My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
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My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
Get ready for a trip down memory lane with My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast! This recipe combines two breakfast favorites—Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal + French toast—for a nostalgic and delicious treat. With its crispy, cinnamon-sugar coating and fluffy interior, each bite brings back sweet memories!
Why You Need To Try My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast ASAP!!
There’s something so special about enjoying your favorite childhood foods (hello, Pop-Tarts and mac + cheese. Haha). My beautiful Mama used to make this Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast for me, and I recently made it for my kid the other day—of course, I had to have some too. And daaaang, it was so good I had to share it here. It’s a definite hit with both kids + adults!
I've always been a French toast lover (try my Peach Cobbler Baked French Toast or Baked Crunch Cinnamon French Toast next). This recipe is sweet, crunchy, and cinnamony on the outside, perfectly warm on the inside, and SO nostalgic! And the best part? It's baked so the oven does the work for you!
It definitely works as the perfect "pick-me-up" in the mornings or as a nice twist and switch up to regular French toast on any day of the week. If you like this recipe you'll enjoy trying these recipes out next: Balsamic Strawberry Brioche French Toast, Caramelized Apple French Toast, Strawberry French Toast Trifle, and Dairy-Free Blueberry French Toast
Jump to:
- Why You Need To Try My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast ASAP!!
- What Is Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast?
- Why You Will LOVE Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
- How To Make My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
- Ingredients
- What is the Best Bread to Use for French Toast?
- What is the Ratio of Eggs to Milk in French Toast?
- Baked vs. Pan-Fried French Toast
- What Other Dairy-Free Milks Can I Use?
- How To Dry Bread Hack
- Tips For Making the Best French Toast
- Topping Ideas For Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast Q + A's
- Love A Sweet Breakfast? Try These Recipes Next!
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
What Is Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast is a delicious twist on classic French toast. This recipe combines two breakfast favorites—Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal + French toast. Made with slices of bread coated in a mixture of crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal + cinnamon, then cooked to golden, crispy perfection.
Why You Will LOVE Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
- Provides a treat-worthy start to your day without being overly heavy.
- The outside is LOADED with cinnamon crunch + the inside has a velvety, soft and tender texture.
- Not too sweet, but perfectly sweetened.
- It's warm and comforting, especially due to the cinnamon spice.
- Perfect for entire family!
How To Make My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
I'm a big fan of baked French toast because it lets the oven do all the heavy lifting. All you have to do is the regular dipping and soaking of the bread, plus crushing up the cinnamon toast coating! See the recipe card below for the full step-by-step breakdown.
Ingredients
BAKED FRENCH TOAST:
- Loaf of bread. You can use challah, brioche, or sourdough. I recommend using day-old bread so it can better soak up all that eggy deliciousness. My Easy Fluffy Vegan Brioche Bread is my favorite for this recipe.
- Eggs. It's best to use room-temperature eggs for easy whisking. I like to use organic. For a vegan option, you'll need 3 'flax eggs' or 'chia eggs' or an alternative like Just Egg.
- Almond milk. You can use any plant-based, or dairy-based milk you like. Just let it come to room temperature before adding to the French toast.
- Vanilla extract. Use pure vanilla extract for the best vanilla flavor.
- Maple syrup. I love using pure maple syrup as a natural sweetener, however, you can sub with organic cane sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or raw organic honey.
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Crushed.
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:
- Whipped cream. Optional.
- Pure maple syrup. For drizzling!
- Powdered sugar. Sifted atop.
- Fresh berries. Sliced.
SHOP MY FAVORITE BAKEWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR FRENCH TOAST!
Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast recipe. Everything from my fave baking dish, whisk, and mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
What is the Best Bread to Use for French Toast?
For the best french toast, it's definitely all about the type of bread used. Traditionally, any bread (including regular sliced breads) can be used, but the following options truly make for the perfect bite + results in my opinion and it's always best to purchase an entire loaf and use slightly old bread. It soaks up the eggy custard even better this way.
- Brioche
- Challah
- Sourdough (Best for getting french toast with structure)
- French baguette
What is the Ratio of Eggs to Milk in French Toast?
Making the perfect french toast is all about the egg to milk ratio, believe it or not! In order to come out with a richly tender french toast, the best rule of thumb is ¼ cup of milk to 1 egg per two slice. Of course, things won't fall apart if you don't follow this, but it'll surely increase your chances of the best results. Another trick-----to avoid the "scrambled egg" taste, use only the egg yolks instead of the entire egg. Wallah!
Baked vs. Pan-Fried French Toast
Both baked and pan-fried French toast recipes are delicious, however, I prefer the one that takes less active cooking time, especially on the weekends where I’m extremely laid back.
Instead of frying your French toast in butter over the stove, try a baked version. It’s easier to whip together, makes less mess (yes, to tossing everything together in one dish), makes a pretty decent batch for the entire family, and is basically “set it + forget it” vibes.
What Other Dairy-Free Milks Can I Use?
Everything in this recipe is completely delish as is, but if you'd like to switch things up with the type of plant-based milk that you use-----that's totally fine! The world of plant-based milk is constantly expanding, it's hard to keep up! From the classics like cashew milk, sesame milk, soy milk, and almond milk, we now have delicious options like oat milk and even potato and quinoa milk.
How To Dry Bread Hack
OK, so if you're in a hurry or just feel to make this recipe, but your bead isn't day old or stale just yet, no worries! There's a hack that works that'll get you the results you need in the knick of time:
Quick option: Lay your slices of bread unto a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 300 degrees for 5-10 minutes until it "drys out".
Overnight option: Lay your slices of bread on a baking sheet or wire cooling rack overnight. Air will quickly dry out the surface of the bread.
