Best Morning Bun & Coffee Cake Recipes

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Romney Steele

Chocolate Apricot Wreath

Imagine an extravagant cinnamon roll twisted into a ring, and you’ve got the idea here. The filling riffs on a recipe in Plum Gorgeous (Andrews McMeel, 2011; $25).

Recipe: Chocolate Apricot Wreath

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Romney Steele

Upside-down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-roasted Pears

This old-fashioned, moist cake, jazzed up with vanilla bean and roasted pears, takes on even more flavor if you start the pears a day ahead so they can steep in their syrup.

Recipe: Upside-down Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Sherry-roasted Pears

Photo by Leigh Beisch; written by Elaine Johnson

Blueberry-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Crunchy almonds and a gooey berry filling top a buttery but not too decadent cake.

Recipe: Blueberry-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Photo by Scott Peterson; written by Elaine Johnson

Brown Sugar-Banana Coffee Cakes

Each person gets a mini cake, made in jumbo or regular muffin pans.

Recipe: Brown Sugar-Banana Coffee Cakes

Written by Elaine Johnson

Giant Cinnamon Rolls

Roll up a swirl of cinnamon-sugar into the dough, then top the warm rolls with cinnamon butter.

Recipe: Giant Cinnamon Rolls

Photo by Dan Goldberg; written by Elaine Johnson

Apple-Pecan Breakfast Buns

The fruit and nuts bake underneath these cinnamon rolls, then you flip the warm buns over like an upside-down cake.

Recipe: Apple-Pecan Breakfast Buns

Photo by Minh+Wass; written by Elaine Johnson

Cardamom Rolls

For a change of pace from the usual cinnamon, try rolls made with freshly ground cardamom.

Recipe: Cardamom Rolls

Photo by Leo Gong; written by Elaine Johnson

Coconut-milk Pudding Rolls

Try serving these tropical rolls with fruit salad for brunch.

Recipe: Coconut-milk Pudding Rolls

Photo by Tina Rupp; written by Elaine Johson

Blueberry Banana Bread

A banana chip and cinnamon streusel make this loaf bread fancy.

Recipe: Blueberry Banana Bread

Photo by Penina; written by Elaine Johnson

Banana Almond Cake

Sprinkle a layer of spiced streusel inside the cake and on top.

Recipe: Banana Almond Cake

Photo by Leigh Beisch; written by Elaine Johnson

Cranberry-Orange Bread with Grand Marnier Glaze

Made with lots of bright cranberries, the bread is especially pretty for a holiday table—and it makes two loaves.

Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Bread with Grand Marnier Glaze

Photo by James Carrier; written by Elaine Johnson

Orange-Apricot Sweet Bread

You can bake extras of this sour cream-based bread to send home with guests as gifts.

Recipe: Orange-Apricot Sweet Bread

12 best morning bun & coffee cake recipes