Try this cinnamon toast recipe, and you will have The Best Cinnamon Toast Ever! I promise! Simple concept and only 5 ingredients, but tons of flavor!
The Best Cinnamon Toast Ever. Y’all, I’m serious when I say that, but I know what you’re thinking… “Stacey, cinnamon toast? Really? Who needs a recipe for that?”
Well, I thought the same thing when I first saw a recipe for cinnamon toast on Ree Drummond’s blog probably 10 years back. I had grown up throwing some cinnamon and sugar on buttered toast and calling it a day. But something about the mechanics of Ree’s recipe intrigued me, so I made it. And whoa! I Never. Looked. Back.
Fast forward to a frantic morning, I’m rushing to get us out the door and looking for something delicious I can whip up quickly for Jack for breakfast. The loaf of bread caught my eye, and I thought, “Cinnamon toast!”
Now my cinnamon sugar toast recipe has evolved a bit over the years, but chances are you have everything you’ll need to make this right at home already in the pantry and fridge, and the result is an undeniably delicious and easy Cinnamon Toast bread that tastes better than any other cinnamon toast you’ve ever tried before!
What is the secret to amazing cinnamon toast?
The trick here that makes this so different than any other cinnamon toast is you make a paste of sorts with the softened butter, cinnamon, sugar, and a pinch of salt. That cinnamon butter mixture gets spread over the bread and baked.
It’s important to get that buttery goodness all the way around the side of the bread to keep the bread from burning under the broiler. So no need for the toaster oven, we bake and then broil it to get that sugar all caramelized and bubbly with a crunchy texture – almost like the torched sugar topping on creme brûlée.
The end result is a cinnamon sugar butter soaked bread that gets super crispy on the bottom topped with the crispy, crunchy sugar topping… it really is a game changer.
I never thought cinnamon toast could be so exciting, but trust me when I say this is honestly the Best Cinnamon Toast Ever. It almost tastes like dessert!
Ingredient FAQs
Unsalted Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter so you can really control the amount of salt that goes into this recipe. You will want to make sure the butter is fairly softened before you stir it with the salt and cinnamon sugar mixture. I recommend putting it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds at a time until you have the butter perfectly softened but not fully melted. Will salted butter work? of course it will.
Sugar – Yes, please! And, I’m not judging if you go a tad over the 1/4 cup threshold… by accident of course! I use just regular white sugar (or granulated sugar), but if you only have brown sugar on hand that will work too!
Ground Cinnamon – You can really use any brand ground cinnamon. Even the store-brand ground cinnamon will do perfectly fine!
Pinch of Salt – Just a pinch will do! If you can’t find unsalted butter and use salted butter in its place, then skip this sprinkle of salt altogether.
Bread – You will want to get your favorite sandwich bread. I’m not partial to any brand, just make sure it’s sliced like a normal slice of bread you use to make a sandwich. I prefer good ol’ plain white bread!
Recipe Card
Best Cinnamon Toast Ever
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, well softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 4 slices bread
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine the butter, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. You'll need the butter to be pretty soft to get it all combined.
- Spread the mixture evenly over one side of each of the 4 pieces of bread, being sure to cover all the way up to the edges of the bread. It's going to seem like a lot, but trust me.
- Place the bread on a baking sheet and bake it in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Next turn the broiler on and broil the toast until it is deep golden brown and the sugar is bubbling. I usually stand right at the oven with the door cracked so I can watch it best and prevent it from burning.
- Slice in halves, if desired, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Tanya Lagace
Really, really good. I never had cinnamon toast like this until today, and I’m doing it like this from now on. As a side note, I now understand Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, too, lol
Ha! So glad you enjoyed it, Tanya!
Suzanne Lanoue
I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks good. I learned to make it in the broiler. Just butter bread, sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon, then broil it (don’t let it burn). It’s delicious.
Thanks for sharing your method! This method is a bit different and really elevates the dish even more. I hope you give it a try soon!
Melissa
I used extremely soft (salted) butter but still found it hard to spread until I put the bowl with all its ingredients in the microwave for 10 seconds. Super easy after that. Such a delicious recipe I sent it to a friend!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad the microwave trick worked for you. It’s a great way to make spreading easier. And I appreciate you passing the recipe along to a friend!
