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23 Cold Breakfasts To Make When It's Just TOO Hot Out

No need to break a sweat!

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acai playa bowl topped with bananas, strawberries, coconut shreds, and granola
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

When it’s hot out, we can't even imagine a piping hot bowl of oatmeal or a steaming stack of just-made pancakes. Instead, we find ourselves looking for something decidedly chiller to start our mornings. Enter: these 23 cold breakfasts that’ll fuel you up, without you having to break a sweat to make them. Not only are these all perfectly delicious served cold, they’re also almost all very easy to throw together, perfect for enjoying as you run out the door to enjoy the sunshine. And don’t worry, they’re not ALL last-minute breakfasts either—we’ve got a few stunners here that are perfect for an outdoor summer brunch spread too.

Let’s start with the classics: when it comes to cold breakfasts, it’s hard to beat overnight oats, chia pudding, or a smoothie. We’ve got a few flavor options here, including a green smoothie, pb&j overnight oats, and a mango lassi (kind of like a tropical cross between a smoothie and a milkshake), but feel free to get creative with it too. Pretty much any and all fruits, nut butters, jams, and more will be great in these, so mix and match your faves. You could even turn them into a smoothie bowl, like our dole whip smoothie bowls, our copycat acai Playa Bowls. They're the perfect compromise when you're craving a smoothie, but still want to eat with a spoon. 😉

We’ve also got a few wild card, snackier options here, like our cold brew popsicles (perfect for all you only-coffee-for-breakfast people), our cottage cheese bark, our Greek salad cottage cheese bowls, or our fro-yo fruit bites. Eat them for breakfast, or as an afternoon snack…they’re great any time of day.

And don’t think we’ve forgotten about eggs, either! Though they are excellent eaten warm, we love our frittata, our copycat Starbucks egg bites, and our egg muffins because they’re also pretty yummy cold or at room temperature. Bake up a batch at the beginning of the week, then grab them out of the fridge on your way out the door all week long (psa: they also make for the perfect high-protein midnight snack too).

1

Blended Overnight Oats

blended overnight oats in a jar with toppings
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

When it comes to easy, flavor-packed, and make-ahead breakfasts, overnight oats always deliver. Then blended overnight oats started to pop up on our TikTok feeds, and we needed to see if they lived up to the hype. Did they ever! Blending the ingredients together gives the finished recipe a thick, almost pudding-like texture.

Get the Blended Overnight Oats recipe.

2

Copycat Acai Playa Bowls

acai playa bowl topped with bananas, strawberries, coconut shreds, and granola
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Love a sweet treat from Playa Bowls, but hate leaving the coziness of your house? This copycat Nutella Acai Bowl was made just for you. It’s identical to Playa Bowls's most popular flavor, but the best part about making it at home is you can customize how you like, no upcharge!

Get the Copycat Acai Playa Bowls recipe.

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3

Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowl

cottage cheese, soft boiled eggs, and a cucumber tomato salad topped with pita chips
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Both cottage cheese and hard-boiled eggs provide the protein for these bowls. Simply spoon a serving of cottage cheese into a bowl and top with all of those quintessential Mediterranean ingredients—cucumber salad, olives, capers...really, whatever you like!

Get the Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowl recipe.

4

Chia Pudding

chia pudding with berries, granola, and jam
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Not only do chia seeds pack in the health benefits, but once mixed with milk and refrigerated, they turn into the most delicious, creamy pudding that only requires 5 minutes of prep time. Take it out the following morning, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy it as a healthy breakfast, an energizing snack, or a refreshing summer treat.

Get the Chia Pudding recipe.

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5

Cottage Cheese Bark

cottage cheese with peanut butter, raspberry jam, and granola
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Is it just us, or is cottage cheese like, totally back? We’ve given this '90s classic a modern facelift by turning it into a peanut butter and jelly bark. Packed with protein, this cottage cheese treat is like a bowl of yogurt that you can hold in your hand.

Get the Cottage Cheese Bark recipe.

6

Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites

whipped eggs and cottage cheese blended with crispy bacon or sauteed kale and mushroom and steamed in the oven until fluffy
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Giving cold hard cash to Starbucks seems far-fetched in this economy, even if that cash is in exchange for their fluffy, cheesy, protein-packed egg bites. Lucky for you (and your wallet), we've figured out a perfect dupe for the iconic breakfast bites that only taste like you shelled out $5 for one.

Get the Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites recipe.

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7

Cold Brew Popsicles

cold brew popsicles
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Are you the type who only drinks cold brew for breakfast? Turn your go-to iced drink into something more exciting and substantial by freezing it. Bonus: if you're the type to crave multiple cups during the day, these popsicles are the BEST way to get your afternoon fix.

Get the Cold Brew Popsicles recipe.

