Apple Cinnamon French Toast

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Total Time 20 minutes

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Is it dessert? Is it breakfast? Does it matter? All I know is this Apple Cinnamon French Toast is delicious! Rich, indulgent, cinnamon-y, syrup-y, quick, and so easy to make — this French toast is the most perfect treat any time of day!

Looking for more amazing French toast recipes? I have you covered with recipes for Strawberries and Cream French Toast, Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Muffins, Cinnamon French Toast Sticks, or even my Overnight Cinnamon Pecan French Toast Casserole.

close up top view of a stack of apple cinnamon french toast topped with apple slices and sauce on a black plate with a fork.

Can you believe there was a time when I didn’t think I liked French toast? I know, utter blasphemy, but it’s true. Growing up I could devour a stack of buttermilk pancakes, or easily down my mother’s Belgian waffles, but French toast? Pass. 

This recipe was the game-changer for me seven or eight years ago. I got the idea to make a Fall-inspired French toast recipe and something about the combination of apples, cinnamon, and that buttery brown sugar syrup really spoke to me.

I originally shared this cinnamon French toast with you six years ago and rave reviews have been pouring in ever since – especially when Fall time comes around. I recently made it again for my kids and took some new photographs to give this recipe the love it deserves! 

close up of a bite of apple cinnamon French toast on a fork with the rest of the toast on the side with apples and syrup both on a plate.

Why This Recipe Works

So fast — This recipe is easy, insanely delicious, and takes 15 minutes max so there’s no excuse not to treat yourself this weekend! 

ApplesCut up those uneaten apples in your crisper drawer, use a variety of apples, use only one kind of apple, really anything goes here. 

Any bread — Use up those few slices of bread that are about to go stale, or a fancy bread you love, or any bread you like, really. It’s all good! 

Cinnamon — Well, it’s really hard to make cinnamon French toast without the cinnamon right? But, honestly, it’s what makes this brioche French toast stand out. Mixed with apples…so. good! 

a stack of apple cinnamon French toast topped with sauce and apple slices on a black plate.

Here’s How You Make It

Making the Apple Topping

  1. Add the apple slices, brown sugar, and butter in a medium saucepan. Cook this mixture over medium high heat until the brown sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. 
  2. Now add a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the apples and butter, and reduce the heat to simmer, cooking 6-8 minutes longer. 
  3. Remove the apples mixture from the heat and allow it all to cool slightly and thicken while you prepare toast.
top view of apple compote in a skillet with a rubber spatula.

Making the Cinnamon French Toast

  1. In a large, wide bowl, you’ll whisk together the eggs, vanilla, milk, and cinnamon. 
  2. Next, stir in the flour and whisk the mixture until it’s smooth. 
  3. Now, grab the bread and completely submerge one slice of bread in the mixture at a time, careful to coat both sides. Once it’s coated on both sides, lift the slice of bread out of the liquid and allow excess batter to drip off. 
  4. Cook the slices of soaked bread in a large pan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned, then flip it and cook on the other side for another 1-2 minutes. Repeat with remaining bread slices. 
top view of a stack of apple cinnamon french toast topped with apple slices and sauce on a black plate with a fork.

Putting it Together

Add desired amount of toasts to a plate and generously top with the apple-cinnamon mixture. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or other toppings if desired.

a hand drizzling syrup onto a stack of apple cinnamon French toast on a plate with a spoon.

Ideas for Customizing French Toast

  • Add nuts. That’s right, a little sprinkle of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds right on top would be tasty and add a nice texture. 
  • Whipped cream is always a welcome sight in my home. Pile it on top of the apples and dive right in! 
  • Another way I love to mix up this dish is to add chocolate or even cinnamon chips to the top. Sprinkle them on as you’re plating the dish so the chips don’t melt. It’s a wonderful treat to bite into chocolate with every bite of the cinnamon French toast! 
  • Want more fruit than just apples? I hear ya. I’ve been known to add blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries in with the apples, cuz, why not? Oh! And slices of banana on top are yum too! 
  • You know what goes great with apples? Cheddar cheese. That’s right. Add a couple small cubes or slices of cheddar right on top of the bread and before the apple mixture for a lovely sweet/savory mix! 

