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Make this easy recipe for Cinnamon Brown Sugar French Toast in 15 minutes! Top with maple syrup, fresh berries, or powdered sugar for the perfect weekend treat.
This easy cinnamon sugar french toast recipe has been a family favorite on the weekends for many years. The brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg in the custard give the bread a delicious caramelized flavor. Readers love it, too, giving it a nearly five-star rating!
Serve this dish with a slice of Hash Brown Quiche with Pancetta and rich and sweet Italian Hot Chocolate. It's also perfect for Christmas morning, served up with your favorite Christmas Mimosas.
For a heartier french toast, try my Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole, too!
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Ingredients to Make French Toast with Brown Sugar
- Bread - I have made A LOT of french toast, and I have my favorite types of bread. One of my favorites is a stale loaf of french or Italian bread if I have it around. My next favorite is a thick-sliced sandwich bread. Brioche or challah bread also works great. You can also do fun flavor variations with cinnamon raisin, orange cranberry, or other flavored breads. If the bread is stale, it soaks up the custard best, without it falling apart.
- Custard - Half and half gives the custard a rich flavor and texture without being too heavy. Heavy cream can be substituted for a richer flavor, and regular milk can be used for a lighter one. For a dairy-free option, I recommend oat milk or coconut milk.
- Seasonings - I add brown sugar to the custard mixture with cinnamon and nutmeg. It gives the bread the perfect caramel-flavored crust with a hint of warm spice.
Recipe Remix
Slice the bread into 2-inch slices. Dip and cook as directed for French Toast Sticks!
How to Make Brown Sugar French Toast
First, whisk the eggs, half and half, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl or dish.
Next, dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture, coating both sides and letting the bread soak up the custard a little bit.
Heat an electric griddle or griddle pan over medium heat, then coat generously with butter.
Cook the french toast for 1-2 minutes on both sides until golden brown. Serve warm with your favorite toppings!
Chef's Secret
Whisk the egg mixture after each piece of bread is dipped into the custard to make sure each is evenly coated in sugar and spices.
French Toast Toppings
While there are many options to add to french toast, here are some toppings that are our family's favorites:
- Maple syrup
- Fresh berries
- Chopped nuts
- Chocolate chips
- Powdered sugar
- Whipped cream
- Nutella
Glossary
If you don't recognize a tool or skill I mentioned, you can look it up in my Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need to make french toast for a large group, I recommend starting it ahead of time and holding it warm in the oven. You can also make it ahead of time, cool it, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Shingle it in a dish and cover lightly with foil and warm in the oven.
Yep! Cool the cooked french toast to room temperature and freeze in an even layer on a lined sheet pan. Transfer frozen pieces to a freezer bag and store for up to 2 months. Frozen french toast can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
🍳 More breakfast recipes
If you loved this brown sugar cinnamon french toast recipe, then I highly recommend you check out these other family favorites!
Recipe
Cinnamon Brown Sugar French Toast
Equipment
- Electric Griddle Griddle Pan or Non-Stick Pan
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup half and half
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- pinch kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 pieces stale thick-sliced bread, texas toast, italian bread, french bread, brioche or challah
Instructions
- Preheat a cast iron griddle pan or electric griddle over medium heat.
- In a shallow dish or bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk everything together using a fork or small whisk until the eggs are broken up and everything is combined.
- Melt the butter in the preheated pan or griddle, spreading it around to completely coat the bottom.
- Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, flipping it over to coat both sides and allowing it to soak up the custard.
- Let the excess custard drip off the bread before placing it on the pan or griddle to cook. Let the french toast cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Serve french toast with desired toppings and enjoy!
Notes
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- French Toast Sticks - Slice the bread into 2-inch slices, then dip and cook as directed.
- Bread - Use flavored bread like blueberry, cranberry walnut, or cinnamon raisin. Gluten-free bread can be used, but pick one with a good structure so it doesn't fall apart.
- Custard - Use heavy cream for a richer custard or whole milk for a lighter custard coating. Oat or Coconut milk can be used to make it dairy-free.
- Leftovers - Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or pan over medium-low heat on the stovetop.
- Freezer - Freeze cooled french toast on a sheet pan lined with parchment, then transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to two months.
Devon Russell
I work for a group home, and my clients enjoy when I make french toast from this recipe, if they had it their way it would be this recipe everyday.
Amanda
That's awesome Devon, I'm so happy to hear that!
Elizabeth
I thought everyone added brownsugar to their french toast, I always have. I also add a little flour amd use heavy cream rather than milk.
Amanda
I always love adding brown sugar to french toast, it adds such a sweet caramelized flavor. Heavy cream would be good too!