Judy Cary
I love this recipe, so delicious and easily became a “fan favorite”of my family! Enjoy!
I’m so glad to hear that y’all loved the recipe! It’s always great to find a dish that becomes a family favorite.
Yara
This was the first time I ever tried cinnamon toast, and if I were being honest, I was very reluctant to try. But I’m very glad I decided to use this recipe first! This is literally one of the best things I’ve ever tried, and it barely takes time to make! its actually going to be so convenient for me in the morning. I’m actually in love. Thank you so much for this recipe! Not to mention, I can feel the hospitality through the screen. i love your vibe
I’m so glad to hear you loved the cinnamon toast! It’s always great when a recipe exceeds expectations, especially when it’s quick and easy. Thanks for your kind words about the vibe too!
Mary
Oh my!!!! This recipe is absolutely the best!!! And so easy & quick 🙂 I used English muffins instead of bread – could have passed off as dessert! Love! Love! Love!
Oh wow! I’m so glad you loved it! Using English muffins sounds amazing—what a treat! Thank you for sharing your twist.
Vickie
I made this for my grandkids when they were growing up and they loved it. Unfortunately, I can’t have it due to being allergic to cinnamon, but it smells wonderful.
What a sweet memory to share with your grandkids! I’m sorry to hear about your cinnamon allergy, but I’m sure the wonderful aroma brought back happy times.
Theresa
My grandson is allergic to dairy and eggs. Do you think this recipe would work using vegan butter? Would I need to make any changes to the baking/broiling times? Thank you for your recommendations.
I don’t have any experience with vegan butter, but I think it would work without much variation.
Teresa Steffes
I’ve been doing cinnamon toast similar to this way for many years. But, mine was always burnt on the edges.I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to butter it all the way to the edges. I guess we’re never too old to learn something new. Thanks for sharing.
It’s amazing how small tweaks can make a big difference! I’m so glad this tip helped you out—perfectly golden cinnamon toast is the best!
Denis
I am intrigued! Can’t wait to try this. But has anyone tried this in an air fryer? With me being the only one to eat this in our home, I really don’t want to use the oven. And we don’t have a toaster oven. I am going to give it a shot in the AM! 🤞🏼
With the right temp and time, I can’t see why this wouldn’t work in the air fryer.
Julie Miller
Cinnamon toast is one of my favorite breakfast treats. I can’t wait to make it your way tomorrow morning. I know it will be wonderful.
Cinnamon toast is such a classic treat! I’m sure you’ll love making it this way—it’s so simple and delicious. Enjoy your breakfast!
Cathy
Delicious! Add vanilla bean paste to the mixture and you will think you have gone to heaven!
Sounds like a delicious addition!
RA
Awesome recipe and we had a drizzle of vanilla frosting. Thank you for sharing
So glad you enjoyed it!
Katy
No it won’t. I use it all of the time.
Lacy W.
I’d show you my finished product but I’ve already eaten it! I can never get it right when I just butter the bread and top it with cinnamon and sugar, but THIS!!!!! THIS was bomb! No soggy parts, no undercooked parts…just perfectly crispy in all the right places and soft in all the right places! Delicious flavor!
Ha! Love that!
Dee Bee
Hey I have used thus recipe for years! I really is the best. I like to add a little vanilla to the mix (or use vanilla sugar – but since I typically use a sugar substitute, extract is my go to). Thanks for posting this. It’s in the oven right now.
Sounds great! Thanks for the tip, Dee!
Dawn D.
You had me at “paste”. Best home made cinnamon toast I’ve ever had.
Delicious!!
Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Sara
I used the recommended amount and ended up with enough cinnamon butter for 8 pieces of toast. They did taste really good.
Sweet! So glad you enjoyed it!
Georgeanne
Waste of ingredients and time! I have a recipe from my elem school home ec class that is so much better.
Ouch. As you can see from the other reviews, this is hardly a waste of time or ingredients. Are you sure you followed the recipe?
Dee Bee
What do you mean? I’ve used this recipe for years. It gets a nice caramelization when it gets broiled. Nothing is wasted. It takes a few extra minutes but it is worth it when one has time. To each their own.
