Each toast is made with 5 ingredients or less.

From sweet to savoury, you’ll find a summer toast for everyone’s tastes!

Whether I’m making an easy breakfast during the week or a summer brunch, I want to keep things simple and use gorgeous Summer produce. Using some of the best seasonal ingredients you can create three different gourmet toast recipes:

• Prosciutto & Cantaloupe
• Blueberry Cheesecake
• Fresh Basil & Tomato Toast

Why you’ll love these summer toast recipes

• Each toast is super easy to make using 5 ingredients or less.
• This is an easy recipe you can whip up any day of the week.
• Use any slices of bread that you have on hand.
• Easily made gluten-free with gluten-free breads and other certified gluten-free ingredients!

Ingredients needed to make these easy summer toasts

Prosciutto & Cantaloupe: A savory toast favourite, you’ll need cream cheese spread on toasted bread followed by layers of salty prosciutto. Top with fresh cantaloupe slices and a pinch of pepper or red pepper flakes.

Blueberry Cheesecake: Start with a layer of cream cheese. Then top with your favourite blueberry jam; a sprinkle of granola for crunch; and, add lemon zest for the ultimate sweet brunch toast.

Fresh Basil & Tomato Toast: The perfect fresh brunch toast for the summer. Start with a layer of plain cream cheese, then top with slices of fresh tomato (I love to use heirloom tomatoes when they’re in season); a few leaves of fresh basil; a drizzle of olive oil; and a pinch of flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper if desired.

How to make these delicious summer toast recipes

Prosciutto & Cantaloupe: Toast the bread. Then simply spread cream cheese on the toasted bread followed by a few slices of salty prosciutto. Top with fresh cantaloupe slices and a pinch of pepper.

Blueberry Cheesecake Toast: Start with a layer of cream cheese, then top with blueberry jam, granola for crunch and a sprinkle of lemon zest (optional).

Fresh Basil & Tomato Toast: On a freshly toasted piece of bread, start with a layer of plain cream cheese, then top with slices of fresh tomato, a few leaves of basil, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Expert tips

• Make the blueberry cheesecake toast into a fancy toast by using ricotta cheese instead of cream cheese.
• If you can’t find heirloom tomatoes, in-season cherry tomatoes are another great option. Halve the cherry tomatoes or if they’re on the large size, slice them.
• I like to use thick slices of sourdough bread as the base to these toasts but you can use your favourite bread.

How to create a summer brunch menu including these summer toasts

Sweet: Make the Blueberry Cheesecake Toasts as the ‘main course.’ Pickup something from your favourite bakery or try one of my recipes like these Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins or Plum Tarts recipe as a nice addition along with plenty of fresh fruit. Try my bright and fresh Minty Cucumber Lime Sangria as a nice cocktail addition if desired.

Savoury: Make the Prosciutto & Melon and/or Tomato & Fresh Basil toasts as the base of a savoury brunch. Serve with a salad and a fresh brunch cocktail or mocktail like my Citrus Vodka Crush that’s easy made non-alcoholic.

Make a summer toast brunch board: Use my Brunch Board recipe shows you how-to serve an assortment of fruits, vegetables, dips and crostini on a board. Offer all the ingredients to make each of the toasts and everyone can enjoy making their own!

Common Questions

What if I can’t find any fresh cantaloupe to go with the prosciutto toast?
Fresh sliced peaches pair perfectly with the prosciutto toast. Peaches are a nice substitute for the cantaloupe.

More easy breakfast and brunch recipes to love from the blog

Easy French Toast Blueberry Breakfast Bake Recipe

4 Easy & Creative Breakfast Toast Recipes

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Pancakes

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Easy and Delicious Summer Toast Recipes (3 toasts)

These delicious Summer Toast Recipes are perfect for breakfast or brunch! With three different kinds, they're easy to make and enjoy.

Course Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine American

Keyword breakfast toast, brunch toast, toast

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 toast

Author Jess

Ingredients

Prosciutto & Cantaloupe Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• 1-2 tbsp plain cream cheese
• 2-3 slices prosciutto
• 2-3 slices cantaloupe
• ground pepper

Blueberry Cheesecake Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• 1-2 tbsp plain cream cheese
• 1-2 tbsp blueberry jam
• 1-2 tbsp granola
• optional, lemon zest

Tomato & Basil Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• 1-2 tbsp plain cream cheese
• 2-3 slices tomato
• 2-3 fresh basil leaves
• olive oil
• kosher salt & ground pepper

Instructions

Prosciutto & Cantaloupe Toast

• Toast the bread. Then simply spread cream cheese on the toasted bread followed by a few slices of salty prosciutto. Top with fresh cantaloupe slices and a pinch of pepper.

Blueberry Cheesecake Toast

• Start with a layer of cream cheese, then top with blueberry jam, granola for crunch and a sprinkle of lemon zest (optional).

