Okay, I’ll always say yes to pancakes for breakfast – no debate there. But having a good cinnamon French toast recipe in your back pocket is always a good thing.
French toast was our Sunday breakfast thing growing up. My mom would wake us up with the smell of warm French toast, cinnamon, and butter sizzling in the pan. No alarm clock needed. Just follow your nose.
This custard French toast recipe is so delightful, simple, and made with ingredients you probably already have at home.
It’s perfect for weekends, special days, or when you just have too much stale bread to be used up, in a good way.
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What Is French Toast?
French toast is one of the best ways to use up stale bread. And since I always aim for no food waste – what a win! At its core, a French toast is bread soaked in a rich egg custard, then fried or baked until golden and dreamy. You can go sweet or savory, but today I am doing the classic cinnamon French toast recipe.
Custard French Toast Recipe is the Best
This French toast recipe checks all the boxes. It uses leftovers stale bread, it takes very little effort and plus it’s incredibly rich and delicious.
This French toast recipe is one of those recipes that just makes life easier and tastier. Kids love it because it’s soft, sweet, without strong flavours, almost like a dessert for breakfast (and kids just love that).
What makes the French toast extra special, is that it’s in a way fancy without being complicated. It’s perfect for slow weekends, holidays, or those mornings when you want something special, but you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
The custard gives a rich, bakery-style texture, while still being super simple to make.
The custard French toast recipe is also a smart way to use up stale bread instead of throwing it away. The drier the bread, the better it soaks up the custard, turning something ordinary into a special breakfast. It’s budget-friendly and practical at the same time.
The best part is that you can make it your way. If you like it more sweet or less – go ahead, just adjust the sweetener of your choice. Do you like it dairy-free, or extra rich? You have options here, my friend. Check my Easy Substitute List for other substitutes you can use here.
I sweeten my cinnamon French toast with maple syrup because I love that warm, smoky flavour. But honey, brown sugar, or even white sugar work great too.
Another reason to love this recipe is how flexible it is. You can keep it light and simple for a more naked French toast style, or dress it up with syrup, berries, whipped cream, or even bacon. However you serve it, this French toast always delivers a special experience.
What You’ll Need for the Cinnamon French Toast Recipe
Stale Bread – Stale bread is the real secret to amazing French toast. Brioche is my favourite type of bread because it’s soft, buttery, and turns this into a true custard french toast recipe. But don’t stress if you don’t have it – sourdough or whole wheat work great too if you want a healthier or heartier option.
Eggs – Eggs are what turn this into real French toast and not just a soggy bread. They create that rich custard, that gets perfect crispy and golden once cooked.
Maple Syrup – This is a choice of sweetener. Maple syrup adds a warm, slightly smoky sweetness that pairs perfectly with cinnamon. It also melts beautifully into the custard. You can swap it with brown sugar, white sugar, or honey if that’s what you have.
Full Cream and Milk – This mix is the base of the custard. Milk keeps things light, while cream adds richness and soft, rich texture. Using both gives you the best balance, making it not too heavy, not too thin. If you want a lighter french toast, use mostly milk. If you want it extra rich and almost dessert-like, add some cream.
Spices – Adding cinnamon brings warmth and that classic french toast flavour we all love. Vanilla extract adds sweetness and makes everything smell amazing while cooking.
Don’t skip the salt, just a pinch balances the sweetness and makes all the flavours pop the right way.
Butter – Butter is non-negotiable here. It keeps the bread from sticking, adds rich flavour, and helps create that beautiful golden, slightly crispy outside layer. As it melts in the pan, it mixes with the cinnamon and custard, and honestly, that smell alone is worth it.
Equipment You’ll Need
You absolutely don’t need fancy tools to make a great French toast – only few kitchen basics that make the process easier.
Non-Stick Pan or a Dutch Oven – A good non-stick pan works perfectly for cooking the French toast until golden. If you’re using a Dutch oven, even better – it holds heat well and gives you even cooking. It’s especially handy if you are making a bigger batch and for finishing the French toast in the oven. Less dishes to wash, plus better flavour.
Whisk – Good whisk helps to mix the eggs, milk, cream, and spices into a smooth custard.
Mixing Bowl – You need a large mixing bowl to prepare the custard without making a mess.
Spatula – A flat spatula makes flipping the French toast easy. It also helps transfer the toast from pan to oven without breaking it apart.
Oven-Safe Pan or Baking Dish – If you are finishing the French toast in the oven, this is key. It allows everything to cook evenly and stay warm while you prep toppings or cook in batches. Having a Dutch oven will ensure you can do it all in just one pan.
Cinnamon French Toast Recipe
Course: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy2
servings5
minutes10
minutes10
minutes25
minutesEasy cinnamon French toast recipe made with custard-style French toast. This easy french toast recipe uses stale bread for the best French toast ever.
Ingredients
1 cup full cream (room temperature)
½ cup milk (room temperature)
¼ cup maple syrup
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
4 slices bread, cut in halves
About 100 grams butter, for cooking
Pinch of salt
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with a spatula.
- Next, add the maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Pour the milk, and cream. Whisk until smooth.
- Add cinnamon powder and a pinch of salt. Continue whisking so it all nicely incorporates in a custard-like texture.
- Soak the bread both sides in the custard for 1-2 minutes.
- Heat a large pan or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add butter, then place the soaked bread into the pan. Work in batches, if needed.
- Cook until golden, about 3-4 minutes per side. Note, this depends on the pan you are using and your stove’s heat.
- Transfer the cooked toast to an oven-safe pan. Pour any leftover custard over the top.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Transfer and bake the French toast for about 10-15 minutes until the top is golden and slightly crisp. You can also sprinkle a little white or brown sugar on top for caramelized topping. Almost like crème brûlée style.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for a minute, before serving.
Notes
- You can also add some grated nutmeg, if you like a stronger flavour.
How to Best Serve Cinnamon French Toast
Serve the cinnamon French toast warm. I love keeping it simple with a light dusting of powdered sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a classic, comforting, and straight from my childhood experience, aka naked French toast. Simple, easy, delicious!
For a little extra fun, drizzle some maple syrup and add fresh berries for a sweet-tart balance and freshness. If you want to go all in, go with a dollop of whipped cream, lemon zest, or even a side of a crispy bacon.
The French toast can be as simple or as fancy as your like. You see how amazing it can be?
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Hi, I’m Biba, the creator of Chick in Apron! As a busy mom and food blogger, I am passionate about making cooking fun and stress-free. I share simple, delicious recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, along with helpful kitchen hacks to save you time.
So, let’s turn cooking into something you enjoy with tasty meals and handy tips to make kitchen tasks a breeze! ✨
