Homemade Mini French Toast Cereal
Inspired by the viral mini pancake cereal recipes, this Homemade Mini French Toast Cereal has all the texture and flavor of French toast with the bite-sized convenience of cereal. Think of it as a DIY version of the classic Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal – only better!
If you’ve been on the internet at all over the last few years, you’ve probably seen versions of mini cereal being made out of regular breakfast foods. Pancakes are the most common!
While we love a good pancake recipe like our Cottage Cheese Protein Pancakes and this Baklava Skillet Pancake, we have to admit we’re bigger fans of French toast. Which team are you on? We need to know!
Either way, we’re confident you’re going to love this French toast cereal recipe. It’s the perfect way to switch up your morning routine and is so tasty it’ll have you jumping out of bed ready to eat.
Why This Mini French Toast Cereal Is A Recipe You’ll Crave
- Just like standard French toast recipes, it uses just a handful of pantry staple ingredients.
- You can quickly whip up a big bowl for a brunch party or a family-friendly breakfast feast.
- Every bite is bursting with warm cinnamon sugar flavors that leave your tastebuds begging for more.
- Each piece of French toast is caramelized until it’s golden and crisp on the outside yet soft and fluffy in the center
- Delightful on its own, this mini French toast can also be spruced up with fun toppings for a recipe that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before.
Simple Ingredients, Bold Flavor
For this homemade mini French toast cereal recipe, we kept the ingredient list short and sweet. Don’t let the simplicity fool you, though. The end result will knock your socks off!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Bread – Any fluffy bread can be used, but we love the thick, fluffy texture and sweet taste of Brioche bread in particular.
- Eggs – These are crucial to lock moisture into the bread pieces and create a crisp exterior.
- Milk – As with most of our recipes, we recommend using whole milk as its sweet taste and creamy texture will yield finger-licking French toast. However, any milk you like best can be used.
- Half and Half – Our secret weapon, this makes the flavor extra rich and out of this world delicious.
- Vanilla Extract – Pure vanilla extract and not imitation varieties is necessary to enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Spices – Cinnamon and nutmeg create a warm, sweet taste that elevates average French toast into mini French toast bites that are truly delectable.
- Butter – Unsalted butter is melted in a skillet to cook the mini French toast, preventing it from sticking to the pan and helping the exterior crisp up.
- Brown Sugar – Combined with the melted butter, the moisture in brown sugar creates a gorgeous golden brown exterior and adds a boost of flavor that will have your guests practically licking their plates.
Whisk, Soak, Cook: How to Make Mini French Toast Cereal
If you’ve ever made a skillet French toast recipe, you can make this mini French toast with ease! We follow the same process but make everything super small so it’s extra cute.
Follow the steps below, and be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details.
- Whisk. In a large mixing bowl, add all the wet ingredients and spices. Whip them together with a fork until smooth.
- Soak. Place bread pieces in the bowl, submerging them completely. Set the bowl aside to allow the bread enough time to absorb the liquid and expand in size.
- Cook. In a skillet, melt butter and brown sugar. Arrange some of the French toast pieces in a single layer. Cook each side until the bread is caramelized. Repeat this process until all of the bread has been cooked.
- Enjoy! Dig into a bowl of your mini French toast cereal bites while they’re still warm.
Serving Suggestions
Okay, obviously, we called this recipe homemade mini French toast cereal. That implies it’s served with milk, which you can totally do. Just make sure to eat it quickly so it doesn’t become soggy!
Or, if you want a more traditional way of serving, try adding all the best toppings. For instance, some of our favorites include:
- Fresh strawberries
- Sliced bananas
- Blueberries
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter drizzle
- Nutella drizzle
- Maple syrup
- Whipped cream
Common Questions About French Toast Cereal
Once cooled, leftover French toast bites can be transferred to a sealable bag or airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to four to five days.
Yes, to freeze, arrange the mini French toast cereal pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place them in the freezer until they’re solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag, and keep them frozen for up to two months.
No, but you can easily make it gluten-free by swapping out the Brioche with your favorite gluten-free bread.
More Unique Ways to Enjoy French Toast
Love French toast recipes as much as we do? You won’t want to miss out on more of our favorite variations below!
Nutella Stuffed Croissant French Toast
Homemade Mini French Toast Cereal Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Brioche bread (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup whole milk (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup half and half (room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- Optional: strawberries (bananas, maple syrup, and whipped cream for topping)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, half and half, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
- Add the Brioche bread, and mix gently until the bread pieces are completely coated.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, whisking to combine.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and arrange half the bread pieces in a single layer in the skillet.
- Cook until they’re caramelized on both sides, flipping each piece once. Transfer the mini French toast cereal bites to a plate.
- Repeat, adding the remaining butter and sugar and cooking the rest of the bread pieces.
- Serve warm topped with strawberries, bananas, maple syrup, and whipped cream, if desired.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four to five days.