Tomato & Basil Toast

• On a freshly toasted piece of bread, start with a layer of plain cream cheese, then top with slices of fresh tomato, a few leaves of basil, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Notes

• Make the blueberry cheesecake toast into a fancy toast by using ricotta cheese instead of cream cheese.
• If you can't find heirloom tomatoes, in-season cherry tomatoes are another great option. Halve the cherry tomatoes or if they're on the large size, slice them.
• I like to use thick slices of sourdough bread as the base to these toasts but you can use your favourite bread.

The post Easy and Delicious Summer Toast Recipes (3 toasts) appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Using simple pantry ingredients, you can fancy up toast to enjoy for breakfast or brunch as we spend more time at home.

Let’s get creative with what we have on hand to make breakfast toasts!

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much things have changed in this past week. If you’re pretty much anywhere in the world right now, social-distancing is the new normal.

Given that we’re all spending more time at home and perhaps depending on more sturdy pantry ingredients for our meals, I wanted to take your regular breakfast toast recipe to the next level. Whether you’re looking for good comfort food with carbs or a healthy breakfast option, you’ll find exactly what you need in the following toast recipes.

I did my first Instagram Live this past weekend, where I showed how to make these toasts so we could all have a ‘virtual brunch’ together. Now, I’m sharing the ingredients with you:

Grab your toaster, and let’s get to toasting!

Blueberry Cheesecake Toast

• Cream cheese or Yogurt: The base layer of the toast which is key to making this ‘cheesecake.’
• Blueberry jam: My personal favourite to top cheesecake but you can use any jam you’d like
• Granola: Gives a little crunch and brings all the ‘cheesecake’ flavours together.
• Lemon Zest: This is totally optional, so if you have a lemon around, use the zest as a topper

Cinnamon Coconut Toast

• Almond (or other nut butter): Almond butter, peanut butter or any of your favourite nut butters will work.
• Coconut Flakes: I LOVE coconut flakes for a nice crunch on this toast.
• Cinnamon: It goes so well with the nut butter.
• Honey: The honey drizzle takes this toast over the top and brings all the flavours together.

Spicy Avocado Toast

• Avocado: I still don’t think you can go wrong with an avocado toast, so start this with many slices of avocado.
• Pea Shoots: I love pea shoots though you can use any greens you’d like; try microgreens, thinly sliced spinach or kale, or arugula – use what you have!
• Chili Flakes: Here’s the spice! I LOVE chili flakes; my favourite spice store in Calgary ships across Canada too and these are the ones I always buy.
• Lemon: Just a squeeze of lemon juice brings everything together.
• Parmesan Cheese or Pinch of Salt: Either works; you just need a little saltiness to complete this toast.

Apple Cheddar Toast

• Cheddar Cheese: Start with a layer of your favourite cheddar cheese; you can melt the cheese on your toast if you’d like to.
• Apple Slices: I like a granny smith apple but honestly, use whatever you have in your fridge! Pears work great too.
• Honey: Honestly, honey goes so great with cheddar cheese and apples; they’re flavours I’d serve on a cheese plate.
• Chopped Nuts: Walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts. Any of these would make a great topping on your breakfast toast.

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4 Creative Breakfast Toasts

The next time you want to treat yourself to breakfast or brunch at home, whip up one of these creative breakfast toasts! 4 easy toast ideas to suit your sweet or savoury tastebuds.

Course Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine American

Keyword breakfast toast, brunch toast, toast

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 toast

Author Jess

Ingredients

Blueberry Cheesecake Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• 1-2 tbsp cream cheese or yogurt
• 1-2 tbsp blueberry or other berry jam
• 1-2 tbsp granola
• lemon zest optional

Cinnamon Coconut Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• 1-2 tbsp almond, peanut or other nut butter
• 1-2 tbsp coconut flakes
• sprinkle of cinnamon
• drizzle of honey

Apple Cheddar Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• cheddar cheese slices
• apple slices
• honey drizzle
• chopped walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts

Spicy Avocado Toast

• 1 slice of bread, toasted sourdough, whole wheat, white or whole-grain bread - choose your favourite
• half an avocado, sliced
• pea shoots or other greens thinly sliced spinach, kale or arugula - choose your favourite
• chili flakes
• squeeze of lemon juice
• parmesan cheese or coarse salt

Instructions

• Toast bread lightly.
• Layer toppings according to ingredients per type of toast.

These ingredients are seriously so interchangeable. I wanted to make these toast recipes as easy as possible to make using whatever you have on hand. These breakfast ideas are simple enough for the amateur chefs but tasty enough to please the foodies too!

Make these toasts during the week, even for a snack or keep these creative toast ideas for a weekend breakfast. I am going to make these breakfast toasts for my husband and I to make weekend ‘brunch at home’ feel a little more special.

However you enjoy these, I hope this helps you make something yummy in the kitchen with whatever you have on hand. Keeping ingredients simple can sometimes make the MOST delicious dish!

When it comes to toast, the possibilities are truly endless! I challenge you to make your own creative toast combos with the ingredients in your kitchen. I’ve played around with fun toppings like fried eggs and poached eggs, pesto, balsamic glaze, chia seeds, and even pomegranate! I’m also a big sucker for cheese, and I find that cottage cheese, goat cheese,  feta, and ricotta are all great options.