Ed
Such an odd and tellingly, non-specific criticism. So unhelpful (and not shared in a kind manner as constructive – and even non-constructive – criticisms can be with only a little effort : /). Reviews, especially critical ones are only useful to others if the author explains the problem. I will be making this today and am grateful for the detail in the recipe, including, ‘it sounds like a lot’ and ‘all the way to the edges’ and ‘butter needs to be really soft’. If I have a comment pro or con after, it will be specific, kind, and hopefully helpful. I’m looking forward to surprising my spouse with this today!
Colleen
Hi Georgeanne,
There’s no need for that here, or anywhere, really. Southern Bite IS my home ec class, and I feel so fortunate! Stacy, thank you, all the effort you share to bring your recipes to our doorsteps and empower us to bring our loved ones to our tables. Thank you for working so hard to answer any questions that arise, and receive us all with a perpetually flowing cinnamonie, buttery flavored stream of Southern Hospitality week after week. I feel it all the way across oceans from the light of your warmth and incredible recipes. I’m sorry I have never commented on the recipes until now. Please always know that for every one of us you do hear from on a given receipe, there are so many more of us who are sharing their expressed gratitude, sentiment, and tummy filled joy for you work!
Take good care
Hey there! Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to know that Southern Bite feels like home for you. I really appreciate your support and am thrilled to hear that my recipes resonate with you and bring joy to your table. No need to apologize for commenting now—I’m just glad you’re here!
Jordan
Made this for my little sister and she loved it!!! 100% making again
Awesome! So glad she enjoyed it!
Jessica Traslavina
The best-tasting cinnamon toast recipe using the fewest ingredients! Very easy to make.
Thanks so much, Jessica!
Wendy
Can you use “I can’t believe it’s not butter” instead of a stick of butter? Will it turn out the same?
It will work, but the flavor will not be the same.
Char
Made this for my client this morning. Simple and quick. I think I cooked it a little too long but it’s still very tasty. I’ll probably make it again.
Looks great! Now I’m wanting some!
Dawn
My mom used to make this as a treat, we were poor, but this was heaven
Nothing like those childhood memories!
Yvette Hoffman
Oh my goodness, where has this cinnamon toast recipe been all my life? So delicious, the sugar kind of caramelizes in the oven and then on broil it becomes a hardened crust. Sooooo good. Make it now!
HA! Thanks, Yvette! Glad you enjoyed it!
Becky
I made this today and it was perfection! Wouldn’t change a thing. 😋
Thanks so much, Becky! So glad you enjoyed it!
Carol C Lee
So good on homemade bread, the best ever.
Yes! Love it!
Esther Vineyard
Mahvelous, dahling! Always look forward to getting recipes from you. Keep up the outstanding cooking!
Thanks, Esther!
Jessica Amanda Rivera
I’m about to try that for breakfast this morning yummy 😋 sounds delicious 🤤 i always had it how my school made it and they really couldn’t get it right it was always to soggy and loaded with butter 🧈 and and sugar you couldn’t taste the cinnamon
Hope you love this version, Amanda!
Linda
Delicious
Thanks!
Anna
I loved this recipe! It was a fresh take on plain cinnamon toast. I left it in the oven for 3 extra minutes rather than broiling and it still turned out golden brown and perfect!
Fantastic!
Danielle Hardin
So I’m at the broiling stage of this right now… about 5 mins ago my roommate yelled to me from his bedroom: “I can smell what it is you’re doing in there!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied. We had spoke about cinnamon toast a few days back, which was the latest in a series of food topics that have come up recently where I tell him I’m great at a certain dish. He is intrigued, yet he scoffs slightly, no doubt due to his distinguished foodie status, coupled with a well-traversed palette, lol. He’s now 0 for 2, his last defeat by way of my secret pork chops.
You’d think there were only one real way to make cinnamon toast, right?? Haha… so does he. So thank you ever so much for allowing me a new delicious way to keep my heavyweight title!!
LOL! Love this comment so much! Hope this made it 0 for 3!
Critical
You heated up an entire oven for four slices of bread?
Oh man, your bills must be through the roof!
You can always make more. 🙂
Dirk
(You can use a toaster-oven if you want to save electricity. Plus it preheats in a two minutes.)
