Do you know what I love about toast? Everything! Seriously, I've had a love affair with this simple breakfast since childhood. My favorite thing to do was toast up a piece of bread and watch the butter slowly melt into its crispy crumb. I may have graduated to artisanal, naturally fermented sourdough bread and organic butter these days, but the initial spark that motivates me to make toast recipes still remains.
Healthy toast recipes don't have to be super fancy. They can be as simple as my childhood cinnamon-sugar dusted buttered toast or a slather of nut butter and some flakey sea salt. Or, you can go as extravagant as grilled peaches or a zaatar spiced roasted beet spread! The choice is yours, but choosing one of these healthy toast recipes really is the best way to jumpstart your day.
Before we move on to the recipes, I want to talk super quickly about the bread. No matter which recipe you choose, the bread choice is totally up to you. If you're on a low-carb or gluten-free diet, find a really nice loaf of grain-free bread that you're into. If you're not on any restrictive diet, try to find the most artisanal bread you can. Wonder bread doesn't exactly have too many nutrients, whereas a whole-grain bread will be a nutritional powerhouse in the morning.
The Weekdays
These easy toasts are totally accessible on weekday mornings. They require little to no prep, so there's no reason not to make them every morning! All you need is some bread slices and your favorite toppings. Get your workday morning started right with one of these healthy toast recipes.
1. Avocado Toast
We would be remiss if we didn't include the toast that started the healthy toast recipes trend - avocado toast! I like mine simply sliced on a toasty piece of whole-wheat bread with some flaky sea salt, but feel free to mash it if you prefer. Top it off with some red pepper flakes to add some nice spice.
If you're looking for some extra protein, put a fried egg on top of this one. The flavors will meld together perfectly and you'll get an extra boost of nutrition. Find the recipe here.
2. Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Toast
This simple toast reminds me of the times I would visit my aunt in New York City. A good piece of lox draped over a bagel drenched in cream cheese was sure to be on the menu! Whip up some rye toast and add some black pepper to the whipped cream cheese for an extra treat.
For some intense salty flavors, add some capers to the toast, too. Find the recipe here.
3. Peanut Butter and Apple Toast
This healthy toast will make you super nostalgic for the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches of your childhood. Get your morning serving of fiber from the peanut butter (which, you can sub in almond butter or cashew butter if you have allergies), which will keep you feeling full for hours!
The freshly sliced apple will add some nice sweetness and a serving of fruit into your diet. Find the recipe here.
4. Tomato and Goat Cheese Toasts
There's nothing better than a few slices of really good tomatoes drizzled with olive oil! Okay, maybe there's one thing that's better - combining those tomatoes with tangy goat cheese on a really crunchy piece of toast!
You can choose a chevre-style flaky goat cheese, or you can whip it up to become a creamy spread. Your choice. Find the recipe here.
5. Cottage Cheese and Honey Toast
Cottage cheese gets a bad rap as a diet food, but it's really packed with a ton of savory flavors! I love adding a drizzle of honey to add some sweetness to the toast, but it's just as delicious with some fresh fruit.
My grandfather used to eat cottage cheese with canned pineapple slices, and that's one of my favorite ways to enjoy it, too! Find the recipe here.
The Weekends
We're pretty excited about the toasts in this list, but we admit they're a little more hands-on. Unless you have a lot of extra time built into your workweek, you might want to save these toasts for the weekend. They'll be a decadent treat and totally worth the extra effort!
1. Hard Boiled Egg Toast with Harissa Butter
Whipping up harissa butter may take a little bit of extra effort, but it's totally worth it for this weekend-style extravagant healthy toast. The spicy flavors of the red-pepper harissa will infuse perfectly with creamy butter.
Top it off with a spritz of fresh lemon juice and you'll be in toast heaven! Find the recipe here.
2. Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese Toast
This recipe is certainly not simple - it actually takes two days to make the cashew cream cheese! But this toast is as healthy as it gets. The beneficial fats from cashews blend together to make an oh-so-smooth spread.
It comes together to become super savory, and you don't have to be a vegan to think it tastes good. Top it off with fresh herbs, or an arugula and radish salad, and you'll be a happy camper. Find the recipe here.
3. Fig and Ricotta Toast
I don't always have time to slice fresh fruit on the weekdays, but I love going fruit crazy on the weekends! This fig and ricotta toast hits all the sweet and salty notes. For the best toast, it really is worth taking the time to whip up the ricotta in the food processor so it's super creamy.
Top it off with healthy sliced almonds, a drizzle of local honey, and some flakey sea salt. Yum! Find the recipe here.
4. Crunchy Almond French Toast
French toast may be the original fancy toast recipe! This one is especially extravagant because it infuses almonds into day-old challah bread. Drizzle it with a spiced honey sauce and you'll feel super fancy enjoying this Middle-Eastern inspired french toast recipe.
5. Mushroom Toast
This beloved English-style toast is super savory and a great way to start your weekend day. You can use any old mushrooms (crimini or button mushrooms totally work), or you can go with fancy seasonal mushrooms. I love using oyster or maitake mushrooms for special occasions. The sweet flavors of the sherry and the fresh herbs really pop to make this an extraordinary breakfast. Find the recipe here.
What's your favorite weekday and weekend toasts? Let us know which ones we missed in the comments!
