Breakfast is the meal most of us repeat without thinking. In a Mexican kitchen it is also one of the best meals of the day, with chilaquiles, huevos and a stack of warm tortillas on the table. Our guides to breakfast tacos and Mexican brunch cover that side of things.
A good breakfast book gives you more than eggs. This guide picks seven books from named authors and publishers, from a 1980s classic to a brunch book published this year, and says what the publisher and any named reviewers report. None of them is a Mexican cookbook, so think of them as ways to widen your morning.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for in a cookbook, the Amazon listing, publisher and author information and published reviews, which we name where we use them.
Quick verdict: the best breakfast cookbook to start with
For most cooks, start with Marion Cunningham’s The Breakfast Book, with 288 recipes and 40 menus, according to its publisher. If you want a modern book that runs from eggs to pastry, choose Waylynn Lucas’s Sunny-Side Up. If you want big Southern plates, choose John Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast.
The other four cover morning baking, seasonal brunch, a short everyday collection and hosting friends.
Five breakfast books side by side
Five of the seven, one for each kind of morning, with what each listing or publisher gives. All seven are described in full below.
| Cookbook | Best for | Recipes | Length | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Breakfast Book, Marion CunninghamBest overall
|
Every kind of morning | 288, plus 40 menus | 336 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Sunny-Side Up, Waylynn LucasBest modern all-rounder
|
Eggs to pastry | More than 100 | 240 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
![Big Bad Breakfast: The Most Important Book of the Day [A Cookbook]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gie4W0IPL._SL500_.jpg)
Big Bad Breakfast, John CurrenceBest Southern breakfast
|
Big weekend plates | 75, says PW | 272 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
100 Morning Treats, Sarah KiefferBest for bakers
|
Muffins, rolls and scones | 100 | 304 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Brunch Season, Suzanne VizethannBest seasonal brunch
|
Brunch through the year | More than 60 | 208 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Cover images from Amazon. Page counts and formats are from the Amazon listings for the editions linked. Recipe counts are from the title, the publisher’s copy or Publishers Weekly.
Our picks for the best breakfast cookbook, book by book
All seven were in stock in print, new and sold by Amazon when we checked. We have not cooked from these books; where we describe a strength, we say whose view it is.
1. The Breakfast Book, Marion Cunningham – The Classic Reference
This is the oldest book here and our first choice, because nothing newer has quite its scope. The publisher lists 288 recipes and 40 breakfast menus, covering scones, sticky buns, popovers, hash browns, eggs, pancakes and muffins, along with a versatile coffee cake and quick fruit jams that need no cooking.
Cunningham revised The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and received a James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, according to the author note. The publisher’s copy quotes Christopher Kimball saying she “did for breakfast what Julia did for French cooking,” and Edna Lewis thanking her “for bringing back breakfast.”
Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review, and we read those lines through the bookseller’s copy of the publisher’s text. The listing dates this hardcover to 1987, so expect the look and the assumptions of its time.
Why we like it
- 288 recipes and 40 menus, per the publisher
- Breakfast only, from start to finish
- Praise from Kimball and Lewis, via the publisher
- Author won a Beard lifetime award
Key specifications
| Author | Marion Cunningham |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Knopf |
| Year | 1987 |
| Pages | 336 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 288, plus 40 menus |
| Focus | Classic American breakfast cooking |
| Best for | Cooks who want one reference |
Why we recommend it
If you want one book that will still be on your shelf in twenty years, and you like plain, dependable American baking and egg cookery, this is it.
Skip it if you want color photographs and modern flavors. This is a book from 1987, and the newer picks suit that better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest scope here
- Menus as well as recipes
- Long-standing reputation
Cons
- Dated by its 1987 origin
- No named review we read directly
2. Sunny-Side Up, Waylynn Lucas – From Simple Eggs to Pastry
Waylynn Lucas is a pastry chef and a judge on Cake Wars, which tells you where this book’s heart is. The title promises more than 100 breakfast and brunch recipes, from the essential egg to the perfect pastry.
A bookseller’s description of the book lists baked French toast, portable breakfast bars, frittatas, smoothies, breakfast bowls and brunch cocktails, with about 100 photographs, and says it aims to make baking approachable for home cooks.
Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review, and we did not read a named review, so this pick rests on the publisher’s and listing’s details. We include it because it covers the range that the 1987 classic above does not, with photographs.
Why we like it
- More than 100 recipes, per the title
- Sweet and savory
- Written by a pastry chef
- About 100 photographs, per the bookseller
Key specifications
| Author | Waylynn Lucas |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Rodale Books |
| Year | 2019 |
| Pages | 240 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | More than 100 |
| Focus | Breakfast and brunch, sweet and savory |
| Best for | Cooks who also like to bake |
Why we recommend it
If you want a modern, photographed book that covers both a weekday egg and a weekend pastry, start here.
