One of the reasons I decided to open a bed and breakfast was that I love to cook, and I love feeding people.

Over the 17 years of running a B&B, I experimented a lot, tweaking different recipes till I got the basics as near to perfect as I could. And then, because so many of my guests were asking for my recipes, I created a recipe blog.

My old recipe blog, despite the fact I've not touched it for 7 years and it looks very dated by today's standards, still gets over 1500 visits a month

In this post, I've put all of my blog recipes in one post, just to make is a bit easier for you to navigate!

Breakfast Breads

Bread is an essential part of any bed and breakfast breakfast. Whether it's a classic white bread to make simple toast with butter and marmalade or a more hearty sourdough whole wheat or multigrain bread for a wholesome and fibre-rich choice.

Of course it's possible to buy good quality bread from your local bakery or farm shop, but there's something special about making your own and the smell of freshly baked bread filling the B&B in the morning. It's also a cheaper option!

As a busy B&B owner, time is at a premium. I created these recipes to be as easy and take the least amount of time possible!

How to Enjoy Freshly Baked Bread Every Morning

Very Easy No Knead Overnight White Bread Recipe

Sourdough Bread Tips for Bed and Breakfast Owners

Honey Oat Bread Recipe

Homemade Cakes

If you've been following this blog post for anytime, then you'll know that my guests were always welcomed in their rooms with a whole lemon drizzle cake and a jar of homemade shortbread. They were so popular that if I tried to offer anything my repeat guests were disappointed.

I did offer the option at booking for ordering a different type of cake, but it was rarely taken up! Apparently lemon drizzle is the UK's cake favourite!

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Classic Victoria Sponge Cake with Jam and Buttercream

Sticky Ginger Cake with Buttercream Icing

Easy Mince Pie Recipe

Perfect Homemade Shortbread Recipe

Buffet Table

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.

Maple Nut Granola Recipe

Spiced Roast Plum Recipe

Bircher Muesli Recipe AKA Overnight Oats Recipe

Overnight Oats with Chia Seed and Kefir

High Protein Raspberry Shake

Seville Orange Marmalade Recipe

Three Fruit Marmalade Recipe

Baked Goods

On the buffet table at my B&B, there was always some sort of freshly baked goodies such as muffins or scones. 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

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Orange and Rhubarb Muffin Recipe

Vegan Hot Cross Buns

Maple Oat Ginger Scone

Blueberry and Lime Scones

Main Course

Traditionally at a UK B&B, you'd always be served a Full English ( Welsh/Scottish/Irish...) Breakfast 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!                                       

Do You Have to Serve a Cooked Breakfast at Your B&B

How to Cook a Full English Breakfast

How to Poach an Egg

The Perfect 3 Egg Omelette Recipe

Herby Mushrooms and a Poached Egg on Toast

AGA Roasted Tomato with Halloumi on Toasted Brioche

Avocado Toast Recipe

Hollandaise Sauce Without the Tears

Cheese and Herb Vegetarian Sausages

Scrambled Egg and Smoked Salmon

Make Your Own Pancake Mix

Gluten Free Protein Cottage Cheese Waffles

High Protein Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

How to Make French Toast

Blackberry Pancakes with an Apple, Blackberry and Cinnamon Compote

Gluten Free Banana Oat Pancakes

Guest Platters ( and Evening Meals )

If you choose not to do evening meals, and I discuss that a little further down the page, then guest platters were a very popular option at my own B&B.

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 craft 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.