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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.

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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.

Eggs in Purgatory with Chile Butter and Feta | halfbakedharvest.com #breakfastrecipe #eggs

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…

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast | halfbakedharvest.com

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.

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast | halfbakedharvest.com

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!

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast | halfbakedharvest.com

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

4.32 from 200 votes
6
calories 670kcal
Prep20 minutes
Cook10 minutes
Total30 minutes
Warming vanilla bourbon egg custard, nutty browned butter + sweet cinnamon sugar. Top with whipped mascarpone and a drizzle of maple!
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Ingredients 

Whipped Mascarpone

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 🙂

Nutrition

Calories: 670kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast | halfbakedharvest.com

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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4.32 from 200 votes (173 ratings without comment)

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115 Comments

  1. Sheila says:

    5 stars
    Delicious..made it with my homemade sourdough. Tasty! Thanks for sharing the recipe

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Sheila,
      Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan

  2. Kristin says:

    5 stars
    This was amazing! We made it for dinner tonight. Didn’t make the whipped cream but still so good!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Kristin,
      Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan

  3. Mel says:

    5 stars
    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!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Mel,
      Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan

  4. mary lowe says:

    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.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Mary,
      Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan

  5. Lisa says:

    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!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      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

  6. Estelle King says:

    5 stars
    So delicious and simple to make! My boys absolutely loved this recipe!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Estelle,
      Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that the recipe was enjoyed! Have a fantastic weekend! xTieghan

  7. Karen Ross says:

    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 ?

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Karen,
      I just turn the heat down as needed:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan

  8. Spring says:

    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.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Lol thanks so much! I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan

  9. Meg says:

    Yum — looks amazing and can’t wait to try it. Thank you. Does the alcohol in the bourbon burn off?

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      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

  10. Frannie T says:

    The recipe looks great. But the feather from a chicken’s bu** is gross! 😮

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hope you love the recipe Frannie! xTieghan

  11. Teresa says:

    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.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      I hope you love the recipe Teresa!! xTieghan

  12. Joyce says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious. Added to this weekend’s breakfast.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Joyce,
      I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan

  13. Roxanne says:

    5 stars
    This looks so yum ? Im definitely going to make this recipe this weekend. Thank-you

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Roxanne,
      I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Happy Friday! xTieghan

  14. Melissa says:

    I cannot wait to make this on Sunday! It’s my husbands birthday and his favorite breakfast is French toast ?

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Melissa,
      I hope your family loves the recipe, happy birthday to your husband! xTieghan

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thanks so much!! xTieghan