Marley Crouch
What brand of bread do you use?
Nothing special – just whatever we have on hand. Normally, that’s Wonderbread.
Marley
Thank you!
Mer
Sounds scrumptious! Do you move the cookie sheet to the top tray in the oven when you set on Broil and do you use Low Broil or High?
It’s completely up to you. I normally just leave it on the center rack to have less chance of it burning. I broil on high and just watch it very closely, but you can do it on low as well.
Michael - Houston Texas
Believe it or not, we would butter the bread slices then lay a slice craft individual cheese on bread, then sprinkle the sugar and at last dash it with the cinnamon. Pop into the oven until it bubbles.
I’ve never heard of that combination. Interesting! The cheese has such a mild flavor, I bet it just gave it a creaminess.
Mabelle
I was craving a good cinnamon toast for breakfast and I just made this recipe this morning it turned out DELICIOUS!! True Cinnamon toast ! Thank you !!! ????????????????
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Jessica
Maybe it’s because I’ve never tried it this way but I didn’t really enjoy it at all. I usually just toast my bread in the toaster, butter it while it’s still hot and sprinkle brown sugar and the slightest pinch of cinnamon. The way the oven cooks the sugar changes the taste completely and I found my bread too dry and I loaded the butter mixture on. I even gave it the benefit of the doubt and tried again with shorter time on bake and more mixture bit it made it even worse ???? I was hoping this was the holy grail of all cinnamon toast and I ended up broken hearted lol ????
Ugh! Sorry to hear it didn’t turn out as you expected.
Jeremy
Maybe try it with melting the butter first? The first time I made this I overheated the butter and it melted so I kind of basted it on the bread but it turned out great.
That’s a good idea!
Ed
Sorry you didn’t enjoy it, but thank you for explaining why (or rather, for sharing how you usually make and enjoy cinnamon toast). That made your review helpful to me. I have never made cinnamon toast in a toaster, as you do, and I can see where it would be a completely different taste/texture. Like many here, I think, I always buttered the bread, added sugar then cinnamon, and broiled. This recipe is great to me because it fixes all the problems with my old method (bottom still bread/not toasted, soggy(ish) middle with burnt edges. Still tasty, but love this fix. And loved learning that people make this in completely different ways.
Beverly Hafernik
This gives it a whole different yummy flavor. Been doing this for a long time but when I get lazy I just put it in the toaster and put butter, cinnamon and sugar on it a lot faster. I think I will try it with vanilla that someone mentioned in the comments when I broil it.
this
The method really does make a huge difference!
Phyl
Stacy, you are the BEST!!!
Ha! Thanks, Phyl!!
Catherine Lee
I’ve been making cinnamon toast this way for 30+ years, so delicious! And now, it’s even easier in the air fryer! Just love me some cinnamon toast, thank you for getting it out there so everyone can try it! Adore your recipes and blog so very much, bless you!
Tammy
So good.. the added time under the broiler really made it special. Thank You!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Brook
Def reccomend!!! Muy delicioso!!!!????
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!!
Christine B
I just made this for my teenage kids this morning on brioche bread. They said it was fabulous!! And I didn’t need to broil after baking; the top was nicely done. This will now be by permanent way of making it. Thanks very much.
So glad to hear they enjoyed it!
Terry B
This new (to me) recipe definitely sounds worth a try or ten. Is there any reason not to line the cookie sheet with parchment paper?
Not at all. Go right ahead! Hope you enjoy!
Brandon Foster
Won’t parchment burn under the broiler ,?
Great point! Sometimes seeing these comments in one long list takes them out of context and I didn’t think about that. I would certainly not recommend using parchment!
Alan
Turned out great!!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Alan!
Suzanne
Delicious! Tastes just like the cinnamon toast my mom made for me as a kid….instant nostalgia in every bite!
Ha! Love hearing that!
Kimberly Hock
WOW This is so good even with a few modifications for those who have diabetes. I used 4 slices of sprouted grain multi grain bread, and I also substituted the sugar for the stevia equivalent. I appreciate how easy it was to make and modify for special needs. New family favorite.
Awesome! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it. And I’m so excited to hear the stevia worked! Thanks for letting me know!
Nick
Meh…
Nancy
So how do you make it better? Always looking for new ideas. This recipe is the one I use.