8

Fro-Yo Fruit Bites

frozen yogurt cubes with pieces of fruit in them
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

All you need are 4 ingredients (plus your chosen fruit!) to create these bites: yogurt, milk, honey, and vanilla. They come together in only 10 minutes—just make sure to give them plenty of time to chill in the freezer. Make them the night before, then enjoy the easiest breakfast or afternoon snack the next day.

Get the Fro-Yo Fruit Bites recipe.

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9

No-Bake Fruit & Granola Tart

no bake fruit and granola breakfast tart topped with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries on a platter
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Looking for a show-stopping springtime brunch centerpiece? Crowned with an abundance of fresh berries, this no-bake chilled breakfast tart is equally easy to make and stunning to look at.

Get the No-Bake Fruit & Granola Tart recipe.

10

Frittata

frittata with spinach mushrooms and ricotta
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Quiche’s less-fussy cousin, frittatas are the answer to almost every meal dilemma. Looking to get creative with your leftovers? Veggies going bad in your fridge? Home late and craving a simple breakfast-for-dinner recipe? Say it with us: frittata, frittata, frittata.

Get the Frittata recipe.

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11

Overnight Oats

overnight oats
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

On busy mornings, nothing beats overnight oats for breakfast. They’re an easy, no-bake version of classic oatmeal that only takes a few minutes to prepare. Prep them the night before, tuck them into your fridge to soak, and you’ll have a chilled, creamy, on-the-go breakfast waiting for you in the morning.

Get the Overnight Oats recipe.

12

Dole Whip Smoothie Bowls

pineapple dole whip smoothie bowl in a blue bowl topped with pineapple, banana, blackberries, cherries, and toasted coconut flakes
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Imagine a whirlwind of frozen fruits, a symphony of toasty granola notes, and the creaminess of coconut milk dancing together in perfect harmony. This refreshing blend, starring frozen bananas, mangoes, and pineapples, serves up a tropical celebration fit for vacation (or just an average weekday).

Get the Dole Whip Smoothie Bowls recipe.

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13

Cookie Cereal

mini chocolate chip cookie pieces
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We absolutely love this mini-chocolate chip cookie cereal because it channels nostalgia and tastes way better than anything you can buy at the store. With brown sugar, a good dose of vanilla, loads of mini chocolate chips, and a teeny bit of espresso powder, each mini cookie really packs in the flavor.

Get the Cookie Cereal recipe.

14

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

peanut butter banana smoothie with banana slices and cinnamon on top
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Smoothies are one of the easiest and best ways to ensure you are having the most important meal of the day: breakfast. With this easy recipe, all you need are a few staple pantry ingredients and 5 minutes, you’ll have a versatile, filling, and quick breakfast on your hands to kickstart your morning.

Get the Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie recipe.

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15

Green Smoothie

green smoothie blended in a glass
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

For those mornings when we really need to get a boost of greens, we turn to this perfect green smoothie. Packed with good-for-you fruits and veggies, this smoothie has everything you need to keep you full and energized till lunch. Plus, it's downright delicious. :D

Get the Green Smoothie recipe.

16

PB&J Overnight Oats

pb and j overnight oats

Overnight oats are a meal prepper's dream: All you do is stir together ingredients in a large bowl, let them set overnight, and then divvy up portions for the week. This PB&J twist tastes just like your favorite sandwich—top it off with a drizzle of melty peanut butter if you wanna feel a little indulgent.

Get the PB&J Overnight Oats recipe.

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17

Egg Muffins

best ever egg muffins

Egg muffins are one of the BEST healthy breakfasts for meal prepping because you easily make a big batch of them at once. They will keep in your fridge for up to 7 days, so you can grab them on your way out the door all week!

Get the Egg Muffins recipe.

18

Blueberry Smoothie

blueberry smoothie with spinach
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Craving a smoothie, but not a banana fan? This blueberry smoothie is just as creamy, but skips the tropical fruit in lieu of almond butter and oat milk.

Get the Blueberry Smoothie recipe.

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19

Hard-Boiled Eggs

air fryer hard boiled eggs seasoned with salt and pepper
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Nothing beats a perfectly boiled egg, but short of cracking one open, it can be difficult to know when yours is perfectly cooked. Rest assured, we have a few tricks to get you that perfect hard-boiled texture without tearing apart the cooked whites.

Get the Hard-Boiled Eggs recipe.

20

Yogurt Parfait

best ever parfait
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY

When you're in the mood for a sweet breakfast, but don't want to load up on something heavy like pancakes or waffles, give this parfait a try. Made with a simple fruit compote—just fruit, sugar, and water—yogurt, and granola, these are also easily customized, so get creative.

Get the Yogurt Parfait recipe.

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