Ultimate Cinnamon Sugar French Toast with Vanilla Custard and Golden Crust

The ultimate cinnamon sugar French toast featuring thick slices of brioche bread soaked in rich vanilla custard, coated with aromatic cinnamon sugar, and cooked to golden perfection with a crispy exterior and custardy center. This indulgent breakfast masterpiece combines the classic comfort of French toast with the warm spice of cinnamon and sweet sugar coating, creating an unforgettable morning experience that elevates weekend brunch to extraordinary heights perfect for special occasions, family gatherings, or any time you crave the perfect balance of crispy, sweet, and custardy textures in every delicious bite.

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Chef profile

JUE

Enjoy home-cooked meals made with love and shared from a family kitchen.

French Toast Mastery Secrets for Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Results

Essential Ingredients Selection

Creating Your Masterpiece

Perfect Custard Creation:
Master the technique of creating smooth, flavorful custard base for optimal bread soaking.
Cinnamon Sugar Balance:
Learn the skill of achieving ideal spice and sweetness ratio for perfect coating.
Soaking Time Control:
Perfect the method of achieving optimal custard absorption without structural breakdown.
Golden Browning Mastery:
Master the art of achieving crispy, caramelized exterior while maintaining tender center.
Temperature Management:
Learn optimal heat control for even cooking and perfect texture development.
Ultimate Cinnamon Sugar French Toast with Vanilla Custard and Golden Crust - secondary view

The Art of Ultimate Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Perfection

Perfect Custard Creation
Master the technique of creating smooth, flavorful custard base for optimal bread soaking.
Cinnamon Sugar Balance
Learn the skill of achieving ideal spice and sweetness ratio for perfect coating.
Soaking Time Control
Perfect the method of achieving optimal custard absorption without structural breakdown.
Golden Browning Mastery
Master the art of achieving crispy, caramelized exterior while maintaining tender center.
Temperature Management
Learn optimal heat control for even cooking and perfect texture development.
French Toast Mastery Secrets for Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Results
Bread Choice: Use day-old bread for best absorption - fresh bread can become too soggy.
Temperature Control: Keep heat at medium to prevent burning while ensuring thorough cooking.
Soaking Time: Don't oversoak thin bread - thicker slices can handle longer custard immersion.
Cinnamon Quality: Use fresh, high-quality ground cinnamon for best flavor impact.
Batch Cooking: Keep finished pieces warm in low oven while preparing remaining batches.
Serving Speed: Serve immediately while crispy exterior and warm interior are at peak.
Ultimate Cinnamon Sugar French Toast with Vanilla Custard and Golden Crust - tertiary view

Ultimate Cinnamon Sugar French Toast with Vanilla Custard and Golden Crust

The ultimate cinnamon sugar French toast featuring thick slices of brioche bread soaked in rich vanilla custard, coated with aromatic cinnamon sugar, and cooked to golden perfection with a crispy exterior and custardy center. This indulgent breakfast masterpiece combines the classic comfort of French toast with the warm spice of cinnamon and sweet sugar coating, creating an unforgettable morning experience that elevates weekend brunch to extraordinary heights perfect for special occasions, family gatherings, or any time you crave the perfect balance of crispy, sweet, and custardy textures in every delicious bite.

Italian Cream Stuffed Cannoncini
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Ingredients

Custard Cream
01
For the Bread Foundation:
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8 thick slices brioche bread (1-inch thick)
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Or 8 slices challah bread
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Or 8 slices Texas toast
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For the Vanilla Custard Base:
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6 large eggs
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1 cup whole milk
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1/2 cup heavy cream
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1/4 cup granulated sugar
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
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1/8 teaspoon cardamom
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For the Cooking Elements:
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4 tablespoons butter
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2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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For the Flavor Enhancers:
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1 teaspoon almond extract
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Zest of 1 orange
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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For the Syrup Options:
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Pure maple syrup
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Honey butter
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Powdered sugar for dusting
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For the Topping Selections:
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Fresh berries
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Sliced bananas
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Chopped pecans
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Whipped cream
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For the Caramelized Addition:
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
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1 tablespoon butter
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For the Extra Richness:
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1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
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1 tablespoon sour cream
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For Special Equipment:
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Large shallow dish
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Large skillet or griddle
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Wire whisk
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Spatula
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Serving plates

Instructions

01
Preheat oven to 200°F to keep finished French toast warm while cooking batches.
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In large shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, and granulated sugar.
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Add vanilla extract, almond extract, orange zest, and salt to custard mixture.
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Whisk custard base until completely smooth and well combined.
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In separate shallow plate, combine granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.
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Mix cinnamon sugar coating thoroughly with fork until evenly distributed.
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Heat large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter.
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Dip each bread slice into custard mixture, letting it soak for 30 seconds per side.
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Allow excess custard to drip off, then immediately coat both sides in cinnamon sugar.
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Place coated bread slices in heated skillet with melted butter.
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Cook for 3-4 minutes on first side until golden brown and crispy.
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Flip carefully with spatula and cook additional 3-4 minutes on second side.
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Transfer finished French toast to baking sheet in warm oven.
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Add more butter to skillet as needed for each new batch.
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Continue process until all bread slices are cooked to golden perfection.
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For caramelized topping, melt brown sugar and butter in small saucepan.
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Cook caramel mixture until bubbly and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
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Arrange finished French toast on serving plates while still warm.
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Dust generously with additional cinnamon sugar mixture.
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Drizzle with warm caramelized butter mixture if desired.
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Serve immediately with pure maple syrup and fresh toppings.
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Garnish with fresh berries, sliced fruit, or chopped nuts.
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Add dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence.
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Dust with powdered sugar just before serving for beautiful presentation.
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Serve with crispy bacon or breakfast sausage for complete meal.