Buttery brioche, warm cinnamon sugar, and golden egg-dipped cubes—these cinnamon French toast bites are the smell of Saturday morning in a skillet. With just eggs, milk, vanilla, and a buttery sizzle, they come together in a flash but taste like you fussed. Cozy, crisp-on-the-edges, sweet-but-not-too-sweet goodness.
You know those mornings when you want something a little special, but your brain’s still on airplane mode? That’s where these cinnamon French toast bites swoop in. Each little cube is soft in the middle, caramel-crispy on the outside, and unapologetically dunkable. You can eat them with your hands! Or a fork, if you’re feeling fancy. They’re great for feeding a few hungry people fast—or, let’s be honest, one very happy snacker.
Table of Contents
Don’t let this one slip away — pin it now and thank yourself later!
Don’t let this one slip away — pin it now and thank yourself later!
Why You’ll Love this Cinnamon French Toast Bites Recipe
Not every breakfast needs to be a grand production. These barely even qualify as effort. And yet? They deliver.
- Ridiculously simple to make: You just chop some bread, whisk a few things, and fry until golden. That’s it.
- Perfect use for stale bread: Honestly, stale brioche was born to be reborn as French toast.
- So many texture moments: Crispy outside, soft and pillowy inside, plus the sandy sparkle from cinnamon sugar.
- Adaptable for toppings: Syrup, Greek yogurt, fruit, or… just your fingers straight from the bowl. No judgment.
- Kid and grown-up approved: Toddlers love the bite-size. Adults love that it’s basically fancy cereal you made yourself.
Ingredient Notes
This is pantry-fridge magic at its best—just a few staples that pull off breakfast greatness.
- Stale brioche or challah: Choose something rich and squishy. Stale bread soaks up the egg mixture without disintegrating.
- Eggs: Provide the custardy base and help crisp things up when fried.
- Milk: Makes the egg bath a little looser. Whole milk is dreamy, but honestly, use what you’ve got.
- Vanilla extract: Adds that warm, bakery-note sweetness. Even a little makes these smell like comfort.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance out the sugar and keep it from going dessert-level sweet.
- Granulated sugar: Classic white sugar gives that crystal crunch in the cinnamon coating.
- Ground cinnamon: Use good-quality cinnamon—it’s doing the flavor heavy lifting here.
- Butter (for frying): For glorious, golden, crisped edges. You could swap in oil, but frankly, why?
How To Make This Cinnamon French Toast Bites Recipe
No fancy gear required. Just a bowl, a skillet, and maybe someone to sneaky-snack pieces as they’re frying.
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Cut the bread into cubes: Aim for about 1-inch squares. Uniform size helps them cook evenly and look satisfyingly snacky.
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Whisk the egg mixture: In a big bowl, combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until it’s smooth and everything’s joined the party.
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Mix the cinnamon sugar: In a separate little bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Try not to eat this with a spoon… but if you do, I get it.
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Heat the butter: Set a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter until it’s foamy and smells like toast dreams.
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Soak and fry: Toss a handful of bread cubes in the egg mixture. Let the excess drip off, then add them to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, turning until golden brown and slightly crisp.
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Toss in sugar mixture: Once the bites are done, remove them from the skillet and pop them right into the cinnamon sugar. Toss quickly to coat every nook and cranny.
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Repeat and serve: Just keep going in batches until you’ve fried ‘em all. Serve warm, however you like—maple syrup, whipped cream, or even just a napkin.
Storage Options
So, maybe you made a double batch thinking you’d “share”… and now you’ve got leftovers. Don’t worry, you’ve got options.
Pop any extras into an airtight container once they’re fully cooled. They’ll keep in the fridge for about 2 days. The sugar will soften a bit, but a quick toast in the oven (or air fryer, if you swing that way) brings back their crisp.
Can you freeze these? Technically yes, though the texture might shift slightly. If you do, spread them out on a parchment-lined sheet to freeze individually first, then store in a bag or container. Reheat straight from frozen in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
By the way, if you’ve ever wondered about freezing something totally different, like miso or maybe chestnut purée (hey, we all have quirks), I dug into those questions too. Turns out you can freeze miso paste just fine.
