Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins (Printable)
Soft, custardy muffins with a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. A comforting breakfast twist on French toast flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Muffin Base
01 - 6 cups day-old brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 4 large eggs
03 - 1 cup whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
05 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Cinnamon Sugar Coating
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with butter or cooking spray, or line with paper liners.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until fully incorporated and smooth.
03 - Add bread cubes to the custard mixture. Gently fold until all pieces are evenly coated. Allow to soak for 5 minutes so bread absorbs the liquid.
04 - Divide the soaked bread mixture evenly among the 12 muffin cups, pressing down lightly with a spoon to compact each portion.
05 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until tops are golden brown and muffins feel set when gently touched.
06 - While muffins bake, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, stirring until evenly mixed.
07 - Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully remove from the tin.
08 - Brush each warm muffin with melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat completely on all sides.
09 - Serve immediately while warm. Optionally drizzle with maple syrup or garnish with fresh berries.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These capture everything wonderful about French toast but in portable form that's perfect for busy mornings or brunch gatherings
- The cinnamon sugar coating creates this incredible crunchy shell that gives way to the softest most custardy center imaginable
02 -
- The soaking time is non-negotiable because bread that hasn't absorbed enough custard will yield dry muffins instead of the soft custardy texture we want
- Don't skip the cooling time in the pan or your muffins might fall apart when you try to remove them
03 -
- Use a pastry brush for the melted butter because it gives you the most even coverage and helps the cinnamon sugar stick better
- Work quickly when coating because the butter needs to be warm for the sugar mixture to adhere properly