At The Original Pancake House in Denver, we often associate summer with relaxed mornings and leisurely summer breakfasts.  In reality, some summer days are quite rushed, scooting the kids off to camp, or getting up early to hit the trails before it gets too hot.  For those days, we have collected a few of our favorite make-at-home, easy-breezy summer breakfast recipes.

Here they are!

 

No-Bake Chocolate Energy Bites: We love these because they make a delicious and easy breakfast, or snack on the go!  Freeze them and save them for a day when you are short on time!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup no stir almond butter or creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Up to 4 tsp warm water , as needed
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats (raw)
  • 3/4 cup toasted or raw coconut
  • 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
  • 6 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, stir together almond butter, honey, vanilla and cocoa powder. If mixture seems too thick stir in 2 tsp warm water to thin. Add oats, coconut, flaxseed meal and chocolate chips and stir until evenly coated. At this point if mixture still doesn’t stick well, stir in up to 2 tsp water as needed. Transfer mixture to refrigerator or freezer and chill until nearly set and easier to handle.
  2. Remove from refrigerator and shape into 1-inch balls. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.

 

Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie – this recipe wins points for being super easy (all you need is a blender!), and for using up the inevitable watermelon leftovers you’ll have after buying a whole melon.  

 

Simply combine the following ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth:

  • 1 1/2 cups fresh watermelon, cubed (black seeds removed)
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1/2 ripe banana previously peeled, chopped and frozen
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 Tbsp chia or hemp seeds (optional)

 

Overnight Blueberry Cobbler Oatmeal: Make this one the night before and it’s ready to eat for a morning on the run!

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 plus cup plus 2 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
  • 1/2 cup milk, I used almond but any milk will do
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar (I use 2 if I drizzle on extra honey)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
  • pecans, optional
  • honey, optional

 

Instructions:

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together oats, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Fold in blueberries.
  2. Divide evenly between 2 small bowls and cover to refrigerate. Leave in the fridge for at least 5 hours or overnight. Enjoy with a drizzle of honey and your favorite nuts, if desired.

 

And for those days that you do have time for a leisurely summer breakfast, come in and join us at The Original Pancake House for breakfast in Denver!  We’ll take good care of you and your belly! Happy Summer!