Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins (Easy Baked French Toast Cups)

If there’s one breakfast that feels instant comfort the moment you smell it baking, it’s French toast. Warm cinnamon, vanilla, buttery edges, and that soft custardy center… it’s nostalgic, cozy, and always a crowd-pleaser.

But let’s be honest: traditional French toast can be messy and time-consuming—standing over the stove flipping slice after slice while everyone keeps asking “Are they ready yet?”

That’s exactly why Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins are such a genius upgrade.

These are everything you love about classic French toast—custardy inside, golden on top, buttery and sweet—but baked into perfectly portioned, hand-held muffin cups. No flipping. No soggy centers. No huge skillet cleanup. Just grab-and-go French toast muffins that taste like a bakery treat and make your kitchen smell like a cinnamon sugar dream.

Whether you’re planning a weekend brunch, need something special for holiday mornings, or you simply want a breakfast you can prep ahead for busy weekdays, this recipe is your new go-to. It also happens to be one of the best ways to use up day-old bread, making it both delicious and practical.

In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins perfectly every time—best bread types, custard tips, make-ahead instructions, freezing tips, flavor variations, serving ideas, and more.

---

Why You’ll Love These Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins

This is the kind of breakfast recipe you’ll make once… and then want on repeat.

✅ Perfect portion control (no slicing)

Each muffin cup becomes its own mini French toast serving—great for kids, brunch buffets, and meal prep.

✅ Custardy center + crisp golden top

The outside bakes up beautifully while the inside stays soft and rich like bread pudding meets French toast.

✅ Easy oven-baked method

No stove needed. No flipping. Just bake, top with cinnamon sugar, and serve.

✅ Great for using up day-old bread

This is one of the most delicious ways to avoid food waste.

✅ Freezer friendly

Make a batch, freeze them, and you’ve got breakfast ready in seconds.

---

What Are French Toast Muffins?

French toast muffins (sometimes called French toast cups) are basically classic French toast ingredients—bread + eggs + milk/cream + vanilla + cinnamon—baked in a muffin pan instead of cooked on a skillet.

The bread cubes soak up the custard mixture and bake into fluffy, tender cups. When they come out of the oven, you finish them with melted butter and a generous coating of cinnamon sugar to create that irresistible “doughnut shop” vibe.

They’re:

• softer than muffins

• richer than bread

• easier than French toast

• and honestly… kind of addictive.

---

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Ingredients

This recipe uses simple pantry and fridge staples. Nothing fancy—just the right combination to make them taste bakery-worthy.

French Toast Muffins

• 4 cups day-old bread, cubed

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup whole milk

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons melted butter

---

Best Bread for Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins

Bread choice makes a HUGE difference in texture.

Best options (highly recommended)

• Brioche – rich, buttery, soft (best overall)

• Challah – slightly sweet and fluffy

• French bread – sturdy and chewy (great structure)

• Texas toast – thick slices soak well without falling apart

Good budget-friendly option

• Sandwich bread – works fine, but use it day-old so it doesn’t turn mushy

Avoid

• Super fresh bread (soaks too fast → soggy texture)

• Very thin bread slices

• Bread with heavy seeds/grains (texture gets odd)

• Extremely crusty artisan loaves (may bake unevenly)

Pro Tip: If your bread is fresh, cube it and toast it in the oven for 8–10 minutes at 300°F (150°C) to dry it out.

---

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins (Step-by-Step)

1) Preheat the oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Grease a muffin pan well or line with muffin liners.
(If you want crisp edges, grease directly—liners soften the edges a bit.)

---

2) Make the custard

In a large bowl whisk together:

• eggs

• whole milk

• heavy cream

• sugar

• vanilla extract

• cinnamon

Whisk until smooth and fully combined.

---

3) Soak the bread

Fold in the cubed bread gently until all pieces are coated.

Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes so the bread absorbs the custard.

Tip: 5 minutes is perfect—enough for flavor and custard texture without turning the bread mushy.

---

4) Fill the muffin cups

Spoon the soaked bread mixture evenly into the muffin pan.

Lightly press down with a spoon so each cup is filled and compact.

---

5) Bake

Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the tops are golden and the centers are set.

If they brown too fast, loosely tent with foil during the last 5–10 minutes.

---

6) Add cinnamon sugar topping

Right after baking:

1. Brush the tops with melted butter

2. Mix cinnamon + sugar

3. Sprinkle generously over each muffin while warm

That butter helps the cinnamon sugar stick (and makes them taste unreal).