Skip it if you want a critic’s opinion before you buy. We could not point you to one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wide range for its length
- Pastry from a pastry chef
- Includes brunch drinks
Cons
- No named review in our sources
- Less depth than the classic
3. Big Bad Breakfast, John Currence – Southern Plates, No Apologies
John Currence runs restaurants in Oxford, Mississippi, one of which shares this book’s name. Publishers Weekly’s review, which we read, counts 75 recipes across nine chapters, with his New Orleans background evident throughout and flavors that lean bold.
PW is having fun with this one. It calls the opening sausage cinnamon rolls a “salty-sweet belly bomb,” sets peanut butter and banana pancakes next to shrimp and pickled onion crepes, and describes a Belgian waffle piled with hot dogs, chili, slaw and cheddar. It also calls Ed Anderson’s full-page color photographs “irresistible.”
This is a book for the mornings when nobody has anywhere to be. PW notes it shows no concern for calories, and we will leave it there.
Why we like it
- 75 recipes, says PW
- Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
- Nine chapters, including morning cocktails
- Full-page color photographs
Key specifications
| Author | John Currence |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ten Speed Press |
| Year | 2016 |
| Pages | 272 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 75, says PW |
| Focus | Southern and New Orleans breakfast |
| Best for | Cooks who like bold plates |
Why we recommend it
If you like a loud, generous plate and a chef with a personality, this is the most fun book on the page.
Skip it if you want quick weekday breakfasts. These are weekend plates.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong voice
- Bold New Orleans flavors
- Includes breakfast for dinner
Cons
- Heavy food by design
- Fewer recipes than most here
4. 100 Morning Treats, Sarah Kieffer – Baking for the Morning
If your idea of breakfast comes out of the oven, this is the one. The publisher lists 100 recipes across muffins, rolls, biscuits, coffee cakes, doughnuts, scones, quick breads and quiches, with more than 120 photos and make-ahead instructions. It draws on Kieffer’s years of baking breakfast treats in coffee shops.
Publishers Weekly calls it a pleasant volume of enticing breakfast goodies, runs from pancakes and buttermilk cinnamon rolls to prosciutto Gruyere croissants and ham and cheese sliders, and notes step-by-step photos for the more involved doughs. It ends by recommending it to bakers at all levels.
Kieffer also runs The Vanilla Bean Blog and wrote 100 Cookies, according to the author note. Make-ahead instructions matter here, because a yeasted roll and an early morning do not naturally go together.
Why we like it
- 100 recipes, per the title
- Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
- More than 120 photos, per the publisher
- Make-ahead instructions
Key specifications
| Author | Sarah Kieffer |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Chronicle Books |
| Year | 2023 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 100 |
| Focus | Breakfast baking, sweet and savory |
| Best for | Home bakers of all levels |
Why we recommend it
If you bake for pleasure and want a whole book of reasons to do it before noon, buy this.
Skip it if you want eggs and savory plates. Baking is the focus, though there are savory bakes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Focused on one job
- Step-by-step photos, says PW
- Sweet and savory bakes
Cons
- Not a general breakfast book
- Some projects need planning
5. Brunch Season, Suzanne Vizethann – A Year of Brunch
Suzanne Vizethann is chef and co-owner of Buttermilk Kitchen in Atlanta, according to the author note, and she has built this brunch recipes book around the calendar. The publisher describes spring, summer, fall and winter chapters, more than 60 recipes, and a list of each season’s peak ingredients at the start of each.
Publishers Weekly’s review opens with her line that “Breakfast should be treated with respect” and points to fig and ricotta French toast, peach hand pies, a short rib hash and rosemary biscuits with mushroom gravy, along with mimosas, sangria and lemonade.
PW calls it straightforward, elegant and inspiring, and predicts it will become a go-to for home cooks. That is about as clear an endorsement as you will find on this page, and it is one we read ourselves.
Why we like it
- More than 60 recipes, per the publisher
- Arranged by season
- Warm Publishers Weekly review
- Brunch drinks included
Key specifications
| Author | Suzanne Vizethann |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Gibbs Smith |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 208 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | More than 60 |
| Focus | Seasonal brunch dishes |
| Best for | Cooks who host brunch |
Why we recommend it
If you host brunch a few times a year and want menus that change with what is good right now, this is the one.
Skip it if you want a large collection. Sixty-odd recipes is the smallest count in this guide.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear seasonal structure
- Restaurant chef’s recipes
- Praised by PW
Cons
- Smaller recipe count
- Brunch more than everyday breakfast
6. The Breakfast Bible, Kate McMillan – A Short Everyday Collection
Despite the name, this is a slim book. The listing gives 128 pages for more than 100 recipes, under the Williams Sonoma name. That makes it the shortest general breakfast book here, which can be a virtue on a kitchen counter.
The publisher says it covers eggs, bacon, fruit, grains, breads, pastries, bowls, griddle cakes and drinks, with practical tips and some gluten-free options. If you cook around an allergy, check each recipe and your ingredients, since we cannot confirm how those options are handled.