Variations and Substitutions
Sometimes what you’ve got isn’t exactly what the recipe calls for. That’s fine—these bites are forgiving and customizable.
- Different bread: No brioche or challah? Try thick white sandwich bread or even croissants (yes, really). Just avoid super-crumbly types.
- Alt milk: Oat milk, almond milk, half-and-half—go with what you drink. Just avoid overly sweet or flavored ones unless you want that vibe.
- More spice: Add a dash of nutmeg, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice to the sugar mix for extra cozy notes.
- Coconut sugar swap: Want something deeper and slightly caramel-ish? Coconut sugar totally works in place of white sugar.
- Dairy-free frying: Use plant-based butter or neutral oil if you’re avoiding dairy. You’ll lose the buttery aroma, but they’ll still be good.
What to Serve with Cinnamon French Toast Bites
You could totally devour a bowl of these on their own, cereal-style. But if you want to round it out (or impress someone), here are some ideas.
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Got a fruity side in mind? A big bowl of mixed berries or sliced peaches balances the sweetness with freshness. Bonus points if you use something juicy that soaks up syrup drips.
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Want protein to ground things a little? Crisp bacon or scrambled eggs are a natural fit. And if you’re trying to skip eggs, check out this roundup of breakfast ideas without eggs.
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Thinking of making it more brunchy? Pair with a pitcher of iced coffee or sparkling orange juice for that “I totally planned this” energy.
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Sweet tooth leaning? Add a bowl of whipped cream on the side for dipping. Or Greek yogurt with a little honey stirred in—it counts as balance, right?
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Channeling fall coziness? Think about a warm drink like chai or even maple-flavored hot cocoa. Ugh, now I want that.
Don’t let this one slip away — pin it now and thank yourself later!
Don’t let this one slip away — pin it now and thank yourself later!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make cinnamon French toast bites ahead of time?
Yes! You can totally make them the night before and store in the fridge. Just reheat in the oven at 350°F for 8–10 minutes to crisp things back up. That sugar coating will soften overnight, so a little time in a hot oven really helps bring them back to life.
Why use stale bread for French toast?
Stale bread soaks up the custard like a sponge without falling apart. Fresh bread tends to get soggy and loses its structure when soaked. Brioche or challah that’s a day or two old is ideal—it holds its shape, absorbs flavor, and crisps beautifully.
Can I freeze cinnamon French toast bites?
You sure can, though they’re definitely best fresh. Let them cool completely, lay them in a single layer on a tray to freeze individually, then transfer to a container. Reheat from frozen in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes until crispy again. The texture might be a little softer, but still tasty.
What toppings go well with French toast bites?
Maple syrup is classic, but don’t stop there. Try whipped cream, fresh berries, Greek yogurt, or even fruit compote. If you’re feeling playful, peanut butter drizzle is lovely—especially if you liked the PB&J S’mores.
Cinnamon French Toast Bites
Ingredients
For the French Toast Bites
- 4 cups (280 g) stale brioche or challah cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk preferably whole, or any milk
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp (0.5 g) salt
For the Cinnamon Sugar
- 1/3 cup (65 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp (5 g) ground cinnamon
For Frying
- 2 tbsp (28 g) butter plus more as needed
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Spatula
Instructions
- Cut the stale brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes for consistent, evenly cooked bites.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined.
- In a separate small bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and foamy.
- Working in batches, dip a handful of bread cubes into the egg mixture, tossing gently to coat. Let any excess drip off.
- Add the soaked bread cubes to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, turning with a spatula until golden brown and crisp on all sides. Add more butter as needed between batches.
- Transfer cooked bites directly from the skillet into the cinnamon sugar mixture. Toss gently to coat thoroughly.
- Repeat soaking, frying, and coating until all bread cubes are done. Serve immediately while warm with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, Greek yogurt, or whipped cream.
