The Breakfast Book

by Marion Cunningham

A charming, one-of-a-kind cookbook devoted exclusively to breakfast—that most American of meals which is enjoying a comeback all over the country. Here Marion Cunningham celebrates the simple pleasures of a good breakfast with 288 irresistible recipes for traditional favorites—from scones and sticky buns and popovers and hash browns to all kinds of eggs and pancakes and muffins—as well new treats. Her Great Coffee Cake lends itself to a variety of spicy, crunchy combinations; her Raw Fresh Fruit Jams can be made in just thirty minutes (with no cooking!); and her Oatmeal Bran and Mother’s Cookies are perfect for when breakfast is on the run. And for more leisurely moments and special occasions, Cunningham includes forty breakfast menus guaranteed to make the first meal of the day the best.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Marion Cunningham was born in Southern California in 1922, and now lives in Walnut Creek. She was responsible for the revision of The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and is the author of The Breakfast Book, and Cooking with Children. She travels frequently throughout the country giving cooking demonstrations (some with James Beard), has contributed articles to "Bon Appetit," "Food & Wine," and "Gourmet" magazines, and writes a column for the "San Francisco Chronicle," and the "Los Angeles Times." Over seventy episodes of her television series "Cunningham & Company" appears regularly on the Food Network.

In 1993, Marion received the Grand Dame award from Les Dames d'Escoffier "in recognition and appreciation of her extraordinary achievement and contribution to the culinary arts." In 1994, she was named Scholar-in-Residence by the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book. My copy is well worn & my "go to" book when looking for something different for breakfast. The recipes are simple and so.... good. We have had many delicious breakfasts from Marion Cunningham.

The pancake and muffin recipes are wonderful especially the Zeppelin Pancakes, Heavenly Hots & Baked German Pancake. The muffins are especially good too -- Raw Apple Muffins, Lemon Yogurt Muffins & the Bridge Creek Fresh Ginger Muffins.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cookbook that recommends pie for breakfast will always rate extra stars with me.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marion Cunningham writes cookbooks like she is sitting at your kitchen table with a cup of coffee, coaching you through malted waffles while she tells you a grand tale of breakfast in a small villa in Italy.
I tend to READ cookbooks way more than I actually USE them, so this familiar, conversational style is something I look for. I have actually cooked recipes from this book though--most notably the Dutch Baby--and her recipes are precise and easy to follow.
Most of all though, really fun to read.

[Dave H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me wish I was a morning person. The few entries I’ve tried were cozy warm or amazing. The Lemon pancakes, Don Chappellet’s Zeppelin pancakes, best I’ve ever had anywhere. The buttermilk pancakes are so simple and perfect for an everyday pancake. The maple syrup custard is a cozy delight. I flagged more recipes than I’ll ever get up early enough to make. Best cookbook I own.

[Shala Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakfast is my favorite meal. We used to go out every weekend for brunch/breakfast but my doctor and my waistline are protesting, so we’ve stopped. I miss those yummy breakfast foods though. So I got this book to see if I could create a little breakfast magic one weekend morning a month.

I want to cook all the things.

There’s some good information on basic baking skills too. I’ve been avoiding baking things with yeast outside the comforting confines of my bread maker but Marion makes bending yeast to your will sound fairly simple. And worth the effort.

So I’m going to try with her easiest yeast recipe, crisp whole wheat buns on p 18. I know it’s the easiest bc Marion herself says so.

In short, great cookbook filled with yummy recipes and practical tips to make you a better baker/cook.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully titled recipes with conversation-style commentary make this so appealing-- reminder that cookbooks serve as social history as well as how-to. Terrific gift for all kinds of cooks, and a must-have for anyone who loves "breakfast for dinner" as much as our family does.

[MaryGay Ducey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an essential title for anyone who likes to cook and to learn. Marian Cunningham was a highly respected cook among her peers and this is but one of her reliable, accessible, and witty titles. She could have taught classes in the construction and execution of how to write a great cookbook. She studied with James Beard and formed a consortium of a dozen bakers to research and improve basic and not-so-basic baking recipes.