Kelly
Wow, that was good and literally is the Best Cinnamon Toast ever!
So glad that you enjoyed it!!!
Rox
Just be sure to toast the other side before you spread the cinnamon/butter mix on the top side.
I’ve never done that before, but mine is always nice and toasty on the other side as well. Did you bake the toast on a silicone mat or parchment paper or something other than directly on the pan?
Sharon
This sounds like what my mom made for us when I was young except she made the cinnamon sugar mix in a small cast iron skillet. Melted the butter, added the other ingredients, stirred until well blended and then spooned on to the bread and toasted in the oven. It was amazing. Haven’t done it that way in a long time.
That sounds SO good!
Colleen
This is the perfect cinnamon toast and is the comfort food we all need right now. Thank you!!
Thanks, Colleen! I couldn’t agree more!
Cynthia
Throw a lil brown sugar in the mix and whoa!!
Yum!
Nancy
Awesome idea!
Christina Sandage
This was SO GOOD! Like most others in the comments, I always just buttered bread, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and put it under the broiler, which is how I was taught in HomeEc. I wish this is how we would’ve been taught. This is so much better, like 100 times better. To the one reviewer, it is TOTALLY worth another dirty bowl. It is crunchy and chewy with that carmelized taste. Yummy! I will be making this again many times. Thank you.
Right? I think it’s worth dirtying another bowl, too! I’ll never make cinnamon toast any other way again. So glad you enjoyed it!!
JAnet Reem
I just spread the butter , sprinkle on the sugar and cinnamon. Place on a cookie sheet and broil until bubbly and brown. No need to dirty up another bowl..
I always did it that way too. This, to me, is WAY better and totally work dirtying up a small bowl.
Judith Ziemnicki
made this and its amazing…I used texas toast bread in stead of regular bread. great sweet snack!!!! Thank you
Great idea! Glad you enjoyed it!
Debbie
Very good! I grew up eating cinnamon toast like so many others. My mother just spread butter on bread, sprinkled some sugar and cinnamon over it and toasted it under the broiler – I’m 66 and we didn’t have a counter top toaster oven . I graduated to keeping sugar & cinnamon mix on hand to make for my kids. I like your method better – more even & baking first makes it crunchier. Since I’m the only one that eats it I just mixed up the ingredients and keep in refrigerator. I have to say that it must be made with white bread!
Thanks for the memories!
What a great idea! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Peggy Kirby
Do you put it on both sides of the bread?
No, just one side of each piece of bread.
Sobia
Will try this out tomorrow for breakfast. Toast and cinnamon… two of my favourite things!
Hope you enjoy it!
Debby Mayne
This is how my mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother made it! And you’re right! It is so good! Thanks for reminding me of something I need to make soon!
Those folks knew what they were doing! 🙂
Louise
Omgosh. Made it and eating it now for dinner. Yummy. Thanks
So glad it turned out great for you!
Deb Fox
My mother made that for us when I was very young – it wasn’t for everyday – but weekends or holidays. Since it was soft on the back side, for some reason, we called it “Greasy Toast” and we Loved it! I saw Ree make this on her show a while ago and she begged viewers to never again sprinkle cinnamon sugar on buttered toast!
It’s so good, right!?!?
Aileen
This does not sound like ordinary cinnamon toast! Yummy!
It is SO. GOOD!
Jacqueline
My Mom used to make it like that when we were kids. She would then put the toast in a bowl, and pour over a bit of warm milk. It was so good!
Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal has always reminded me of it. MMMMM, the memories of childhood.
Yum! That sounds amazing!!
Collier A.
This is the way my momma made it! I hadn’t thought about it in years. Definitely making for breakfast tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!????
Hope you enjoy it and that it brings back happy memories!!
Beverly
We made this in my home ec class in 7th grade over 50 years ago. Glad to see it making a comeback!
The best things always come back around, right? 🙂
Beverly Blissitt
That is the way I do it, too. I also add a bit of vanilla extract. Sometimes< I add a pinch of nutmeg. Great cinnamon toast!
Yum! Yum!
Bob White
Just made for dinner desert. Absolutely fantastic although I didn’t use broiler still wonderful. First slice almost gone.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!!