Tips For Making the Best French Toast
When it comes to making the perfect French Toast in general, I wasn't always a master at it. To be honest, I often ruined my toast pretty badly because it would stick to the pan and become this mush. Haha. Now that I've practiced a TON, I was able to learn a few tricks along the way which hopefully can help you when making this Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast recipe:
TIP 1: THE BREAD QUALITY MATTERS.
One of my first mistakes was thinking that I could use any type of bread when it came to french toast. However, I was wrong. For the best, fluffy french toast, using the correct bread matters A LOT!
Personally, I've found that the following breads work perfectly: brioche, challah, french bread, etc. Basically, you want a bread that produces a dense crumb and that can hold up well in the custard.
TIP 2: INGREDIENTS AT ROOM TEMP IS KING!
You definitely want to make sure that all of your ingredients (whether using eggs or not) are at room temperature and not cold. This ensures that your melted butter doesn't become grainy or hardened in the process and that the custard is smooth, which helps your french toast to cook nicely and remain smooth.
TIP 3: SOAK IT REAL GOOD!
The other important tip is to ensure that your bread slices are soaked nicely within the custard. This is why using quality bread every time matters. Getting a good soaked bread makes everything perfectly fried or baked and less sticky for the frying mess!
TIP 4: ALWAYS USE A NON-STICK PAN OR DISH + DON'T SKIP BUTTER.
You read that right. To make my french toast perfect, especially vegan or dairy-free ones, I often fry them on a high-quality non-stick pan, griddle, or baking dish which creates an easy flip and slide right off the pan situation. In addition, always ensure that you use butter in between frying (or for greasing when baking) and remember----just a little goes a long way!
Topping Ideas For Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
You can make this dish as simple or as decadent as you like, when it comes to toppings. Here are some of my fave tasty toppings that you can try:
- Whipped cream --- Coconut or regular whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)
- Drizzle of maple syrup or honey
- Dusting of powdered sugar
- Fruit compote
- Caramel sauce
- Fresh berries
- Add your favorite nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc.)
Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast Q + A's
Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 1-2 days. To reheat, add the baked french toast in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through.
Absolutely! If you want to prep this recipe for the next day, simply pour all the batter ingredients in a large bowl along with the bread slices, covering it tightly, and keeping it refrigerated for 24 hours. Remove from the fridge and let sit at room temp for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before tossing them in crushed cereal and adding it to the lined baking sheet. Bake when ready to eat.
Of course! Instead of maple syrup, you can also use organic cane sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey as a substitute.
Overall, butter gives French toast a deep richness, however, to prevent burning or sticking, use a combination of butter and oil in the pan for greasing.
Absolutely! It's always best to dip and then soak your bread in the custard for a minute or so to ensure that it fully soaks in the bread and creates that tender texture in the center that we love!
Generally, french toast only get's soggy if you've used too thin, fresh, and flimsy a slices of bread. Other causes can include: too much milk to egg ratio in the custard or soaking the bread for too long.
Love A Sweet Breakfast? Try These Recipes Next!
If you are a breakfast/brunch lover and enjoyed this My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast recipe be sure to try out these delicious recipes too!
- Fluffy Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Caramelized Apple French Toast
- Sweet Potato Berry Breakfast Boats
- Easy Dairy-Free Blueberry French Toast
- Strawberry French Toast Trifle
- Fluffy Banana Oat Pancakes [Vegan]
- Cinnamon Brown Butter French Toast Casserole
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
My Childhood Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast
Ingredients
BAKED FRENCH TOAST:
- 1 loaf challah, brioche, or sourdough bread; sliced (Preferably a day old; See Notes for Vegan version)
- 6 large eggs, organic
- 1 cup Almond milk (You can use whole milk or your fave plant-based milk)
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsps pure maple syrup
- 1 (12 oz.) box Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:
- Whipped cream
- Pure maple syrup, for drizzle
- Powdered sugar, sifted
- Fresh berries, sliced
Instructions
TO MAKE THE FRENCH TOAST BATTER:
- In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and maple syrup, and set aside so that everything marries together and activates, about 2-3 minutes.
PREP THE COATING:
- In a bowl, add the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and crush into small enough pieces. NOTE: You can leave a few chunks for texture, if desired.
TO MAKE THE FRENCH TOAST:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dip 1 slice of bread into the batter, soaking it in for a few seconds on each side. Then shake off any excess and toss it in the crushed cereal and then place it onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all french toast are dipped, coated, and lined, keeping an inch or so apart.
- Bake the french toast for 20-25 minutes or until fully cooked through (less 'jiggly') and edges + tops are crisp and golden brown.
- Remove the french toast from oven and let cool for 5 minutes or so before plating 2 french toast slices on each plate and your fave toppings: powdered sugar, fresh berries, and/or whipped cream, if desired. Drizzle with maple syrup, if desired!
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 1-2 days. To reheat, add the baked french toast in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through.
- MAKE AHEAD | OVERNIGHT: If you want to prep this recipe for the next day, simply pour all the batter ingredients in a large bowl along with the bread slices, covering it tightly, and keeping it refrigerated for 24 hours. Remove from the fridge and let sit at room temp for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before tossing them in crushed cereal and adding it to the lined baking sheet. Bake when ready to eat.
- GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: This recipe is already dairy-free (as long as you use dairy-free bread). To make it gluten-free, simply use your favorite gluten-free sourdough or brioche.
- VEGAN BRIOCHE: To make your own vegan brioche bread, see my latest recipe.
- SWEETENER: Instead of maple syrup, you can also use organic cane sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey as a substitute.
Nutrition
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LET US KNOW!
This is SO good!
Thanks so much, Jim! 🙂
Do you think I could use hardo bread for this recipe?
Hi Sheena! I wouldn't use hard-dough bread because when wet it might not hold up well. However, I do list the other types of bread you can use. 🙂