If you’re on the lookout for a cozy breakfast treat that’s both fun to make and utterly delicious, this Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe is your new go-to. Imagine soft, custardy French toast shaped into cute muffins, dusted with a sweet and spicy cinnamon sugar streusel that adds a delightful crunch. Each bite brings together the comforting flavors of classic French toast with the ease of a grab-and-go snack that feels just a little bit special. Whether it’s for a weekend brunch or a weekday pick-me-up, these muffins are sure to bring a smile to your morning.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients for this Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe is simple but essential to get that perfect balance of flavor and texture. Each ingredient plays a specific role from delivering richness and creaminess to adding sweetness and spice.
- Day-old Texas toast or Brioche bread: Using day-old bread ensures it soaks up the egg custard without falling apart, while brioche adds a buttery richness.
- Granulated sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness that balances the spices.
- Ground cinnamon: The star spice that gives the muffins their warm, aromatic flavor.
- Ground nutmeg: Just a touch brings depth and a cozy holiday vibe.
- Large eggs: Help create the custardy base that holds the muffins together.
- Whole milk and heavy whipping cream: The combo guarantees a luscious, creamy texture.
- Pure vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a sweet, floral note.
- All-purpose flour: Essential for the streusel topping to bring a tender crumbly texture.
- Light brown sugar: Adds a rich molasses flavor and moistness to the topping.
- Tiny pinch of salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies flavors.
- Cold unsalted butter: Cubed butter creates those irresistible buttery pockets in the streusel topping.
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Bread
Start by cutting your day-old Texas toast or brioche bread into bite-sized cubes, about one-inch pieces. It’s important that the bread is slightly stale to naturally absorb the rich custard mixture without becoming soggy. After cubing the bread, set it aside while you make the custard mixture.
Step 2: Mix the Custard Base
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy whipping cream, pure vanilla extract, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. This custard mixture is where the magic begins—it infuses the bread cubes with sweet, spiced creaminess that melts in your mouth.
Step 3: Combine Bread and Custard
Place the cubed bread into the custard mixture, gently stirring to ensure every piece is saturated but not falling apart. Let it soak for about 5 minutes to fully absorb the flavors and moisture, which will help the muffins set up perfectly during baking.
Step 4: Make the Streusel Topping
While the bread soaks, prepare your streusel topping by combining the all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and a tiny pinch of salt in a small bowl. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture looks crumbly and has small pea-sized bits. This topping adds a sweet, buttery crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft muffins.
Step 5: Assemble and Bake
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a muffin tin, then spoon the soaked bread mixture into each muffin cup, filling them generously but not overflowing. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over each muffin for that irresistible crunchy crust. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow your muffins to cool slightly before removing from the tin.
How to Serve Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe
Garnishes
These muffins are wonderful just as they are, but a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a beautiful finishing touch. For extra indulgence, drizzle with warm maple syrup or a smear of melted butter. Fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream can also elevate the presentation and complement the sweet-spiced flavors.
Side Dishes
Serve your Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe alongside crisp bacon or sausage for a savory contrast. Fresh fruit salad or a simple green salad with a citrus dressing can add a refreshing balance, making your breakfast or brunch both well-rounded and satisfying.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun brunch idea, arrange the muffins in a basket lined with a colorful cloth napkin and garnish with fresh herb sprigs like mint or rosemary. You can also serve them with small ramekins of various toppings like nut butters, fruit preserves, or honey for guests to customize their muffins.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to keep them fresh and moist. They make a perfect quick breakfast or snack for busy mornings.
Freezing
These muffins freeze beautifully. Place cooled muffins in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to two months. Freezing locks in the flavor and texture, so you can enjoy them later without any loss in quality.
Reheating
To reheat, pop the muffins in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or in a toaster oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes until warmed through and crispy again on top. This refreshes their tender custard center and re-crisps the streusel topping.
FAQs
Can I use fresh bread instead of day-old bread?
Fresh bread tends to become too soggy since it absorbs the custard quickly and can fall apart. Using day-old bread helps maintain structure and gives the muffins a perfect custard texture.
Can I make these muffins dairy-free?
Absolutely! Substitute the whole milk and heavy cream with your favorite plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk or oat milk, and use dairy-free butter for the streusel topping. The texture might vary slightly but they’ll still be delicious.
How long do these muffins keep fresh?
When stored properly at room temperature in an airtight container, these muffins stay fresh for up to two days. Refrigeration is possible but might dry them out, so freezing is usually a better option if you want to keep them longer.
Can I add fruit or nuts to the batter?
Yes! Small diced apples, blueberries, or chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts can add wonderful texture and flavor. Just fold them gently into the bread and custard mixture before baking.
Is it okay to prepare this recipe the night before?
While it’s best to bake the muffins fresh, you can assemble the soaked bread and custard mixture in the fridge overnight and bake in the morning. Just add the streusel topping right before baking so it stays nice and crumbly.
Final Thoughts
This Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe is truly a breakfast game-changer, combining the nostalgic flavors of French toast with the convenience and fun presentation of muffins. Give it a try and you might just find yourself making these warm, cozy treats your new favorite morning tradition. I promise, your taste buds will thank you!
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Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Recipe
These Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins are a delightful twist on classic French toast, offering all the comforting flavors in an easy-to-eat muffin form. Made with day-old Texas toast or Brioche, soaked in a rich custard mixture and topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel, these muffins are perfect for breakfast or brunch. They are soft, flavorful, and have a crispy cinnamon sugar topping that adds the perfect texture contrast.
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins
Ingredients
French Toast Muffins
- 9 slices day-old Texas toast or Brioche bread (9 to 10 lightly packed cups of bread)
- 3 tablespoons (40 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Streusel Topping
- ⅓ cup (42 grams) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled
- ¼ cup (50 grams) packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- tiny pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed into pieces
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Cut the day-old Texas toast or Brioche bread into bite-sized cubes, about 1-inch pieces, and place them in a large mixing bowl. This ensures each muffin has plenty of soft bread to soak up the custard.
- Mix the Custard: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth. This custard mixture will infuse the bread with rich flavor and moisture.
- Combine Bread and Custard: Pour the custard mixture over the cubed bread and gently toss to make sure every piece is evenly coated. Let the bread soak for a few minutes to absorb the custard, but don’t let it become too soggy.
- Make the Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and a tiny pinch of salt. Add the cold cubed butter, and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This topping will add a sweet, crunchy texture to the muffins.
- Prepare Muffin Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line each cup with paper liners.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Spoon the soaked bread mixture evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling them almost to the top. Sprinkle a generous amount of the streusel topping evenly over each muffin for a crunchy finish.
- Bake the Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Baking will cook the custard through and crisp up the streusel topping.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before removing. Serve warm as is or with syrup, fresh fruit, or whipped cream for an extra special breakfast treat.
Notes
- Using day-old bread is essential as it soaks up the custard better than fresh bread without becoming mushy.
- You can substitute whole milk and heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Make sure the butter for the streusel is cold to get the best crumbly texture.
- These muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave before serving.
- To make ahead, prepare the bread and custard mixture the night before, cover and refrigerate, then bake fresh the next morning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
