One of the reasons I opened a B&B was my love of cooking and feeding people. But as a busy B&B owner, I quickly realised that I needed to find ways to simplify breakfast preparation—without cutting corners on quality or wasting money.

Over my 17 years of running a B&B, I experimented and refined my recipes, creating breakfasts that guests raved about. Many told me they were the best breakfasts they’d ever had—and a big reason they kept coming back!

So, I started a recipe blog to share these tried-and-tested dishes, designed for busy B&B owners who want to impress guests without spending hours in the kitchen. In this post, I’ve compiled all my recipes in one place to make them easy to find and use.

Breakfast Breads - Easy & Guest Approved

Bread is an essential part of any B&B breakfast. Whether it’s classic white toast or wholesome sourdough, guests love a great bread selection.

After appearing in an article in the Guardian, I was contacted by a woman who sent me a logn email, explaining that hotels and B&Bs she stayed in would quite often to offer great breakfasts, but let down by their toast! It really is all about attention to detail.

While buying from a bakery is an option, making your own can be surprisingly simple—and nothing beats the smell of fresh bread in the morning! These recipes require minimal hands-on time, making them perfect for busy mornings.

Recipes in this section:

• How to Enjoy Freshly Baked Bread Every Morning (prep the night before for fresh bread with no stress!)
• Very Easy No-Knead Overnight White Bread Recipe (zero fuss, all flavour!)
• Sourdough Bread Tips for B&B Owners (make it work for your schedule!)
• Honey Oat Bread Recipe (wholesome, hearty, and guest-approved!)  

Homemade Cakes - A Guest Favourite

At my B&B, every guest was welcomed with a whole lemon drizzle cake and a jar of homemade shortbread. It was so popular that if I tried to offer anything else, repeat guests were disappointed!

I found that guests loved the homemade touch, and these cakes were easy to prepare ahead of time.

• Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe (a true guest favourite!)

• Classic Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe with Jam and Buttercream (a British classic!)

• Sticky Ginger Cake with Buttercream Icing (perfect for autumn stays!)

•  Easy Mince Pie Recipe ( a festive favourite!)

• Perfect Homemade Shortbread Recipe (great for guest welcome trays!)

Buffet Table - Provide Variety Without a Lot of Extra Work

I think one of the joys of going away is being able to choose from a well loaded buffet table! At Hopton House I offered a variety of cereals including homemade granola, fresh fruit, natural yoghurt, bircher muesli, white and granary bread to toast, a choice of homemade jams and marmalade, freshly squeezed orange juice and local apple juice - all things that could be prepared ahead of time.

• Maple Nut Granola Recipe (batch-make for easy mornings!)

• Spiced Roast Plum Recipe (a warm, comforting option!)

• Bircher Muesli Recipe (AKA Overnight Oats) (guests love this healthy option!)

• Overnight Oats with Chia Seed and Kefir (a nutritious start to the day!)

• High Protein Raspberry Shake (a great energy boost!)

• Seville Orange Marmalade Recipe (add a homemade touch!)

• Three Fruit Marmalade Recipe (delicious variety!)

• Frozen Berry Breakfast Compote (a versatile topping!)

• Multigrain Porridge (hearty and filling!)

• Homemade Greek Yoghurt (surprisingly easy and cost-effective!)

Baked Goods - Fresh Without Waste

I always offered fresh muffins or scones at breakfast, but I didn’t want to waste food or spend too much time baking. That’s why I developed my small-batch muffin recipe—so I could bake just one or two fresh muffins for each guest! I'd also offer guests a bag to take them away if they couldn't manage them at breakfast.

The very easiest one to make is the banana bread and it has the advantage of lasting for several days, unlike muffins, which i feel need to be made fresh - that's why I devised my method to bake a small batch of muffins!

• How to Bake a Small Batch of Muffins (fresh muffins without waste!)

• Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (stays fresh for a few days—no need to bake daily!)

• Orange and Rhubarb Muffin Recipe (a seasonal delight!)

• Vegan Hot Cross Buns (perfect for plant-based guests!)

• Maple Oat Ginger Scone (easy to batch prep and freeze. Bake from frozen!)

• Blueberry and Lime Scones (light, fresh, and guest-approved!) 

Main Course - Make it the Best Breakfast Your Guests Have Ever Had

Traditionally at a UK B&B, you'd always be served a Full English Breakfast ( Or depending on your country a Welsh/Scottish/Irish...) and they are still the mainstay of most B&B breakfasts. But as guests become more well travelled and with an increased in special dietary requests, every B&B owner needs other options available. 

I wrote a blog post about whether you HAVE to serve a cooked breakfast - the answer is NO, but it does come with some caveats! 

• How to Cook a Full English Breakfast (step-by-step to get it right every time!)

• How to Poach an Egg (perfect every time!)

• The Perfect 3-Egg Omelette Recipe (fluffy, foolproof, and quick!)

• Herby Mushrooms and a Poached Egg on Toast (a great veggie option!)

• AGA Roasted Tomato with Halloumi on Toasted Brioche (a vegetarian favourite!)

• Avocado Toast Recipe (simple but popular!)

• Hollandaise Sauce Without the Tears (easy, no-fail method!)

• Cheese and Herb Vegetarian Sausages (great for non-meat eaters!)

• Scrambled Egg and Smoked Salmon (quick but luxurious!)

• Make Your Own Pancake Mix (pre-made mix = pancakes in minutes!)

• Gluten-Free Protein Cottage Cheese Waffles (a guest favourite!)

• High Protein Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Pancakes (nutritious and delicious!)

• How to Make French Toast (classic and always a hit!)

• Blackberry Pancakes with an Apple, Blackberry, and Cinnamon Compote (bursting with flavour!)

• Gluten-Free Banana Oat Pancakes (great for dietary needs!)

Guest Platters ( and Evening Meals )

I chose not to do evening meals, but guest platters were a very popular option. They gave guests a high-quality, no-fuss dining option and were easy to prepare.

• How to Create a Memorable Supper Platter for Your B&B Guests
• Luxury Fish Platter 
• Cheese and Oat Biscuit Recipe
• The Pros and Cons of Providing Evening Meals at Your B&B
• Easy Tomato and Pumpkin Soup Recipe
• Seeded Sourdough Discard Crackers

Serving memorable breakfasts is a cornerstone of creating an exceptional B&B experience. These dishes are designed to make your guests feel at home and leave them looking forward to their next visit. As you plan your breakfast menu, consider incorporating a mix of sweet and savoury options to cater to different tastes.

I hope these ideas inspire you to create a unique breakfast experience for your guests. Thanks for exploring my collection of recipes, and I look forward to helping you create an inviting and successful B&B.

If you’re just starting out on your B&B journey and feeling overwhelmed, my mini-workshop on how to start a B&B is the perfect first step. It covers most of the questions that aspiring B&B owners have before they dive into B&B ownership, including whether it's the right step for you and your family. And if you’re ready to take things further, my full course dives deep into everything from marketing to managing your business with confidence. Visit Bed and Breakfast Academy to learn more and take the next step toward your B&B success!