Apple Cinnamon French Toast

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! 

Apples — Cut 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! 

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.

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. 

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.

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! 

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!