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Cinnamon-Stuffed French Toast Recipe — Crispy, Custardy Breakfast


This cinnamon-sugar-crusted French toast is perfect for a special breakfast or brunch. Serve it plain, with fresh fruit, or pile it high with whipped cream and syrup.

A hand pours syrup onto a stack of caramelised French toast topped with whipped cream, raspberries, cherries, and banana slices on a black plate.

Nicky’s Recipe Notes

This is my upgraded French toast with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar crust. The secret is to cook the slices briefly, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar into the pan while the toast cooks. Flip, add sugar to the other side, then flip again so the pan’s heat caramelizes the sugar.

The result is a soft, fluffy interior without an overly eggy taste and a sweet, crispy exterior. I now keep a tub of cinnamon sugar in the cupboard so I can make this in no time.

Table of Contents

  • Nicky’s Recipe Notes
  • 📋 Ingredients
  • 📺 Watch how to make it
  • Pro Tip
  • 🍽️ What to serve it with
  • Cinnamon French Toast Recipe
  • ? Frequently Asked Questions
  • 🍲 More fantastic sweet brunch ideas

📋 Ingredients

A wooden board displays ingredients for the best French toast recipe—brioche bread, eggs, soft brown sugar, vanilla essence, cinnamon, milk, and butter—each labelled with text.
A wooden board displaying ingredients for French Toast toppings: a banana, a bowl of fresh berries, chopped nuts, whipped cream, icing sugar, and golden syrup, all labelled.

Fruit: I like fresh blackberries, cherries and banana slices, but use whatever fruit you prefer.

📺 Watch how to make it

Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card below.

Pro Tip

Prefer French toast fingers? Slice the bread into sticks before dipping in the egg mixture. You may need extra cinnamon sugar to coat all sides.

French toast is the perfect pick-me-up for brunch.

A plate of brioche French toast topped with whipped cream, banana slices, raspberries, cherries, and syrup, with extra fruit and a small jug of syrup nearby.

🍽️ What to serve it with

  • Top with plenty of fresh fruit, whipped cream, golden syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar.
  • For an indulgent breakfast, serve with ice cream or a fruit sauce and chopped nuts.
Close-up of caramelised French toast slices topped with whipped cream, raspberries, banana slices, and icing sugar being sprinkled, served on a black plate.

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A stack of brioche French toast topped with whipped cream, raspberries, banana slices, and cherries, with syrup being poured over the top.

Cinnamon French Toast Recipe

By Nicky Corbishley
This cinnamon-sugar-crusted French toast is perfect on its own, with fruit, or topped with whipped cream and syrup.
Prep Time:5 mins
Cook Time:10 mins
Total Time:15 mins
Servings:6 pieces of French Toast
Course:Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Cuisine:American, British-French

Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast

  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons soft brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 thick slices brioche bread

Serving Suggestions

  • Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
  • Fresh berries, cherries or banana slices
  • Golden syrup or maple syrup
  • Whipped cream
  • Chopped nuts (hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts)

Instructions

  • Whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla extract in a wide, shallow bowl.
  • Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon on a plate.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat until just bubbling.
  • Dip three slices of bread in the egg mixture, coating both sides, and place them in the hot pan. Fry for 1–2 minutes per side until lightly browned.
  • While each slice is in the pan, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar over the top, flip the slice, then sprinkle another tablespoon. Cook for about 1 more minute per side until golden and caramelized.
  • Transfer cooked slices to a warm plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan and repeat with the remaining bread.
  • When all slices are cooked, divide between plates and sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon sugar. Serve as is or top with suggested toppings — berries, banana, whipped cream and a drizzle of golden syrup are delicious.

Video

Notes

If you prefer French toast fingers, slice the bread into sticks before dipping. You may need a bit more cinnamon sugar to coat the extra sides.

Nutritional information is approximate and provided per slice of caramelized French toast, excluding toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 285 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 28 g |
Protein: 6 g |
Fat: 17 g |
Saturated Fat: 10 g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g |
Trans Fat: 0.3 g |
Cholesterol: 133 mg |
Sodium: 240 mg |
Fiber: 0.4 g |
Sugar: 12 g

Nutrition information is an approximation and should be used as a guide.

? Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make it ahead or freeze it?

French toast is best eaten fresh, so I don’t recommend making it ahead or freezing it.

Ingredient swaps

If you don’t have brioche, soft white bread works well. See the serving suggestions for topping ideas.

🍲 More fantastic sweet brunch ideas

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