Our cinnamon French toast requires only a few ingredients, and it’s so easy, a (well-supervised) child can prepare it. Simply soak sliced bread in an egg custard, pan-fry it in some butter, and voila! French toast for weekend brunch or any morning breakfast.
There are a few tricks to making the best French toast. First, you want a balanced egg-to-milk ratio in the custard. Too much milk, and it won’t set right. Make sure to use 2% or whole milk, or half-and-half or heavy cream if you’re feeling indulgent. Nonfat milk and lighter nondairy milks are too thin. Thicker bread slices are always better than thin slices. If the bread’s a little stale, even better. And make sure to soak both sides of the bread—but don’t oversoak it!—for French toast bliss.
Our cinnamon French toast recipe calls for a drizzle of maple syrup. You can take it to the next level with a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of fresh fruit or even a drizzle of bananas foster sauce. After all, brunch was made for decadent French toast recipes!
Ingredients for Cinnamon French Toast
- Eggs: Use large eggs in this recipe. Just like baking with room-temperature eggs, eggs that you let sit out for 30 minutes will incorporate more easily into the custard.
- Milk: Our recipe calls for 2% milk, but you can use other milks, including nondairy varieties (just avoid any fat-free or very light milks).
- Sugar: A touch of granulated sugar adds a little sweetness to the custard. Honey and maple syrup are flavorful substitutes. If you use a liquid sweetener, warm it for about 20 seconds in the microwave to help it mix better into the custard.
- Spices: The classic combo of cinnamon and nutmeg adds warmth and depth to French toast.
- Bread: White bread is ideal for this recipe. Since you want thick slices, cut it yourself from a whole loaf rather than using pre-sliced bread, which may be too thin. Stale bread soaks up the custard better, so use day-old bread if possible. To dry out the bread, lay the bread out overnight in a single layer on a baking sheet. Or, to quickly dry it out, set the bread in a single layer on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet, and lightly toast in a 300°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Butter: For additional flavor, use salted butter. Don’t skimp on the butter as you cook. It helps the French toast to cook evenly and adds lots of flavor. Here are the Test Kitchen’s picks for best butter brands.
Directions
Step 1: Make the custard
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg until blended.
Step 2: Dip the bread
In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Working in batches, dip both sides of the bread in the egg mixture.
Editor’s Tip:Â To prevent soggy French toast, only soak for about 5 to 10 seconds per side. Place the dipped bread on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet, and let it sit for one to two minutes.
Step 3: Cook the toast
Place the dipped bread in the skillet. Toast until golden brown, two to three minutes on each side, adding more butter to the pan as needed. If desired, serve with syrup, berries and additional butter.
Editor’s Tip: To keep the French toast warm before serving, place cooked French toast slices on a wire rack set on a baking sheet in a 200° oven.
Recipe Variations
- Change up the bread: Brioche, challah and French bread are classic choices. Hawaiian sweet rolls, cinnamon swirl bread and cinnamon raisin bread are some delicious alternatives. You can also use your favorite or homemade gluten-free sandwich bread.
- Switch up the spices: Ground ginger, cardamom and cloves are tasty options. For a taste of autumn, add a few sprinkles of homemade pumpkin pie spice mix.
- Flavor the custard: Add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon vanilla, coconut or almond extract for extra flavor. For a citrus twist, add a pinch of orange or lemon zest to the custard.
How to Store Cinnamon French Toast
Leftover French toast should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat in a skillet with butter, or pop in the microwave for about 60 seconds.
Can you freeze French toast with cinnamon?
French toast is perfectly freezer-friendly. To freeze, first allow the French toast to cool completely. Then place the slices in an airtight freezer-safe container, placing a piece of parchment or waxed paper between the layers of toast. French toast can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
To reheat frozen French toast, place the slices on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 18 to 24 minutes or until heated through, flipping the slices halfway through the cooking time.
Cinnamon French Toast Tips
Why is my cinnamon French toast soggy?
To avoid soggy French toast, be sure that your bread is dried out before soaking it in the custard. Don’t oversoak the bread—it only needs to be dipped about 5 to 10 seconds per side. Another culprit might be the temperature of the cooking skillet. Too high of a temperature and the French toast will overcook on the outside before the insides have cooked through. If your first slice of French toast chars too quickly on the outside, reduce the heat so the French toast cooks more slowly and evenly.
How do you keep cinnamon from clumping in French toast?
To keep your cinnamon from clumping, use a whisk, or even a hand mixer, to help the cinnamon thoroughly incorporate into the custard.
What can you serve with cinnamon French toast?
Of course, a pat of butter and maple syrup is a classic topping for any French toast. Fruit syrups, like blueberry syrup, are a sweet alternative. Other delicious French toast toppings include a generous dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of powdered sugar or drizzle of caramel sauce.
On the side, you can’t go wrong serving your French toast with fresh fruit, oven-baked bacon or savory breakfast sausage patties.
