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Lazy weekend mornings are made for this caramelized Cinnamon Sugar French Toast. Light and airy cinnamon sugar french toast, made with a warming vanilla bourbon egg custard, nutty browned butter, and sweet cinnamon sugar. Every piece of toast is soft, buttery, and custardy inside, but crisp and caramelized on the outside with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar. Serve this french toast with whipped mascarpone and a drizzle of maple…beyond delicious.
It’s been so long since I shared a good breakfast recipe. No idea why, but I’ve been very into the cookies and cakes this month. However, something about this weekend really required a deliciously sweet breakfast. It’s been the longest week. I’m feeling like a lazy weekend breakfast is exactly what we all need.
Enter this french toast. It’s half cinnamon sugar toast and half french toast. And well, it might just be my favorite breakfast…because I will forever have a deep love for cinni-sugar toast.
Growing up, my brothers and I sure ate a lot of cinnamon sugar toast. It was my dad’s specialty and my personal favorite. He’d do his French toast up really simply, using whatever bread my mom bought that week. Then he’d use so much butter, and even more cinnamon sugar. Oh my gosh, it was good. Dad would always make his cinnamon sugar mix heavy on the cinnamon and lighter on the sugar, so that’s how I do mine too. And we loved it. You can never overdo it on the cinnamon in my opinion.
For whatever reason, I’ve been thinking so much about his cinni-sugar toast recently. So
much so that it ended up being the inspiration for this French toast. It reminds me of being a kid. When everything in life was stressfree, carefree, and my biggest concern was what outfit I was going to wear to school.
Here are the details.
Like most French toast recipes, this is pretty simple to make and requires nothing fancy. I like to soak my bread slices in an egg “custard-like” mix. I always add a splash of both bourbon and vanilla. Using a small splash of bourbon really helps bring out the rich flavors of this toast and gives it something a little extra special.
So…soak the bread in the egg mix, then pan fry with a bit of butter until golden on either side.
Very basic, but then…
The cinnamon sugar.
Once you’ve cooked both sides of toast, you’ll want to sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar. Then simply flip the french toast over, cinni-sugar side facing down. As the french toast cooks, the sugars caramelize and turn the top of the toast into the most roll your eyes back delicious treat.
It’s similar to creme brûlée, in a way, but with the flavors of cinnamon sugar toast and just the slightest bit of crispiness.
And finally the mascarpone cream.
If you LOVE tiramisu, you’ll definitely want to make this whipped cream. It’s made with mascarpone cheese, which gives it the perfect light and creamy texture and the best flavor. Again, it adds something a little extra special to this French toast.
All it requires is just mascarpone cheese, whipped with cream, and a touch of vanilla. Seems so easy and simple, but do not let that fool you. It makes for the creamiest topping, and is perfect atop these french toast slices.
As soon as the french toast comes off the skillet, finish it with a light sprinkle of cinni-sugar, a dollop of mascarpone cream, and a drizzle of real maple syrup. Again, nothing not to love here.
When the whipped cream hits the warm toast it begins to melt over top and creates an even more custard-like french toast. The whipped mascarpone, in addition to the caramelized cinnamon sugar and sweet maple…mouthwatering! Sorry, cheesy, but I mean, I think you’ll agree.
Hoping so, because I really cannot stress enough just how good this French toast really is. My mom and causing Maggie said they could not get enough. This is one of those recipes that you’ll look forward to making every chance you get. The toast is warming, cozy, and so easy to make. Serve these up for weekend breakfast/brunch, then save the leftovers as a weekday on-the-go breakfast/treat/snack. Or work them into your upcoming Easter or Mother’s Day menus…crazy these holidays are already on the horizon.
Spring is coming!
Looking for other breakfast recipes? Here are some favorites:
Cinnamon Sugar Brown Butter Popovers
Za’atar Eggs with Lemony Yogurt
Cider Pumpkin Waffles with Salted Maple Butter
Lastly, if you make this Cinnamon Sugar French Toast be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Cinnamon Sugar French Toast
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 670 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- kosher salt
- 1 loaf challah bread, sliced into 1 inch slices
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- butter, for the pan
Whipped Mascarpone
- 1/4 cup mascarpone or cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. In a large 9×13 inch baking dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, bourbon, vanilla, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Add the bread slices, and turn to coat. Let the bread sit 10 minutes, then flip and let the other side sit another 10 minutes. 2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. 3. To make the cream. Using an electric mixer, whip the mascarpone and cream together until soft peaks form. Add the honey (or maple) and vanilla. Whip to combine.4. When ready to cook, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the toast until light golden 2-3, then flip and cook 3-5 minutes, until deeply golden. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top of each piece of toast. Flip the toast, cinnamon-sugar side facing down, and cook 2-3 minutes, until the sugar is golden brown and caramelized. 5. Plate the french toast cinnamon sugar side facing up. Sprinkle each piece lightly with cinnamon sugar. Serve with whipped cream and maple syrup. Enjoy 🙂
This post was originally published on February 26, 2021
Delicious..made it with my homemade sourdough. Tasty! Thanks for sharing the recipe
Hey Sheila,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
This was amazing! We made it for dinner tonight. Didn’t make the whipped cream but still so good!
Hey Kristin,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Haha I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to share it with the family, so I made a solo serving! I’ve never made French toast before. Can’t believe it turned out exactly right. Thanks!
Hey Mel,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
This was a wonderful Saturday morning recipe. I topped it with some homemade (leftover) banana cream pudding and fresh bananas with a dash of shaved chocolate. DECADENT.
Hey Mary,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! I’m always blown away by all your fabulous recipes… Everything looks so good! Is the bread your using like a brioche? I think I’m going to try this for Sunday morning breakfast!
Hey Lisa,
Thanks so much for your kind message! I used Challah here, but I also think brioche would work well too! I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
So delicious and simple to make! My boys absolutely loved this recipe!
Hey Estelle,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that the recipe was enjoyed! Have a fantastic weekend! xTieghan
I noticed after the first batch the butter in the pan began to smoke. What do you do to avoid burning the bitter when making the second round of French toast ?
Hey Karen,
I just turn the heat down as needed:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I make a version of this now but am going to incorporate the bourbon and cinnamon/sugar. I have to say while watching the slo-mo video on stories, that bourbon pour seemed endless! Happy to see the recipe is 1-2 tbsp. Got a chuckle.
Lol thanks so much! I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan
Yum — looks amazing and can’t wait to try it. Thank you. Does the alcohol in the bourbon burn off?
Hey Meg,
Thanks so much! Yes, it does, but it you are concerned about the alcohol at all you can certainly just skip it. xTieghan
The recipe looks great. But the feather from a chicken’s bu** is gross! 😮
Hope you love the recipe Frannie! xTieghan
Now the dilemma is the incredible Creme Brulee French Toast or this Cinnamon Sugar French Toast. I can’t get enough of the Creme Brulee FT. I’m guessing this one is going to be just as ridiculously delicious. I might have to have a brunch and make both.
I hope you love the recipe Teresa!! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious. Added to this weekend’s breakfast.
Hey Joyce,
I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
This looks so yum ? Im definitely going to make this recipe this weekend. Thank-you
Hey Roxanne,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan
I cannot wait to make this on Sunday! It’s my husbands birthday and his favorite breakfast is French toast ?
Hey Melissa,
I hope your family loves the recipe, happy birthday to your husband! xTieghan
OMG these French toast seems D E L I C I O U S!
Miki x
https://www.littletasteofbeauty.com/
Thanks so much!! xTieghan