And, if you like toast just as much as I do, check out my 3 summer jams for some simple jam recipes as we head into warmer months.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post 4 Easy & Creative Breakfast Toast Recipes You’ll Love appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

By using super-ripe red plums you get a naturally sweet jam that you could literally just eat with a spoon.

It’s a versatile jam perfect on toast with ricotta or even on a cheeseboard.

It’s stone-fruit season so I’m enjoying plums any way I can! One of the best ways is to make an Easy Plum Jam because it’s just so versatile.

Plums, maple syrup, lemon juice and just a pinch of cardamom simmer together to make the most delicious jam. And everything is done right on the stove-top in under 30 minutes!

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Easy Plum Jam

This Easy Plum Jam is made using super-ripe red plums to get a naturally sweet, versatile jam that can be enjoyed for breakfast, on a cheeseboard or for dessert!

Course Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine American

Keyword easy jam, plum jam, plums, summer jam

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 8 ripe red plums, pitted and quartered
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Pit and quarter plums.
• In a medium pot combine all of the ingredients and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 18-22 minutes until the plums break down and become a jammy-like consistency.
• Taste and add a touch more maple syrup if needed for sweetness.
• Remove from the heat and let cool fully. The jam will continue to thicken as it cools.
• If a smoother consistency is preferred, pulse the jam in a blender a couple of times once cooled. Then store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1.5 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Depending on how ripe the plums are, you may need to add a touch more maple syrup to adjust to your tastes.

One of my favourite ways to enjoy this Easy Plum Jam is on toasted sourdough with creamy ricotta cheese.

But, you can also make this into a dessert! Use as a topper to vanilla ice cream or crush up some graham crackers, add some mascarpone cheese or greek yogurt and top with the Easy Plum Jam for a ‘cheesecake.’

So. Many. Options.

Just get creative friends!

Love jam as much as I do!? Check out my Easy Strawberry Jam or Easy Apricot Jam.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Easy Plum Jam appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Inspired by one of my favourite places to enjoy brunch in Calgary, Alforno Bakery & Café, I’ve created an easy, summery brunch dish using Alforno’s freshly-baked Sourdough Bread. For me, their sourdough bread is perfectly balanced, with a crusty outer crust and soft inside, the taste of the bread is the distinctive sour flavour I love in sourdough.

The sourdough pairs perfectly with the light ricotta and honey mixture, sweetness from the sugar-cinnamon butter and sweet and tart berries in this recipe.

Alforno Bakery & Café has a wonderful dining atmosphere, so when you’re enjoying a meal with a group of friends, it really feels like you’re at someone’s home. The restaurant space is bright and airy which inspired me to create this dish that can be enjoyed with family and friends over breakfast or brunch.

When I first started visiting Alforno, I thought it was a great place for a coffee or meal, I actually had no idea Alforno was a full service bakery! You can pickup up a variety of fresh baked breads and sweets from their bakery and you will not be disappointed with the selection.

I know I certainly will be going back to pickup their sourdough bread so I can make this dish on repeat the rest of the summer. This Summer Berries on Toasted Sourdough might just turn out to be your favourite bite of food this season!

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Summer Berries on Toasted Sourdough

Fresh berries, ricotta and locally baked bread come together for the perfect summer breakfast dish that is easy to make for your family and friends.

Course Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine American

Keyword berries, breakfast, brunch, toast

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups ricotta
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup blackberries
• 4 slices sourdough bread *in Calgary try Alforno Bakery & Café's freshly baked sourdough loaves*
• fresh mint leaves for garnish

Instructions

• Pre-heat your oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix together the ricotta and honey and set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
• Then in another bowl, mix together your blueberries, sliced strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.
• Slice 4 pieces of sourdough bread (3/4 – 1 inch thickness). Spread the butter mixture onto each slice of bread, evenly distributing between the slices and place on your parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Toast the bread slices in the oven for 10 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.  
• While the bread is still warm, serve on a plate topping the bread with the ricotta mixture (dividing evenly between slices), load up with berries and add a mint leaf or two for garnish!

Notes

Depending on the size of your sourdough bread slices, you may end up with a bit extra of the butter-sugar-cinnamon mixture. If so, you can always save to use on toast again! 

I like to eat this dish with a fork and knife so that you get all of the flavours in every bite.

Alforno’s sourdough bread balances perfectly with the butter, ricotta and fresh berries, giving you the perfect bite of summertime! And you could easily make this in cooler seasons as well, using seasonal fruits and the most wonderfully baked fresh bread.

For those of you in Calgary, or maybe just visiting, stop by Alforno to pick-up a loaf of sourdough bread that you can take home to try this recipe with.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

Disclaimer: Thank you to Alforno Bakery & Café for sponsoring this post.  Thank you for supporting the brands that I support. All opinions are my own.

The post Summer Berries on Toasted Sourdough appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.