French Toast Bites

These french toast bites are a more fun and cuter version of classic french toast. While super easy to make these are little pillows of cinnamon sugar Heaven that the whole family will love!

My kiddos love when I make gluten-free pancakes or french toast, but they go crazy when this recipe is on the menu. The mini pieces are crispier and have more cinnamon sugar coating than normal french toast.

Sometimes when cooking gluten-free, you can clearly taste that the recipe is gluten-free. But I've been cooking celiac-friendly recipes for long enough to promise you that this is not the case with these mini toast bites.

Another fun thing about this recipe is that you can almost eat it like cereal. Put the pieces in a small bowl, drizzle with maple syrup and other toppings, then eat right out of the bowl!

Why you'll love mini french toast bites

• Made in under 30 minutes for a quick and delicious breakfast recipe
• They're gluten free so everyone can enjoy them
• Tastes amazing with your favorite fresh fruit, maple syrup, or simple syrup
• They're a great side to eggs and bacon
• It's a smaller, cuter, and bite sized version of traditional french toast

Ingredients

• Bread - Canyon Bakehouse is the best gluten-free bread for this recipe but you can use whatever type of bread you'd like. If you're not gluten-free feel free to use sourdough bread, white bread, wheat bread, etc.
• Whipping cream - Heavy whipping cream or whole milk gives these french toast bites a fluffier texture than using skim milk.
• Eggs
• Butter - Feel free to use oil in place of butter, but real butter tastes so much better!
• Spices - Cinnamon and a dash of all spice give this recipe that touch of flavor which sets it apart from others.
• Sugar - Equal parts brown and white sugar is another secret for why these bites are so yummy.

How to make french toast bites

Step 1: Get everything ready

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f then cut the bread into little cubes.

Step 2: Toast and prepare batter

Spread the bread on a baking sheet and toast for about 15 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. While the bread is baking, whisk egg, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla until smooth.

Step 3: Drench and fry

Coat the bread cubs in the egg mixture until they're soaked then shake off the excess off before cooking in a frying pan with melted butter. Fry on medium heat for roughly 3-4 minutes, flipping continuously until crispy.

Step 4: Sugar and serve

Immediately coat the pieces in the cinnamon sugar mixture and serve with warm maple syrup.

Tips for success

• Perfectly crisp bread - Nice crisp and toasted bread is key here. When baking the bread before hand, toast until golden brown. Stale bread also works well in french toast recipes.
• Room temperature eggs - Letting your eggs sit out for 10 minutes helps them mix well with the batter and rise easily when cooking. For fluffier french toast sticks
• Use a nonstick pan - When making more than one round of french toast you're going to want a nonstick pan. It's no fun scrubbing pans for 5 minutes!

Storage and freezing

Storing - You can store these french toast bites in an airtight container after they have completely cooled. They'll keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to reheat on the stove or in the air fryer for a fresh taste.

Freezing - Freeze for up to 3 months in a ziplock baggie. Make sure your french toast has completely cooled before storing and reheat in air fryer, stove top, or oven.

FAQ

Is it better to use milk or half and half for French toast?

Using half and half is a great idea if you're looking for a richer, fluffier, and more flavorful french toast. In addition, plant based milks like almond milk or coconut milk will also work but might not be as flavorful.

What is the best bread to use for French toast?

Canyon Bakehouse gluten-free bread always turns out amazing in this recipe. However, GF brioche bread is a great option for thick, restaurant type french toast. You also cannot go wrong with french bread or Italian bread for these cinnamon french toast bites.

Should bread be dry for French toast?

Yes bread should be a tad dry or even a bit stale when making french toast. This is why we bake the bread before dipping in the custard mixture. Dry bread will soak up more custard.

Ways to enjoy

You can never go wrong serving french toast bites with maple syrup and a tablespoon of butter but I love adding some strawberry simple syrup for extra flavor.

Another good idea is to pair with a source of protein like instant pot bacon or air fryer sausage patties. Or even serve with a classic side of scrambled eggs.