From nutrient-dense acai bowls and flaky scones to creamy “cashewgurt” and scrumptious cookies (yes, cookies!), you won’t have to miss any of your morning favorites just because you’re on a vegan-friendly diet. Hearty whole grains, like rolled oats, buckwheat and spelt, offer filling protein and fiber to help you curb hunger and stay satisfied until mid-morning or lunch. Meanwhile, avocados, beans and nuts lend a rich, creamy texture and are healthier alternatives to artery-clogging butter. Whether you’re following Vegan Before 6 or taking the plunge into a vegan lifestyle, here are 13 energizing vegan breakfast recipes to help you start your day.
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13 Vegan Breakfast Recipes to Jumpstart Your Morning
1. Matcha Breakfast Pizza
A smorgasbord of superfood toppings, this hearty breakfast pizza is an antioxidant awakening! Ground cinnamon and pure maple syrup provide robust flavor to a nutrient-dense “crust” made from buckwheat flour and health-boosting matcha powder. Creamy coconut yogurt is the “sauce,” while goji berries, bee pollen, nuts, seeds and banana slices provide a delicious crunch. Recipe: Sophie Bradshaw Photo: Breakfast Criminals
2. Tofu Scramble Recipe with Roasted Tomatoes
Tofu’s meaty texture and the cheesy flavor of nutritional yeast give this breakfast dish an eggy essence. (Promise: You won’t miss ‘em!) Health-boosting turmeric brightens the recipe with a yellow color and lends a warm, peppery flavor. When combined with garlic powder and mixed herbs, it becomes a melting pot of seasonings. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
3. Raw Cashewgurt Bowl
Store-bought yogurt tends to be filled with processed ingredients, fillers, and added sugars. Take the guesswork out of your meal planning equation and enjoy this flavorful “cashewgurt” instead. Cashews are a great source of filling protein and healthy fats, and when blended, they have the same consistency as yogurt. This recipe also features psyllium husks powder, which serves as a thickening agent to make the mixture creamier (and packs fiber to help ease digestive issues). Enjoy it with granola and fresh fruit. Photo and recipe: Green Kitchen Stories
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4. Whole-Grain Raspberry Energy Bar
Store-bought granola bars are usually loaded with sugar, hydrogenated oils and other highly processed ingredients. These energizing bars rely on wholesome ingredients, like old-fashioned rolled oats, ground flaxseeds, walnuts, whole-wheat flour and wheat germ, to give it the chewy texture we love. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
5. Ultimate 4-Layer Vegan Sandwich
If you have a savory tooth, this Oh She Glows recipe was made for you. Sprouted grain bread is slathered with a flavorful homemade sun-dried tomato hemp basil pesto and hummus and packs a double dose of protein. Red pepper flakes give it a little kick, and lemon juice adds some zest. Photo and recipe: Angela Liddon / Oh She Glows
6. Cashew Cream and Fruit Parfait
Just because you’re following a vegan diet, doesn’t mean parfaits are off the menu! Heavenly layers of mousse-like cashew cream and fresh fruit not only offer melt-in-your-mouth flavor but provide satiating protein, fat and fiber. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
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7. Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies
If portion control is your kryptonite, these gluten-free and Paleo-friendly cookies will help you stay on track. Just one serving is sure to satisfy your sweet fix in the morning. Almonds, walnuts, flax meal and unsweetened coconut flakes make a nutrient-dense cookie dough, and mashed banana replaces egg to bind the mixture together. Enjoy it with some unsweetened almond milk for a well-rounded breakfast. Photo and recipe: Alexa Schrim / Life by Daily Burn
8. Spiced Apple Cider Donuts
Unlike traditional donuts made with white flour, these apple cider donuts are made with spelt flour, which help stabilize your blood-sugar levels and keep hunger at bay. Coconut sugar and unsweetened applesauce are healthy swaps for sugar, and cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger will pack robust flavor that will make you nostalgic for fall. Dunk these donuts in your morning cup of joe or enjoy them with afternoon tea. Photo and recipe: The Pretty Bee
9. Vegan French Toast
We know what you’re thinking, “French toast without eggs?” Nutritional yeast helps thicken the batter, giving this recipe all the comfort food qualities of the classic dish. Freshly ground nutmeg and cinnamon impart a nutty, sweet flavor. And thankfully, pure maple syrup and powdered sugar are vegan-friendly so you can enjoy these traditional fixings with your dish. Photo and recipe: Love & Lemons
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10. Simple Mango Chia Pudding
Chia seeds offer a boost of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and because it has the perfect combination of fat, protein and fiber, they also help balance your body’s blood sugar levels. Chia seed puddings can be made ahead of time since the chia seeds need time to soak in the liquid (in this case coconut milk) and form into a gelatinous paste. Pack them in portable Mason jars or Tupperware so you can take them along with you. Photo and recipe: Nutrition Stripped
11. Acai Breakfast Bowl
You can live out last night’s dreams of an exotic vacation with this colorful Brazilian-inspired dish. Bonus: You don’t have to travel thousands of miles to experience a sweet escape. Acai berries, coconut flakes and banana slices bring the flavors of the tropics to you. And if you want more smoothie bowl inspiration, we’ve got nine more! Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
12. Vegan Banana Nut Scones
Just say no to the calorie-bomb coffee shop confections. These grab-and-go scones are perfect for busy mornings when you don’t have time to whip something up. Coconut oil and ripe bananas keep the scones extra moist, and crushed pecans and walnuts add a hearty crunch. To help you cut down on sugar, skip the maple glaze and spread a natural nut butter of your choice instead. Photo and recipe: Cookie + Kate
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13. Blueberry Buckwheat Breakfast Pudding
Contrary to the “wheat” in its name, buckwheat is actually a fruit seed. Similar to quinoa, buckwheat’s grainy texture makes it a great gluten-free alternative to whole grains. Buckwheat groats are soaked overnight to help soften them up, and then are blended with antioxidant-rich blueberries. Maple syrup and banana sweeten things up and lemon juice rounds out the flavor. Photo and recipe: Renee Blair / Life by Daily Burn