This Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast recipe takes all the elements we love about Captain Crunch French Toast – the simplicity, the crunch, the comfort – and adds a layer of warmth and spice that’s simply irresistible. This recipe adds a sweet and crunchy twist to the classic dish, making it a hit for kids and adults alike.

Breakfast is one of the best meals of the day, isn’t it? I mean, who can resist all those delicious options like Cinnamon Crunch Banana Bread, Banana Bread with Pecans, Cinnamon Banana Muffins or Rhubarb Banana Bread? But if you want to add extra magic to your morning routine, you need to try making Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast. Trust me, it’s like taking a trip down memory lane while indulging in pure sweetness. No matter how old you are, there’s just something about that cinnamon-y goodness!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless Elegance: Craft a gourmet breakfast with minimal fuss.
• Warm Spices: Enjoy the comforting hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Crunchy Bliss: Savor the sweet, crispy goodness of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
• Top It Your Way: Personalize with your favorite toppings for a perfect start to the day.
• Easy to Make: This recipe is a breeze for both seasoned and newbie cooks.
• Customizable Toppings: Add maple syrup, confectioners’ sugar, whipped cream, or fresh fruit to suit your taste.
• Perfect for Special Occasions: Elevate birthdays, holidays, or weekend brunches with this indulgent treat.
• Kid-Friendly: Children adore its sweet and crunchy goodness, making breakfast more fun.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Challah Slices: The thick challah slices stay moist and custardy when cooked.
• Eggs: Eggs are used to create the custard-like coating that gives the French toast its classic texture and flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Using heavy cream instead of milk in the custard helps the coating stick. In a pinch, you can use half-n-half or whole milk.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds flavor that enhances the overall taste of the French toast.
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal: The crushed cereal provides a sweet and crunchy outer layer.
• Cinnamon & Nutmeg: Both cinnamon and nutmeg have warm, aromatic, and slightly spicy flavors that compliments the sweet cereal.
• Salt: Salt is added to enhance the flavor of the dish and balance the sweetness of the cereal and syrup.
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup remains the classic topping for French toast, adding a rich, sweet, and slightly earthy flavor that complements the challah and Cinnamon Toast Crunch coating.
• Powdered Sugar (Optional): Powdered sugar can still be dusted over the finished French toast for an extra touch of sweetness and visual appeal.

You will also need some butter (salted or unsalted will work) to grease the enameled cast-iron skillet, non-stick skillet or griddle for frying the French toast, giving it a golden and crispy exterior.

How to make Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast

Gather the ingredients, set your oven to 200°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.

Making the Egg Mixture: Begin by whisking together the eggs, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a ” rel=”nofollow”>2 quart baking dish. Thoroughly combine all the ingredients until you have a smooth custard-like mixture. This step forms the foundation for your dredging station.

Crush the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal: Place the cereal in a large freezer resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out excess air and seal it shut. Use a rolling pin to crush the cereal into small pieces. Pour the crushed cereal into another 2 quart baking dish. This serves as the second component in your dredging station.

Soaked Bread: Take two slices and submerge each in the creamy custard. Coat both sides of the bread with the custard. Let any excess mixture drip off. Soak the bread in the custard for up to 15 seconds per side to avoid making it soggy.

Coat with cereal: Place the coated bread slices into the crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, pressing gently to make the cereal adhere to the bread. Coat both sides evenly.

Heat the pan: Heat a non-stick skillet, griddle, or enameled cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and cook until melted and slightly bubbly.

Cook the French Toast: Place the coated bread slices onto the heated skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy. You may want to use a paper towel to remove any excess cereal bits between slices from the pan. Drop another tablespoon of butter between cooking the slices.

Move the cooked French toast to the parchment-lined baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven while you finish cooking the rest.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Efficient Prep Station: Arrange your station with sliced bread, custard, crushed cereal left to right from the stove for a streamlined assembly line process.
• Quick Custard Dip: Don’t exceed 15 seconds per side when dipping bread into the custard. Lengthy soaking leads to mushy French toast that may not cook properly.
• Nonstick Skillet: Use a nonstick skillet to prevent sticking and preserve the integrity of your French toast.
• Consider Skillet Size: Depending on your challah bread size, you may fit two-three slices of French toast in a 12-inch nonstick skillet.
• Butter Between Slices: Enhance flavor and prevent burning by adding a tablespoon of butter between each slice of French toast during cooking. This step ensures the slices do not stick and also adds flavor.
• Use Stale bread: If possible, use slightly stale bread. It absorbs the egg mixture without becoming too soggy, resulting in a better texture.
• Preheat the Skillet: Ensure your non-stick skillet, enameled cast iron pan or griddle is properly preheated before adding the French toast. This helps achieve a crispier crust.
• Even Cereal Coating: Press the crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal firmly onto the brioche slices to ensure an even coating. This helps create a crunchy and flavorful exterior.
• Control Heat: Adjust the heat as needed during cooking. Too high heat can burn the cereal coating, while too low heat may not achieve the desired crispiness.
• Keep Warm in the Oven: If you’re making multiple servings, keep cooked slices warm in a low oven (around 200°F or 93°C) placed on a baking sheet while you finish the rest.

Variations

• Cinnamon Roll French Toast: Mix cinnamon and brown sugar into the egg mixture for an extra burst of cinnamon flavor. Top with cream cheese glaze made from powdered sugar, cream cheese, and a bit of milk.
• Coconut Crunch French Toast: Mix shredded coconut with crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for an added layer of texture and tropical flavor.
• Chocolate Lover’s French Toast: Add chocolate chips to the egg mixture or sprinkle them between the bread slices for a chocolatey twist. Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving.
• Nutty Delight: Incorporate chopped nuts (such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts) into the cereal coating for a nutty crunch.
• Apple Pie French Toast: Add apple pie spice to the egg mixture and top the finished French toast with caramelized apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Berry Blast: Top your French toast with a mixed berry compote (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) and a dollop of whipped cream.
• Maple Pecan: Drizzle warm maple syrup over your Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast and sprinkle with chopped pecans for a classic combination.

Recipe Substitutions

• Cereal Coating: Instead of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, use Cocoa Puffs, Reece’s Peanut Butter Puffs, Count Chocula, or Apple Jacks for a different texture and flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Substitute heavy cream with an equal amount of whole milk, half-and-half, or a non-dairy milk like almond milk, depending on your dietary preferences. Heavy cream provides the best coating for the cereal to stick to the bread.
• Granulated Sugar: Swap granulated sugar with brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol for a lower-calorie option.
• Salt: Substitute salt with sea salt, or omit it if you prefer a lower-sodium option.
• Nutmeg: Nutmeg can be replaced with ground cinnamon or a spice blend like pumpkin pie spice for a different flavor profile.
• Butter for Cooking: Replace butter with grape seed oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, or a non-dairy butter substitute for frying the French toast slices.

Storage Tips

• Cool Completely: Allow the cooked French toast to cool to room temperature before storing. This prevents condensation and helps maintain its texture.
• Refrigeration: Place the French toast in an airtight container. If stacking slices, separate them with parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking, or individually wrap each piece in foil. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• Freezer Storage: Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. Store in freezer bags and separate layers with parchment paper.

Reheating

• Reheating from Frozen: When reheating frozen French toast. Preheat to oven 350°F (175°C) oven, place French toast on a baking sheet, and heat for about 10-15 minutes until warmed and crispy.
• Reheating from Refrigerated: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the French toast to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until warmed through.
• Microwave with Caution: While the microwave is a quick option, it can make the French toast slightly soggy. Use short bursts of low to medium heat to try and prevent this.

FAQ’s about Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast

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