Her tone is warm, inviting and encouraging. Her recipes (and I've prepared many of them) are always accurate and include basic recipes as well as more challenging ones. I have given a copy of this title to many people to great effect. Try her incomparable recipe for Ginger Muffins and that will be persuasion enough to continue through as many recipes as you are capable of. Before you buy a copy may I suggest you borrow a copy from your local library?

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of eating well in the morning. The fruit fresh from the orchard is appealing as well as a warm cake or bread, for sure. The author covers bread, muffins, eggs, cereals, all things toast, quick bread, fruit, potatoes, sweets, hearty meat and fish dishes, and breakfast beverages. Here are a few recipes from this must-have cookbook. It is well organized and the baking choices are quite delightful. I like this book and I'm so glad I found it at our local bookstore. I'm a huge fan of ginger, so here are some warm treats to try. You'll definitely want to further explore the lemon section of the book.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to your belts!
This book contains the hands down best recipes for waffles ANYWHERE.
This is not just my opinion either, the entire internet, blogosphere, food critic circle, etc agrees.

PLUS you get recipes for muffins, popovers, pancakes, fruit salads, grits, oatmeals etc.
ANYTHING you can think of that is a breakfast food, Marion's got you covered.
Highly recommend that you scour used bookstores for this baby.

[Hallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why this book is out of print. One of my favorite cookbooks. This oft-overlooked meal is given the attention it deserves, and the recipes aren't just for over-indulgent comfort food. When I run an organic farm and bed and breakfast (soon), this is the book I will turn to every morning. Super fluffy lemon pancakes and baked cornmeal pudding. Practically perfect.

[Terry Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read while on vacation - had plenty of opportunities to try breakfast recipes leisurely. The recipes are good and the book has good ideas. Will certainly reference once in a while for ideas. Out of print - glad I have a copy for my kitchen shelf.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly this gem is out-of-print. Try the brown scone or apple pancake recipes! Yum!

-- Did you notice the author's name? I can't help thinking "Happy Days"!

[David Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butter, butter, and more butter. i.e. everything was delicious. Checked it out from the library, but will definitely be purchasing!

[Vyviane Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books both to cook from and read.

[Anne-Marie Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook. my aunt gave it to mew in August while I recovered from surgery. this will be used, loved, and passed down in my family. (still reading as its used, but I ran through it as a review so I am counting it in my reading challenge)

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good breakfast book, full of scones, oatmeals, egg dishes, etc. A lot of breakfast/brunch books today are super meat heavy, but this one, while not vegetarian, was not meat-heavy and had lots of interesting ideas and good recipes and good basic recipes.

[RO Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fantasy book is very addictive. I like it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook has 288 recipes and I think I want to try at least 275 of them. The author’s descriptions and instructions are easy to read and the recipes sound just delightful.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic, infused with Cunningham's warm wit. Recipes are a little dated at this point.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Full of great recipes for the best meal of the day. Try the Raised Waffles, or any of the pancakes. Great place to start with making your own granola. When cooking for a crowd bake the bacon. Really down to earth food. This gets a Brett's Food Choice Award..

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marion Cunningham comes off as your doting auntie, and the recipes read as if they come right out of her flowered recipe box. Comforting, appealing food - I have already made the baked bananas and they were wonderful.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been a big breakfast person but this book may help me to change that. Lots of great recipes and ideas to liven up the variety in the most "important meal of the day". It helped me to get out of the mind rut that all I could have was cereal or eggs and toast as morning options.

[O Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I imagine the menu I would create for an inn on the coast--in itself a totally fictional idea--this is the book I dip into for ideas. I have also cooked from it. Well conceived and, of course, well written.

[chelsea]

there is apparently a lot more to breakfast than tea and toast...

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love breakfast food. I am much more likely to go out for breakfast than anything else. This book has a lot of great recipes.

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I read again and again. No photos, but a real treasury of diverse breakfast dishes. Many of them do seem a tad under-flavored, but that is easy to correct!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marion's waffles are the best ever, without hesitation. Plus, all her little anecdotes are adorable. It's breakfast at Grandma's.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looks like a lot of good recipes. I haven't made any, but I am looking forward to it.

[Rudolfo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful breakfast alternatives such as Lemon Zephyrs. Football like confections that are just yummy, scones, muffins, breads, waffles, pancakes. Menu suggestions.