahead dishes are perfect for Thanksgiving morning, especially if you’re hosting a gathering later on in the day. Prepare your casserole ahead of time, then in the morning, pop it in the oven. You (and your houseguests) will be thankful and eager to dive in. 

4. Don’t Fear Heavy Foods

If you’re planning on eating a big dinner in the early evening, chances are you may forego lunch. Get your family members and friends well fed with a big breakfast. Especially if you have early risers in the group, it’s not a bad idea to serve heavy foods like casseroles and bread during breakfast for Thanksgiving morning. 

5. Think Homemade Baked Goods

Homemade baked goods are one of our favorite dishes for Thanksgiving Day breakfast, especially when they’re chock full of wholesome ingredients. Make your muffins a little heartier by adding walnuts or give your bread some extra oomph with a handful of pecans or pumpkin seeds. 

Thanksgiving Day Breakfast Ideas

If you’re looking for delicious Thanksgiving Day breakfast ideas, you’ve come to the right spot. We’ve compiled a list of all our favorites, so you can take the guesswork out of Thanksgiving morning and dine in style.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread with Flaxseeds and Pepitas

Pumpkin bread is a great addition to breakfast for Thanksgiving morning. This Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread with Flaxseeds and Pepitas is easy-to-make and topped with flaxseeds, pepitas and chia seeds for an added boost of morning nutrition. It’s moist, delicious and jam-packed with fiber. It looks beautiful when set out on the Thanksgiving morning table and pairs perfectly with a mug of hot herbal tea. You can also add this Coconut Apple Bread with Caramel Glaze. It comes to Bob’s Red Mill from Zainab Mansaray-Storms of Blahnik Baker and is a special treat for chilly fall morning or holiday gatherings. As the recipe headnote mentions, a slice of this bread with a cup of coffee is perfect for the season as we start entertaining family and catch up on life. 

Fine Herbs Quiche

Quiche is a wonderful Thanksgiving Day breakfast, as it will fill guests up and some protein to the morning. This simple and flavorful Fine Herbs Quiche can be served on its own or with a side of fruit. We love the flavors of marjoram, chives, parsley and tarragon, along with the decadent addition of shredded gruyere. The best part about serving this for Thanksgiving Day breakfast is that it can be chilled and served cold. Whip it up the night before, pop it in the fridge and come Thanksgiving morning, you’ll have a delightful quiche ready to be sliced and enjoyed. You can also go the route of a simple Quiche Lorraine with bacon, milk, cream, eggs, gruyere and Gluten Free Pie Crust Mix. To really get guests excited, serve a quiche assortment and encourage them to enjoy a selection of small slices. This dish would also make a great brunch addition, too!

Gluten Free Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Cake for breakfast is always a good idea, especially when it comes to breakfast for Thanksgiving morning! This Gluten Free Cranberry Upside Down Cake is both festive and beautiful. Despite its elaborate appearance, the cake is easy to make and comes together fast. It will keep in an airtight container, so if you’d like, you can feel free to make it a day or two ahead of time. While Thanksgiving dinner is all about the cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving breakfast is all about the cranberry cake (and we’re quite alright with that). 

Pumpkin Spice Booster 

If your turkey day is a busy one filled with activity, get it started with a healthy and wholesome smoothie. Our Pumpkin Spice Booster is an excellent source of protein, fiber and iron and contains 240mg of omega-3 per serving. When you’re looking for a quick breakfast for Thanksgiving morning, smoothies do the trick! We love that this one calls for just four ingredients and can be whipped up in just a matter of minutes. 

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade cinnamon rolls are another one of our tasty Thanksgiving Day breakfast ideas that kids will love. These Apple Cinnamon Rolls incorporate the flavors of the season and are moist and luscious. For a unique twist, the dough is wrapped around sweet, spiced apple. After you’ve topped the rolls with cream cheese icing, give them an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, or perhaps pumpkin spice! You can also try these Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls, which utilize our Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix to make them even easier to throw together!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes

No Thanksgiving Day Breakfast would be complete without a piping hot batch of pumpkin pancakes. These Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes from Dani Krum of Dani Marie are filled with just the right amount of pumpkin flavor. You can give them a boost of extra protein by serving your flapjacks with a dollop of nut butter or some plain Greek yogurt drizzled with pure maple syrup. This is a decadent pancake treat fit for the most festive Thanksgiving breakfast table. To really get a taste of the season, serve with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice and a pumpkin spice latte! If you’re a huge fan of pumpkin pancakes, you can also try our Gluten Free Baked Pumpkin Pancake. This pumpkin pancake is made with our Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour, pumpkin and spices and can be made dairy and egg-free.

Gluten Free Baked Pumpkin Donuts

To really wow your family for Thanksgiving Day breakfast, make homemade donuts! These Gluten Free Baked Pumpkin Donuts are super simple to create and comes together quickly. The donut batter is made with our Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour and the frosting is a delicious blend of powdered sugar, maple syrup and milk. Give these donuts a sprinkle of your favorite autumn spices and settle into the smells of the season. Our Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts recipe is another fun one to experiment with on Thanksgiving morning. We use reduced apple cider and lots of fresh nutmeg and cinnamon before rolling the warm donuts in a cinnamon-sugar mixture to bring out the flavors of the season. Whether you go for one of both of these recipes, homemade donuts are a delicious tradition to bring to the breakfast table. 

Whether you’re making parfaits, pancakes, donuts or all of the above, we hope this article has inspired your breakfast for Thanksgiving morning. Turn on your favorite music, pour yourself a cup of hot coffee (complete with pumpkin whipped cream) and settle into the smells of the holiday. 

Have any favorite Thanksgiving Day breakfast ideas? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below. We’re always on the hunt for new, pumpkin-inspired treats to create. 

From all of us at Bob’s Red Mill, wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season ahead! Whether you’re gathering around the table for Thanksgiving Day breakfast or dinner, we hope it’s a day filled with love, warmth and tasty flavors.