13 Valentine's Day Breakfast Recipes, Because What's More Romantic Than Someone Delivering Food to You in Bed

We've gathered our favorite special occasion breakfasts that even late risers won't mind being woken up for.

By
Genevieve Yam
Headshot of Genevieve Yam
Genevieve Yam
Culinary Editor
After graduating from the International Culinary Center, Genevieve cooked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se. Prior to joining Serious Eats, she was an editor at Epicurious. She grew up between Toronto and Hong Kong and is a graduate of the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She currently lives in New York with her husband and two cats.
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The Serious Eats Team
The Serious Eats Team
At Serious Eats, we’re a team of self-proclaimed food nerds who are ever-curious about the “why” behind cooking. The staff has worked in restaurants, test kitchens, bakeries, and other notable publications, bringing extensive culinary and editorial expertise to the table.
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Updated February 13, 2025
Side view of honey butter toast

Serious Eats / Robby Lozano. Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

The only thing I love more than lying in bed is someone bringing me breakfast in bed. It's a sweet gesture that sets the tone for the rest of the day: Even something as simple as two slices of buttered toast and a cup of coffee lets your significant other know you were thinking of them. Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to show your partner just how much you appreciate them by bringing them breakfast in bed—or if you don't want to risk the festival of crumbs and spilled coffee in bed, setting the table with a lovely breakfast. Below, we've gathered our favorite special occasion breakfasts that even late risers won't mind being woken up for, including foolproof eggs Benedict, custardy French toast, and one-bowl cinnamon rolls.

February 2016

  • Perfect Quick-and-Easy French Toast

    Quick and easy french toast, topped with butter and syrup

    Serious Eats / Eric Kleinberg

    After making batches and batches of French toast, our editorial director Daniel landed on the ideal ratio for eggs, milk, and sugar. Custardy, moist, light, and fluffy, his French toast is truly quick and easy, and requires just a handful of pantry staples.

  • Perfect Microwave Poached Eggs

    Overhead view of a cut poached egg

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    We found a faster, better way to make restaurant-worthy poached eggs—and it takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish. Serve these atop English muffins with some ham and hollandaise sauce, and you've got a restaurant-worthy eggs Benedict.

  • Creamy, Nutty Coffee Smoothie

    Overhead view of two coffee smoothies with glass straws

    Serious Eats / Jen Causey

    Coffee and breakfast rolled into one? Yes, please! Sweetened condensed milk lends both creaminess and sweetness to the smoothie, while almond butter adds a rich nuttiness that complements the coffee.

  • Foolproof Eggs Benedict

    Two foolproof Eggs Benedict on a ceramic plate. The yolk is broken on the left Benedict, showing that the eggs has been properly poached.

    Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

    Foolproof, stress-free eggs Benedict for breakfast in bed? If this doesn't impress your significant other, we don't know what will.

    Continue to 5 of 13 below

  • Honey-Butter Toast

    Side view of honey butter toast

    Serious Eats / Robby Lozano. Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

    This riff on brick toast is fluffy and soft on the inside, with a shatteringly crisp honey-butter exterior. Adding brown sugar to the honey-butter mixture makes the outside of the toast extra crackle, and a topping of yogurt and fresh fruit keeps the dish from being cloying.

  • Quiche Lorraine

    Overhead view of quiche

    Serious Eats / Deli Studios

    Quiche Lorraine is a French classic: Filled with Gruyère cheese and smoky bacon, it's unapologetically buttery and custardy, with a tender, flaky crust. Making a quiche may seem like a daunting project, it's actually pretty simple, and can be easily made ahead.

  • One-Skillet Eggs in Purgatory

    Overhead view of eggs in purgatory

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    This one-skillet Southern Italian dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce is fantastic for breakfast or brunch. The rich yolks mingle with the spicy sauce, and everything gets scooped up with crusty bread.

  • Hong Kong-Style French Toast

    Side view of Hong Kong french toast

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    With a custardy interior that oozes peanut butter and a generous drizzle of condensed milk, this is the breakfast of champions. It's worth taking the time to shallow-fry the sandwich, which recreates the golden look and freshly fried flavor of classic Hong Kong French toast.

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  • One-Bowl Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

    Cinnamon rolls in pan with a roll served on a plate peeking into frame

    Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

    The magic of this recipe for overnight one-bowl cinnamon rolls ensures that all the heavy lifting is knocked out a day ahead. Prep these the night before, bake them in the morning, and your valentine will get to wake up to the smell of freshly made cinnamon rolls.

  • Soufflé Omelette With Cheese

    20190122-souffle-omelet-vicky-wasik-15
    Vicky Wasik

    Much simpler than a classic soufflé, this light and fluffy omelette is cooked in a skillet and requires little more than eggs, cheese, and a few extra minutes. No need to prep a soufflé dish or preheat an oven, and no need need to make a béchamel or pastry cream base.

  • Classic French Omelette

    20160323-french-omelet-vicky-wasik--29.jpg
    Photograph: Vicky Wasik. Video: Serious Eats Team

    The French omelette is the best of all possible omelettes: A tidy package of finesse and delicacy, with a smooth exterior cradling creamy, tender soft-scrambled eggs.

  • Buttermilk Vanilla Waffles

    buttermilk waffle segments topped with butter and maple syrup on a baking sheet
    Vicky Wasik

    The batter for these light, crisp waffles comes together in just one bowl. Buttermilk gives the waffles a pleasantly tangy flavor, a touch of melted butter keeps the waffles tender, and sugar helps promote a golden crust.

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  • Bakery-Style Cream Scones With Milk Chocolate

    20170125-chocolate-scones-vicky-wasik-12.jpg
    Vicky Wasik

    Not a big breakfast person? How about a bakery-style scone speckled with chocolate chunks? Served with a cup of coffee, these scones

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