Skip the forks in favor of your fingers with an easy recipe for Cinnamon French Toast Muffins topped with warm maple syrup or quick-fix vanilla glaze!
French toast, meet muffins. Muffins, meet French toast. Now that everyone is acquainted, you can both join forces for what’s guaranteed to be a morning staple at hectic weekday breakfasts and lazy weekend brunches alike. Welcome to the fork-free party, Cinnamon French Toast Muffins!
These perfectly portable muffins are a grab-and-go alternative to a breakfast classic, and an even faster option than their culinary cousin, Cinnamon French Toast Sticks. Best of all, they’re the ultimate way to make the most of stale bread, as it quickly absorbs a tasty custard of eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Mound the mixture into muffin tin cups, pop ’em in the oven, then dip, dunk or drizzle with your choice of toppings. They’re kid-friendly, adult-approved and a finger-friendly option for lunch boxes, car rides or cartoon-filled mornings on the couch.
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Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
- 14 cups cubed bread (1/2-inch cubes; See Kelly’s Note)
- Maple syrup or vanilla glaze, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a muffin tin with butter or cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla extract. Add the cubed bread to the bowl and fold until combined and the bread has absorbed all of the liquid.
- Divide the bread mixture among the muffin tin cups, pressing it lightly into each cup to compact it.
- Bake the French toast cups for 25 to 30 minutes until they’re slightly crisped on top and cooked throughout. Allow the cups to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin tin then scoop each one out and serve topped with maple syrup or vanilla glaze.
Kelly’s Note:
- Any type of bread will work, but slightly stale bread is best, as it'll easily absorb the liquid.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
Recipe for the vanilla glaze?
Hi Tracy! Here’s a link to my quick-fix vanilla glaze recipe: https://www.justataste.com/pizza-dough-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/ :)
Hi Kelly! As an FYI to all. I had a 12 oz bag of stuffing mix (unseasoned) that measures your just over 14 cups of bread cubes. I thought I would try this recipe with those cubes. I let them soak well in the mix of eggs, milk, etc. and it came out delicious! Just a thought when you don’t have a lot of time to cut up bread.
Love your creativeness, Linda! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe :)
Can you reheat in oven if you make ahead the day before? If so, what temp and how long?
Hi Sue! I’d recommend 350°F, covered with foil, for about 8-10 minutes.
Wonderful way to use up stale bread and everybody loves it! I mixed wheat and white bread, it turned out great with stevia instead of sugar. I like the way it rises a lot!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jojo!
They looks wonderful, what a great idea.
How long would they keep fresh, i.e.
could I make them several days before needing them.
Hi Stefanie! I’d recommend baking the muffins then allowing them to cool completely before placing in a single layer within a sealable plastic bag and freezing. To reheat, remove the frozen French toast muffins from the freezer and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until warmed through.
This recipe looks like fun to make. When you say “any type of bread will work” could this mean gluten free bread as well? I am so looking forward to making this for my family. Gluten Free of course! Will let you know how it turns out. Thanks Kelly.
That should work! Looking forward to hearing your results, Felix!
These were amazing…I love that I now have breakfast ready for the week!
Woohoo! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Elisabeth!
If you can freeze them after baking them – how would you reheat them? In the microwave for ??? seconds?
Hi Karen! To reheat, microwave for 1 minute or until they’re warmed through.
How many slices of bread needed for 14 cups cubed?
Hi Eileen – A French baguette works great!
Can I make this recipe without eggs? I am vegan. Thank you!
Hi Michelle – I’ve never made this recipe without eggs so I can’t say for certain what the results would be. Let me know if you give it a shot!
Can this be made the night before?
Hi Taunya! Yes, you can prep these and leave the muffin tin in the fridge overnight. However, you may have to bake them slightly longer if they start at a cold state.
Can you make these french toast muffin recipe in one big baking dish?.
That should work, Rita! You’ll just likely need to adjust the baking time :)
Can these be frozen once cooked?
That should work, Carolyn! :)
Do you know where I can find a recipe for vanilla glaze? Would love to try it!
Here’s a great one! https://www.justataste.com/easy-homemade-glazed-doughnut-holes-recipe/
Making this right know for family as it’s bright and early 6am. Looks great and sounds amazing! Will let you know how it tastes after while. So exciting!
Enjoy!
I’m going to try these without adding sugar cuz I don’t add sugar to regular French toast. Maple syrup to serve will do I hope. I think they look delicious.
I hope you enjoy the recipe, Alice!
Has anyone tried letting the bread sit in the milk mixture overnight in the fridge and assembled and baked the next morning? Also any recommendations for gluten free bread?
Hi Lori! I don’t have any gluten-free bread recs but that technique should work!
How about leaving it in the mixture overnight?
That should work!
How many loaves of bread is 14 cups?
One French baguette works great!
These were great! I only had honey wheat sandwich bread and skim milk on hand… cooked them for about 36 minutes and they were delicious!! My family loved them!
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Nichole!
can I cook these and freeze these for early, quick, reheatable breakfasts?
That should work, Denise!
I made this using 2% milk, both white and whole wheat bread. I added freshly ground nutmeg with the cinnamon and used brown sugar. I was pleased with the results. I used an older muffin tin, I think a dark style would probably be better for even heat and removal. Going to freeze some for later!
Sounds great!
Has anyone tried with 2% milk? Probably not as rich and delicious, but I don’t have a whole lot of recipes to use a whole carton of whole milk before it’s gone.
Using 2% milk should work, Mariah!
14 cups of bread to make 12 sounds like a lot?!
It’s really not all that much because the cubes aren’t packed into the cup :)
What size loaf do you need to make 14 cups of bread cubes?
A French baguette works great!
Looking for great. recipe and found some there
Thank you! This was awesome! My son has celiac disease so I used Promise brand cinnamon raisin bagels and they turned out amazing!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Kristy!
Have you ever cooked them the night before and reheated them in the am? We are cottaging this weekend and the oven is unpredictable. Wondering if I can cook them at home first.
Hi there Alexis! I have never tried that, but definitely let me know if you give it a shot.
Is there an overnight version? I’m close to a zombie in the morning but these sound amazing.
Hi Melissa! You can prep these a night in advance and leave the muffin tin in the fridge. You may just have to bake them slightly longer if they start at a cold state. Hope that helps!
Wow, what a cool idea and so incredibly easy to do. (I’m all for ease, and hate complicated recipes). Will definitely be trying these. Not only easy but they look so cool as well. Served with a side of fresh fruit and yum :)
Thanks, Leo!
I made some slight changes like adding some ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of cloves to the flour. It was very tasty and done in no time. Thanks a lot for the recipe, Kelly.
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I finally caught up with your videos that I’ve missed (love them!). I’m so hungry now after seeing so many great recipes! Love the french toast using muffin pan. My kids will love this cute french toast muffins! Great idea. I just have to wait another 4 weeks till my kitchen is ready….
Thanks so much, Namiko!
I love so simple and quick recipes like this. My children will love these french toast muffins!
What a lovely idea , amazing !
Simple and delish! My sort of breakfast.
Happy Monday!