Kate McMillan studied at the California Culinary Academy and runs a catering business, according to the author note. Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review, and the bookseller’s page carries no outside praise, so this pick rests on the publisher’s and author’s details.
Why we like it
- More than 100 recipes, per the title
- Short at 128 pages
- Eggs through griddle cakes and drinks
- Some gluten-free options, per the publisher
Key specifications
| Author | Kate McMillan |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Weldon Owen (Williams Sonoma) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Pages | 128 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | More than 100 |
| Focus | Everyday breakfast, classic and modern |
| Best for | Cooks who want a quick reference |
Why we recommend it
If you want a small, broad book to reach for on an ordinary Tuesday, this fits.
Skip it if you want depth or a strong voice. At this length, recipes get less room than in the longer books.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact
- Broad coverage
- Includes griddle cakes
Cons
- No named review in our sources
- Slim for the name
7. The Brunch Club, Georgia Hearn – Hosting Friends
This is the newest book here, published in March 2026. Georgia Hearn is a London private chef and supper club host who trained at Leith’s School of Food and Wine, according to the author note, and the book treats brunch as a party to plan.
The bookseller’s copy lists over 75 recipes from cuisines around the world, with examples such as masala beans on toast and gochujang fried chicken and waffles, along with drink pairings, meal plans, tablescaping ideas and hosting tips.
Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review, the bookseller’s page carries no outside praise, and the book is new, so this rests on the publisher’s and author’s details. Because the author is London-based, check that the measures suit your kitchen; we could not confirm whether it uses US cups.
Why we like it
- Over 75 recipes, per the bookseller’s copy
- Global flavors
- Meal plans and hosting tips
- Drink pairings
Key specifications
| Author | Georgia Hearn |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Welbeck |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 176 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | Over 75 |
| Focus | Global brunch and hosting tips |
| Best for | Weekend hosts |
Why we recommend it
If brunch at your place means a table of friends and you want help with the whole event, this does more than give recipes.
Skip it if you cook breakfast for one or two on weekdays. It is built for hosting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Thinks about the whole party
- Global dishes
- Meal plans
Cons
- No named review in our sources
- US measures not confirmed
How to choose a brunch recipes book
Breakfast books split into a few clear types. Decide which mornings you are buying for.
- Weekday or weekend. The Breakfast Bible suits a Tuesday. Big Bad Breakfast and The Brunch Club are for days with time in them.
- Baker or cook. If your oven is the point, 100 Morning Treats is the focused choice. If it is the stove, you will want a good pan. Our guide to the best egg pan covers that.
- Griddle work. Pancakes and waffles go easier with the right tool. See the best electric griddle and the best waffle maker.
- Make-ahead help. Yeasted doughs and early mornings rarely agree. Kieffer’s publisher promises make-ahead instructions, which is worth looking for in any baking book.
- Photographs. If you need a picture to get excited, check before you buy. The Breakfast Book dates from 1987, and the newer picks lean harder on photography.
How we picked these seven books
We searched Amazon’s book listings and kept print editions from named authors at established publishers, in stock, new and sold by Amazon when we checked. We left out every title already on our other book pages. Author, year, format and page count come from the Amazon listing. Recipe counts and descriptions come from the title or the publisher’s copy, as carried by booksellers, unless we credit someone else.
Here is which evidence stands behind which pick. Big Bad Breakfast, 100 Morning Treats and Brunch Season have Publishers Weekly reviews that we read ourselves. The Breakfast Book rests on the publisher’s copy, including praise we read only as quoted there. Sunny-Side Up, The Breakfast Bible and The Brunch Club rest on publisher, bookseller and listing details.
Stock ruled out some obvious names. Michael Ruhlman’s Egg and Ron Silver’s Bubby’s Brunch Cookbook were new but sold by third parties when we checked, so we left them out in favor of books sold by Amazon.
Breakfast cookbook questions, answered
What is the best brunch recipes book?
Brunch Season if you want dishes that change through the year, and The Brunch Club if you want hosting help as well.
Which breakfast cookbook has the most recipes?
The Breakfast Book, with 288 by its publisher’s count, plus 40 menus.
Is there a good breakfast book for bakers?
Yes. 100 Morning Treats is built around muffins, rolls, biscuits and scones, and Publishers Weekly recommends it to bakers at all levels.
Are these useful for Mexican breakfasts?
Not directly. None is a Mexican cookbook. For chilaquiles and huevos, start with the best Mexican cookbooks, and read about breakfast tacos.
What pan do I need for breakfast cooking?
A small nonstick or well-seasoned pan handles most egg work. Our guide to the best egg pan compares the options.
Which breakfast book should you buy first?
Buy The Breakfast Book if you want one lasting reference. Choose Sunny-Side Up for a modern all-rounder, Big Bad Breakfast for big plates and 100 Morning Treats for baking. Brunch Season, The Breakfast Bible and The Brunch Club each suit a narrower kitchen, and each entry says who that is.
And if you would rather let someone else cook this morning, see the menu or call to order.