Get ready to transform ordinary bread into irresistible cinnamon French toast bites—golden, fluffy, and bursting with flavor!
Say goodbye to soggy squares and hello to perfectly poppable treats that will disappear in seconds.
Keep reading to discover the secrets to achieving French toast bite perfection.
Ingredients
For these cinnamon French toast bites, I've gathered the ingredients—simple stuff! You'll need 4 thick slices of slightly stale white bread—about 1 inch thick. Stale bread works best; trust me!
Next, grab 2 large eggs (or 3 small ones), ¼ cup of milk, and a pinch of salt. We've also got ¼ cup of white sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder. The cinnamon mixture is key to achieving that warm, comforting flavor. Mix 'em for that classic cinnamon-sugar coating.
Don't forget 3 tablespoons of butter, separated, as we're going to need it when we cook the bread! And, maple syrup? It goes without saying, that's a must-have for serving! It is *not* optional and makes everything better. It's the secret to ultimate dipping deliciousness.
Instructions
Now that we've got all our ingredients prepped and ready to go, let's dive right into the instructions—and trust me, it's easier than trying to fold a fitted sheet! First up, you're gonna cut the crusts off that bread and then chop each slice into 9 little cubes.
Next, grab a medium bowl, and whisk together those eggs, milk, and just a pinch of salt. In another bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon—this is the good stuff, trust me! To get a truly chewy texture, don't be scared of mixing the batter well . Now here's where the magic happens:
- Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Dip half the bread cubes in the egg mix, shaking off extra goop, and sauté them for 2-3 minutes.
- Roll 'em in the cinnamon sugar, and boom, you're done!
Repeat and serve with syrup!
Recipe Notes
With your first batch of cinnamon toast bites almost ready to be devoured, let's chat about some key recipe notes—these are game-changers, seriously!
I really urge you to use slightly stale bread. If you don't, the bread will soak up way too much egg mixture, and nobody wants soggy, eggy insides! Plus, stale bread holds its cube shape better when you "sauté" it.
The best bread is a block loaf that you can cut to 1"/2.5cm thickness. Pre-sliced? Sure, but they won't be perfect cubes, which is half the fun!
But, hey, don't sweat it too much! You can actually use any bread you want. I've even made this with sourdough, leftover baguettes—basically, any bread scraps lurking around!
Nutrition Information
Okay, let's examine into the nutrition info—'cause who doesn't want to know what they're munching on? For a single serving (around 109g), you're looking at approximately 286 calories. Not too shabby!
But wait, there's more! Here's a quick rundown of the key players:
- Carbs: Around 30.1g. It gives you energy!
- Fat: About 16g. Hey, we need some fat, right?
- Protein: Clocks in at 6.8g. Helps keep you going!
Also, each serving contains cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, sugar, and vitamins! Of course, these values are estimates, and, if you use different brands or bread types, the results may differ based on the ingredients at your disposal. I think that's a pretty solid nutritional profile for something so yummy. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Regarding serving suggestions, I've got a few ideas to make these cinnamon French toast bites even more awesome!
First, don't skip the maple syrup; it's truly not optional! I would test serving these with a dollop of whipped cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you're feeling extra indulgent.
You can also try serving them with fresh berries. A mix of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries adds a pop of color and a tangy contrast to the sweetness, almost similar to a berry compote.
I think you'll love these little bites! I do! They're perfect for breakfast, brunch—or even a dessert. Now, go have fun—and enjoy!
Short Recipe Version
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serving Size: 6
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12 slices bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions:
- In a bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Dip bread cubes into the egg mixture.
- Place coated bread cubes in the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and toss with sugar.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 200
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 25g