Expert Tips

  • If you want to save time, you can totally make the apple cinnamon topping the  night before. Simply reheat in a saucepan while you grill the bread (or the microwave will work too!). 
  • I don’t love leftover French toast. It tends to get too soggy for my taste. If you want leftovers, save the batter in a separate container and make again the next day. 
  • For best results, use thicker cuts of bread (at least an inch) to make this the best French toast you’ve ever made! 
top view of apple cinnamon French toast topped with apple slices and sauce with a bite on a fork both on a plate.
up close french toast with apples and syrup with a forkful of french toast
4.98 from 102 votes

Apple Cinnamon French Toast

Dessert or breakfast? It’s hard to tell with this rich and indulgent french toast! The perfect treat for a long awaited weekend!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 2 medium apples, peeled and sliced
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla, divided
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
  • 6-8 slices white bread
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1/3 cup, flour
  • optional: powdered sugar

Instructions 

  • Add apple slices, brown sugar, and butter in a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium high heat until brown sugar has dissolved and butter has melted. Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and reduce heat to simmer. Cook 6-8 minutes longer. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly and thicken while you prepare toast.
  • In a large, wide bowl whisk together eggs, vanilla, milk, and cinnamon. Stir in flour and whisk until smooth. Completely submerge one slice of bread in the mixture, careful to coat both sides. Lift the bread out of the liquid and allow to drip off excess.
  •  Cook toast in a large pan over medium heat 1-2 minutes until lightly browned, then flip and cook other side 1-2 minutes. Repeat with remaining bread slices. Generously top toasts with apple-cinnamon mixture. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

  • If you want to save time, you can totally make the apple cinnamon topping the  night before. Simply reheat in a saucepan while you grill the bread (or the microwave will work too!). 
  • I don’t love leftover French toast. It tends to get too soggy for my taste. If you want leftovers, save the batter in a separate container and make again the next day. 
  • For best results, use thicker cuts of bread (at least an inch) to make this the best French toast you’ve ever made! 

Nutrition

Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 257mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 206mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a star rating or comment below!
 
Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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4.98 from 102 votes (76 ratings without comment)

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79 Comments

  1. Aolani says:

    5 stars
    Amazing and I didn’t even add vanilla because I, unfortunately, didn’t have any.

    Question: How long will the apple syrup mixture last in the fridge?

    1. Tiffany says:

      I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 I would say the apple topping would stay fresh in the fridge for about three to four days.

  2. Heather says:

    5 stars
    Insanely good!!🥰🥰 I’ve been making meals for my mother and I since quarantine😷 and have been looking for new stuff to try and this was a major hit!💯 She doesn’t like overly sweet or heavy things, and I don’t like cinnamon but this was totally delicious for both of us!🤤🤤 Definitely saving this forever💕

    1. Tiffany says:

      That’s great that you guys enjoyed this! 🙂

  3. Ann says:

    5 stars
    My son declared this is the best French toast he has ever had! Definitely a keeper! Thank you.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Haha that’s great! Made my day 🙂

  4. Claude G says:

    5 stars
    This French toast is amazing , I did make it 3 times in last 2 weeks 🙂👍my kids love it
    Thanks for sharing it
    Printed and saved into our favorites ❤️

    1. Tiffany says:

      I’m so glad you all enjoy it so much! 🙂

  5. Yang Duran says:

    I like it. It has enough sweetness and easy to make too. I just wish the syrup is thicker, but that’s a personal preference :>

  6. Rachael Clark says:

    5 stars
    Oh my! My boys loved it! hubby and grown son! New favorite!

    1. Tiffany says:

      So happy to hear that you all loved it! Thank you for your review 🙂