If your mornings feel like a blur of chaos, this Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake is here to save your day! It’s easy to make, naturally sweetened with cinnamon + apples (no added sugar needed!), and turns everyday ingredients into a cozy, wholesome breakfast your whole family will love. Think warm baked apples, soft custardy bread, and that cinnamon smell that fills your kitchen. All without standing at the stove flipping slices (my least favorite part about French toast).
Why You and Your Toddler Will Love This Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- naturally sweet, no added sugar: all the cozy apple-cinnamon flavor without needing syrup or added sweeteners
- new (and fun!) way to offer eggs: the eggs are baked right into the custard, giving this dish a soft, bread-pudding texture that’s perfect for toddlers who might not love scrambled or fried eggs
- soft and easy to chew: the bread soaks up the egg mixture and bakes into a tender, moist texture
- no stovetop flipping or extra mess: a one-dish breakfast because minimal dishes is always a win
- great for meal prep: make it once, and you’ve got 3–4 mornings of ready-to-heat, balanced breakfasts
- freezer-friendly: slice and freeze individual portions for a quick, wholesome breakfast on busy mornings
- balanced nutrition for growing littles: eggs, milk, and bread provide protein, iron, and carbs for energy (plus fruit for natural fiber and vitamins)
If you need an even easier and quicker French toast option, check out my easy french toast in a mug!
Jump to:
- Why You and Your Toddler Will Love This Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How To Make Your Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- Hint For The Best French Toast Bake
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storing Your Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- Tiff's Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake (easy to make, no sugar)
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to make your apple cinnamon French toast bake:
- bread – gives the bake its soft, custardy base; slightly stale bread soaks up the egg mixture best
- apples – add natural sweetness and a tender texture (no added sugar needed!)
- eggs – bind everything together and offer protein + iron in a new, toddler-friendly form
- milk – creates that creamy French toast texture, any milk works
- vanilla + cinnamon – cozy, familiar flavors that make the whole kitchen smell amazing
- nutmeg + salt (optional) – a pinch of each balances and deepens the flavor
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Your Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cut bread into cubes and add to the dish with chopped apples.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
- Step 3: Either mix everything in the bowl or pour the mixture evenly over the bread and apples in the baking dish. Gently press down so everything absorbs the liquid. Let it soak 10–15 minutes (or refrigerate overnight).
- Step 4: Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until golden on top and set in the center. Cool slightly, slice, and serve warm with yogurt or a drizzle of maple syrup.
Hint For The Best French Toast Bake
Let the bread soak fully before baking, at least 10–15 minutes or overnight if you prep ahead. This gives you that perfect soft, custardy center and keeps the top golden and lightly crisp. Day-old bread works best for soaking up all that apple-cinnamon goodness!
Substitutions
You can totally customize this apple cinnamon French toast bake to fit your dietary needs! Ideally this works best using eggs, but I have made an egg-free French toast bake before using flax eggs instead.
- gluten-free: use your favorite gluten-free sandwich bread, slightly stale or toasted helps it hold up well
- dairy-free: swap milk for oat, almond, or coconut milk
- egg-free: not ideal, but you totally can mix 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed + 6 tablespoons water for every 2 eggs (let it sit 5 minutes to gel), the texture will be a bit soggy but it works (just make sure to let it cool longer)
- nut-free: this recipe is naturally nut-free as long as your bread is!
Variations
Feel free to add extra mix-ins into this apple cinnamon French toast bake for extra flavor.
- add some crunch: sprinkle chopped pecans, walnuts, or a handful of granola on top before baking
- berry twist: swap apples for blueberries or mixed berries for a summer version
- fall favorite: add pumpkin purée to the custard and a dash of pumpkin spice for an extra cozy flavor
- mini bakes: portion into greased muffin tins for individual servings, perfect for toddlers or meal prep!
Equipment
All you need to make this Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake is a 9×9-inch baking dish for a thicker, softer bake or you can use a 9x13-inch baking dish to bake for shorter time. You’ll also need a large mixing bowl and a whisk to blend the custard mixture, plus measuring cups and spoons for easy prep. A spatula or large spoon helps fold in the apples and gently press the bread down before baking.
Storing Your Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave for 30–45 seconds or bake the whole dish at 350°F for 8–10 minutes until heated through.
Tiff's Dietitian Tip
This French toast bake is a great example of nutrition by addition! We’re adding nutrient-rich foods (like eggs, milk, and fruit) to something familiar and comforting (bread). And because the eggs are baked right in, it’s also a gentle way to keep offering eggs! Remember: the more variety you expose them to in familiar forms, the more likely they are to accept new foods over time.
FAQ
Yes! Assemble it the night before, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bake straight from the fridge, just add 5–10 extra minutes of bake time.
Definitely. Whole grain, brioche, or sourdough all work well. Slightly stale bread soaks up the custard best and gives the bake a soft but stable texture.
Yes! The apples make it naturally sweet and soft enough for baby-led weaning. Serve in small, mashed pieces or strips they can grab.
Pair it with Greek yogurt, nut or seed butter, or even a side of eggs (for older toddlers who like them in different forms). Even top with hemp heart "sprinkles!"
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with apple cinnamon French toast bake:
Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake (easy to make, no sugar)
Equipment
- 9x13 or 9x9 baking dish
Ingredients
- 10-12 slices of bread about 8 cups cubed, whole grain, brioche, or sourdough
- 2 medium apples peeled and chopped (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala)
- 8 large eggs
- 1½ cups milk any milk of choice
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg optional
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Cut bread into small cubes and add to the dish with the chopped apples.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Pour mixture evenly over bread and apples. Gently press down so everything absorbs the liquid.
- Let soak for 10-15 minutes (or overnight in the fridge). Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and the center is set.
- Cool slightly, then slice and serve warm with yogurt or a drizzle of maple syrup.
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