My love affair with churro French toast began one weekend when I couldn’t decide between making churros or French toast for my family. Why choose, I thought? That simple question led to a delicious obsession. After watching my kids dip their regular French toast in cinnamon sugar one morning, I knew I had to create something that would perfectly marry these two beloved treats.
This churro French toast journey wasn’t just about adding cinnamon sugar to regular French toast – anyone can do that. I wanted to capture that distinctive churro crunch while maintaining the custardy interior that makes French toast so irresistible. Through countless Sunday morning experiments (and some very happy taste testers), I discovered that the secret lies in both the custard mixture and the coating technique.
What makes churro French toast truly special is how it transforms ordinary breakfast bread into something extraordinary. The magic happens when that cinnamon-sugar coating meets the buttery, crisp exterior, creating a breakfast experience that feels both familiar and entirely new. It’s become our family’s most requested weekend breakfast, and once you try it, you’ll understand why.
Time and Servings
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 8 thick slices
Equipment Needed
- Large shallow dish for custard
- Heavy-bottomed skillet or griddle
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tongs
- Wire cooling rack
- Shallow dish for coating
- Pastry brush
- Paper towels
Ingredients
For the French Toast:
- 8 thick slices brioche or challah bread (day-old)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter for cooking
For the Churro Coating:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons melted butter for brushing
Preparing the Perfect Custard Bath
Let me share my secret for churro French toast that’s crispy outside yet tender inside. The custard mixture needs to be rich enough to create that signature churro-like exterior when it hits the hot pan. I discovered this after many test batches:
- In a large shallow dish, whisk together:
- Eggs until well beaten
- Gradually add milk and cream
- Stir in vanilla and salt
- Whisk until completely smooth
- Prepare your bread:
- Slightly dry bread works best
- Cut thick slices (about 1-inch)
- Let sit out 15 minutes if fresh
- Each slice should feel slightly firm
The Soaking Method
The key to perfect churro French toast lies in the soaking technique. Unlike regular French toast, we want a slightly drier exterior to achieve that churro-like crunch:
- Dip each bread slice in custard mixture
- Count to 5 on each side
- Let excess drip off
- Place on wire rack while heating pan
Creating That Churro-Style Crust
The transformation from French toast to churro French toast happens in the pan. Through countless test batches, I’ve found that temperature control is everything:
- Heat your skillet over medium heat
- Add butter and let it melt until foamy
- Place soaked bread in pan
- Cook 3-4 minutes until golden brown
- Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes
- Remove to wire rack
The Signature Churro Finish
This is where our French toast truly becomes churro-inspired. Work quickly while the slices are hot:
- Mix sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish
- Brush each hot slice with melted butter
- Immediately dip in cinnamon sugar
- Coat all sides thoroughly
- Place on serving plate
Serving Up Something Special
I love watching people’s faces when they first try this churro French toast. The contrast between the crispy, cinnamon-sugar exterior and the custardy center creates pure breakfast magic. Serve it with:
- A drizzle of warm maple syrup
- Fresh berries for contrast
- Whipped cream for extra indulgence
- A sprinkle of extra cinnamon sugar
Weekend Warrior Tips
I’ve learned a few tricks for making this a stress-free breakfast:
Mix your cinnamon sugar the night before. Set up your dipping station before starting to cook. Keep your first batch warm in a 200°F oven while making the rest. The sugar coating will stay crispy for about 15 minutes.
Remember, churro French toast is best served fresh and hot. Each batch gets better as you learn to read your pan’s temperature and perfect your coating technique. Soon you’ll be creating breakfast memories your family won’t forget!
Want more churro-inspired breakfast ideas? Check out our complete collection of recipes that bring churro flavors to your morning table!