---

7) Cool slightly and serve

Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve warm.

Optional but amazing: drizzle with maple syrup.

---

Tips for the Best French Toast Muffins (No Sogginess!)

Here are the best tested tips to guarantee success:

✅ Use slightly dry bread

Day-old bread gives structure. Fresh bread collapses.

✅ Don’t oversoak

5 minutes is plenty. If you soak too long, the bread breaks down into mush.

✅ Press the bread into the muffin cup

This helps them bake like cohesive cups instead of loose cubes.

✅ Use whole milk + cream

Cream creates that rich custard flavor. You can swap, but texture changes.

✅ Grease the pan well

Even with nonstick pans, French toast muffins like to cling.

---

Make-Ahead Instructions (Perfect for Brunch!)

You can prep these in advance 2 ways depending on what you need:

Option 1: Assemble the night before (best for holidays)

1. Mix custard

2. Toss with bread

3. Spoon into muffin tin

4. Cover and refrigerate overnight

5. Bake fresh in the morning

Note: If your bread is very soft, overnight soaking can make them too custardy—use brioche or French bread for overnight prep.

---

Option 2: Bake and reheat (best for meal prep)

Bake fully, cool, and store.

Reheat in:

• microwave for 15–25 seconds

• oven at 300°F for 8–10 minutes (best texture)

---

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins Variations (So Many Options!)

Once you master the base recipe, these add-ins are AMAZING:

🍫 Chocolate Chip French Toast Muffins

Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips into the bread mixture.

🍓 Berry French Toast Muffins

Add:

• blueberries

• raspberries

• chopped strawberries

(Keep it light so muffins hold together.)

🍎 Apple Cinnamon French Toast Muffins

Add:

• 1/2 cup diced apples

• extra 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Optional: pinch of nutmeg.

🥜 Peanut Butter + Banana

Layer banana slices into muffin cups, drizzle with peanut butter after baking.

🎃 Pumpkin Spice

Add:

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 tsp pumpkin spice

Reduce milk slightly (pumpkin adds moisture).

---

What to Serve with Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins

These muffins shine on their own, but they’re incredible as part of a brunch spread:

Great pairings

• scrambled eggs

• crispy bacon or sausage links

• fresh fruit salad

• Greek yogurt parfaits

• whipped cream + berries

• maple syrup or honey drizzle

• hot coffee or chai latte

If you’re making them for guests, place them on a platter with:

• cinnamon sugar muffins

• a bowl of syrup

• fresh berries

• powdered sugar

Instant café vibes.

---

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator

Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer

Freeze muffins in a sealed freezer container/bag for up to 2 months.

For best results:

• freeze on a tray first

• then transfer to freezer bag
  (prevents sticking together)

---

How to Reheat French Toast Muffins

Microwave (fastest)

15–25 seconds per muffin.

Oven (best texture)

300°F (150°C) for 8–10 minutes.

Air Fryer (crispy edges)

320°F for 4–6 minutes.

Print

Nutrition (Per Muffin, Approx.)

• Calories: 220

• Sugar: 12g

• Sodium: 130mg

• Fat: 10g

• Saturated Fat: 5g

• Unsaturated Fat: 4g

• Trans Fat: 0g

• Carbohydrates: 28g

(Values vary based on bread type and topping amount.)

---

FAQ: Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins

Can I use only milk (no heavy cream)?

Yes. Use 1 1/2 cups milk total. They’ll be slightly less rich but still delicious.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Absolutely—use gluten-free bread and follow the same steps. Drying the bread first helps.

Why are my muffins soggy?

Most common reasons:

• bread was too fresh

• soaked too long

• too much liquid for the bread amount

• underbaked (check center)

Can I double this recipe?

Yes—double everything and use 2 muffin tins. Great for brunch parties.

---

Final Thoughts

Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins are the kind of breakfast recipe that makes you look like you put in a ton of effort—when in reality, it’s mostly stirring, soaking, and baking.

They have that classic French toast flavor (vanilla + cinnamon + custard), with the bonus of being perfectly portioned, easy to serve, and incredibly make-ahead friendly. And that buttery cinnamon-sugar topping? It’s what takes these from “cute breakfast” to “I need another one immediately.”

If you’re building a breakfast recipe collection that performs well year-round, this one is an SEO + reader favorite: it hits all the right notes—comfort food, brunch-worthy, kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and made with pantry staples. Whether you serve them for a holiday morning, a Sunday brunch, or a weekday meal prep win, these muffins always deliver.