13 Cold Breakfasts for When It’s Just Too Dang Hot Outside
Beat the heat first thing in the morning.
If your idea of breakfast looks like a big plate of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon or a stack of fluffy pancakes smothered in maple syrup, you aren’t the only one. But when the weather heats up, a piping-hot meal is probably the last thing you’re craving. And between pool days and summer camps, you might not have the time to prepare a freshly baked loaf or a sizzling breakfast casserole for the family.
That’s where cold breakfast recipes come into play. Like the best cold dinner ideas, these refreshing recipes are perfect for sweltering summer mornings when it’s just too hot to turn on the oven or stand over the stove. Each one is chock-full of chilled ingredients that’ll keep you cool all season long while fueling you for whatever sunny adventure the day has in store. Plus, you can batch-cook many of these dishes in advance, so you can sleep in a little longer and fuel up a little faster.
Want to jumpstart your day with a serving of fruit? There are plenty of nutritious and delicious ways to enjoy the summer’s freshest produce—think: fruit salads, yogurt parfaits, simple smoothies, and more. For other sweet breakfast options, look to one of the many overnight oat variations that you can prep ahead and finish off with all your favorite toppings. But if you tend to lean toward savory foods first thing in the morning, try the avocado toast, hard-boiled eggs, or breakfast-inspired salad on our list. Whatever recipe speaks to you, these cold breakfast ideas will help you beat the summer heat while satisfying your taste buds.
Peach Smoothie
Make the most of peak-season peaches by combining frozen slices with bananas, milk, and Greek yogurt in a blender. A pinch of cinnamon and a dash of honey will give it a sweet finishing touch.
Get the Peach Smoothie recipe.
Avocado Toast
Crusty bread topped with creamy avocado makes for the perfect cold summer breakfast—especially if you use refrigerated avocados! Top each slice with pico de Gallo, hard-boiled eggs, or mangoes and coconut for extra flavor.
Get the Avocado Toast recipe.
Frozen Yogurt Bark
Give Greek yogurt a summery upgrade by folding in berry preserves; sprinkling on fresh fruit, shredded coconut, and sunflower seeds; and popping it in the freezer for a few hours. After letting it set, you’ll have frozen chunks for days!
Get Ree’s Frozen Yogurt Bark recipe.
Easy-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
One of the most versatile cold breakfast ideas? Hard-boiled eggs. Make a big batch at the beginning of the week to enjoy with avocado toast, breakfast bowls, or a little salt and pepper. Just be sure to use Ree’s foolproof peeling method!
Get Ree’s Easy-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs recipe.
Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats
Channel all the coziness of Ree’s famous cinnamon rolls into a cold breakfast idea that’s perfect for sunny summer mornings. This chilled recipe is packed with cinnamon-sugar goodness that you can prep days in advance.
Get the Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats recipe.
Yogurt Parfait
A simple yogurt parfait is basically made for busy summer mornings. Layer this cold breakfast idea with fresh berries, crunchy granola, and creamy yogurt for a refreshing and satisfying start to a hot day.
Get the Yogurt Parfait recipe.
Breakfast Salad
Salads aren’t just for lunch and dinner! Hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and cherry tomatoes turn a bed of spinach into a nutritious morning meal. This dish will cool you off and keep you full for hours.
Get the Breakfast Salad recipe.
Rainbow Fruit Breakfast Skewers
Colorful fruit skewers are a fun and refreshing way to kick off a scorching summer day. Each kebab is loaded with seasonal fruit, plus sprinkled-studded donut holes for a sweet surprise.
Tiramisu Overnight Oats
Overnight oats aren’t just cooling, but they’re also an easy grab-and-go breakfast idea that you can prep ahead. This tiramisu-inspired version is infused with coffee for a quick boost of energy before it’s finished off with a dollop of tangy yogurt.
Get the Tiramisu Overnight Oats recipe.
Watermelon Smoothie
Blending up a mix of seasonal fruit is a cold breakfast idea that’s fast, flavorful, and oh-so fresh. In addition to juicy watermelon, this smoothie features strawberries and bananas, plus vanilla Greek yogurt for substance and creaminess.
Get the Watermelon Smoothie recipe.
Sunrise Fruit Salad
Sliced pineapples, oranges, mango, and watermelon, plus a sprinkle of toasted coconut, will transport you to the tropics. This cold breakfast idea is easy to whip up, and it’ll keep for days in the fridge.
Get Ree's Sunrise Fruit Salad recipe.
Overnight Oats
While there are endless ways to doctor up overnight oats, you can’t go wrong with a no-frills recipe. Rolled oats are combined with chia seeds, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and almond milk before chilling in the fridge for a few hours.
Get the Overnight Oats recipe.
Red-and-Green Fruit Salad with Mint Syrup
As if this cold breakfast idea couldn't get any better, it's topped with an extra-cooling mint syrup. You can chop the strawberries, honeydew, grapes, and kiwis the night before, and serve yourself a scoop the following morning.
Get Ree's Red-and-Green Fruit Salad recipe.
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