The Best French Bread Cinnamon Toast Recipe

Looking for a quick, easy, and decadent breakfast that won’t break the bank? You have to try this French bread cinnamon toast recipe! At under $0.30 per serving, it’s a treat you can afford to serve, not only for special occasions but any old day. Grab yourself a cheap loaf of French bread and some common pantry staples and make a random Saturday morning feel a little more special.

It has all the crispy, spicy sweetness of the nostalgic version we know and love, with the chewy inside of French bread. It feels indulgent but costs just pennies.

As a kid, I remember waking up on a Saturday morning to the sweet scent of cinnamon wafting through the house. I’d get up to find those crunchy, cinnamony, buttery slices, served alongside a glass of peanut butter banana milk (a recipe for a different day). It’s such a cozy, nostalgic feeling that I relive each time I make this.

One day, I was craving this favorite treat and happened to come across a loaf of French bread in the freezer. And I wondered … What happens if you make cinnamon toast from French bread? And that’s how this decadent French bread cinnamon toast recipe was born!

Why You’ll Love this French Bread Cinnamon Toast Recipe

• Nostalgic taste of cinnamon toast with an elevated twist
• A delicious breakfast treat for holidays or any day
• A fun way to use up a cheap loaf of French bread
• Made with inexpensive ingredients that often go on sale for even more savings
• Easy to halve or quarter to suit your family size

Ingredient & Budget Notes

Prices are for store-brand products and are current as of the publication of this post.

French Bread, 1-14 ounce loaf – $1.25 – Every time I’m at Walmart, I take a spin by the bakery to see if there are some of these French breads on sale. I’ve even waited in the produce section, ready to pounce on newly-marked down loaves. 🙂 I always keep a loaf or three in the freezer for quick meals.

For the sample pictured here, I used a wheat French bread loaf that I found on clearance. I’ve used white French bread as well with equally good results. Even at full price (currently, 1.47) they’re a cheap splurge. I got this wheat loaf on sale for $0.75

Butter, 1/4 cup – $0.38 – I try to keep a stick on the counter in a butter dish all the time. But if you prefer to store your butter in the fridge or freezer, get it out of the fridge a few hours ahead of time (or the night before) so it’s soft and spreadable. Plant-based margarine would also work here. I bought this Land O’ Lakes butter on clearance for $2.35

Brown Sugar, 1/2 cup – $0.25 – This caramelizes and creates a crispy crust on top of the toast. You can try other types of sugar or sugar substitutes. But I have not tested these and can’t attest to the final results.

Ground Cinnamon, 2 teaspoons – $ 0.09 – To keep it cheap and true to the classic version, I just used a generous sprinkling of ground cinnamon. You could also add nutmeg or cardamom for even more depth of flavor. Or try adding a splash of vanilla to the brown sugar before spreading it on.

Total Cost of Ingredients

• Total cost (retail): $1.97 for the recipe or $0.26 per serving.
• Total cost (with sale items): $1.38 for the recipe or $0.17 per serving.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather all ingredients: A loaf of French bread, 1/4 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Slice the French bread in half, lengthwise, and place on a baking sheet.

4. Spread each half of bread with butter (about 2 tablespoons butter per half).

5. Spread brown sugar evenly over the two halves (about 1/4 cup per half).

6. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the brown sugar.

7. Bake at 400 for 18 minutes, or until the sugar melts and browns on top.

8. Remove French bread from the oven and allow to sit for about 5 minutes, or until the top crisps up. If you run the blunt side of a butter knife over the top, it should make a light scraping noise.

9. Cut into 8 equally-sized servings.

10. Serve with fresh fruit and a protein source, if desired!

Storage Instructions

This French bread cinnamon toast is best eaten warm, after a short cool-down so the crust can become crispy. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two but it doesn’t necessarily reheat well. I’d recommend just making what you think you can eat within a few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Any budget tips to make this cinnamon toast recipe cheaper?

You can make the same recipe with 8 slices of regular white sandwich bread. This is actually how I grew up eating it and something I still crave from time to time.

Because sandwich bread is more delicate, you’ll need to lightly toast it before adding the toppings. You can do that in the same 400-degree oven that you already preheated. Just put the toast in for about 5 minutes, or until it turns lightly tan, before you add the butter, sugar, and cinnamon. After adding the toppings, your baking time may be less (like 12 minutes). Just keep a close eye on it.

Is this cinnamon toast recipe healthy?

I see this French bread cinnamon toast as a special treat or even a dessert. We don’t have this kind of meal every day of the week. If I’m making this for breakfast, I like to balance it out by serving it with fresh fruit and protein. My family is doing just fine following this moderate approach.

However, if it’s not for you, that’s ok! You can feel free to experiment with sugar substitutes, but I haven’t found one that will caramelize as well as real sugar.

Can I use white sugar instead of brown sugar?

I haven’t tested it, but if white sugar is all you have in the pantry, it’s worth a try! You won’t get the same rich molasses flavor, but I’m sure it would still taste good! Itt would probably make more sense to sprinkle it rather than spread it, since white granulated sugar doesn’t have the “sticky” quality of brown.

If you have molasses on hand, you can also make your own brown sugar by mixing1-2 teaspoons of molasses with one cup of sugar. That’s actually what I did for this recipe. 🙂 I’ve done the math, and based on the cheapest local prices, making my own brown sugar is not a cost savings. It works out to about the same price either way. However, I find it handy to not have to stock both types of sugar all the time.

Can this French bread cinnamon toast be frozen?

Not everyone has a big enough family to eat all of this in one serving. However, instead of freezing the finished cinnamon toast, I’d recommend just freezing the French bread itself. The recipe is easy to halve or quarter. So just pull out the amount of bread you need to make the portion you want.

Is this French bread cinnamon toast recipe vegan?

As written, this is not a vegan recipe but it’s easy to modify! You could use a plant based margarine, such as Smart Balance in place of the butter. While the ingredients in this particular Walmart loaf could be vegan, there are a few that may be or probably are. So if you want to ensure no animal-based ingredients, make sure to choose brands that you know and trust to be vegan.

I hope you pop this French bread cinnamon toast recipe in your oven and try it for yourself. Comment below and let me know how it goes!

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