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Home » Recipes » Breakfast

The Best Cinnamon Toast Ever!

Stacey – March 31, 2020 – 87 Comments

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Overhead shot of Cinnamon Toast on a blue plate

The Best Cinnamon Toast Ever. Y’all, I’m serious when I say that. 

But you’re thinking “Cinnamon toast? Really?” And “Who needs a recipe for that?” Right?

Well, I thought the same thing when I first saw a recipe for cinnamon toast on Ree Drummond’s blog probably 10 years back. 

Cinnamon Toast with bite taken out

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.

Cinnamon Toast on sheet pan

I was rambling through the pantry the other day searching for something to make for a quick and easy breakfast for Jack and me when the loaf of bread caught my eye and I thought, “Cinnamon toast!”

Now my 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. 

Cinnamon Toast on a blue plate

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 paste gets spread over the bread and baked. It’s important to get that buttery goodness all the way to the edges of the bread because after we bake it for a while to allow that butter to melt down into the bread, we’re also going to broil it for a bit. Getting that butter covering everything helps to keep the bread from burning under the broiler. Broiling it gets that sugar all caramelized and bubbly and crunchy – almost like the torched sugar topping on creme brûlée. 

Cinnamon Toast with bite taken out

So you’ve got that buttery soaked bread that gets super crispy on the bottom topped with the crispy, crunchy sugar topping, and that savory cinnamon… 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.

Cinnamon Toast on a blue plate
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4.63 from 16 votes

Recipe Card

Best Cinnamon Toast Ever

Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 slices
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

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

Note: Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
Cinnamon Toast on a blue plate
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Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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  1. Esther Vineyard

    December 11, 2022 at 8:38 am

    Mahvelous, dahling! Always look forward to getting recipes from you. Keep up the outstanding cooking!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      December 12, 2022 at 9:18 am

      Thanks, Esther!

      Reply
  2. Jessica Amanda Rivera

    November 26, 2022 at 6:51 am

    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

    Reply
    • Stacey

      November 29, 2022 at 10:32 am

      Hope you love this version, Amanda!

      Reply
  3. Linda

    October 23, 2022 at 7:36 am

    Delicious

    Reply
    • Stacey

      October 26, 2022 at 9:48 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Anna

    October 19, 2022 at 7:59 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      October 19, 2022 at 8:25 am

      Fantastic!

      Reply
  5. Danielle Hardin

    January 9, 2022 at 10:12 pm

    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!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 10, 2022 at 8:52 am

      LOL! Love this comment so much! Hope this made it 0 for 3!

      Reply
  6. Critical

    December 24, 2021 at 2:16 am

    You heated up an entire oven for four slices of bread?
    Oh man, your bills must be through the roof!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      December 24, 2021 at 1:21 pm

      You can always make more. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Marley Crouch

    September 15, 2021 at 9:50 am

    What brand of bread do you use?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 15, 2021 at 10:39 am

      Nothing special – just whatever we have on hand. Normally, that’s Wonderbread.

      Reply
      • Marley

        September 17, 2021 at 12:46 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
  8. Mer

    September 6, 2021 at 11:23 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 7, 2021 at 11:21 am

      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.

      Reply
  9. Michael - Houston Texas

    August 22, 2021 at 9:17 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 23, 2021 at 8:35 am

      I’ve never heard of that combination. Interesting! The cheese has such a mild flavor, I bet it just gave it a creaminess.

      Reply
  10. Mabelle

    April 9, 2021 at 8:03 pm

    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 !!! ????????????????

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 12, 2021 at 11:39 am

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  11. Jessica

    April 6, 2021 at 5:59 pm

    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 ????

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 7, 2021 at 12:57 pm

      Ugh! Sorry to hear it didn’t turn out as you expected.

      Reply
    • Jeremy

      August 12, 2021 at 9:12 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Stacey

        August 17, 2021 at 2:57 pm

        That’s a good idea!

        Reply
  12. Beverly Hafernik

    March 19, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 22, 2021 at 11:54 am

      The method really does make a huge difference!

      Reply
  13. Phyl

    March 19, 2021 at 11:51 am

    Stacy, you are the BEST!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 19, 2021 at 2:53 pm

      Ha! Thanks, Phyl!!

      Reply
  14. Catherine Lee

    March 19, 2021 at 10:43 am

    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!

    Reply
  15. Tammy

    March 19, 2021 at 12:37 am

    So good.. the added time under the broiler really made it special. Thank You!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 19, 2021 at 10:43 am

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  16. Brook

    February 12, 2021 at 11:39 am

    Def reccomend!!! Muy delicioso!!!!????

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 12, 2021 at 11:50 am

      Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  17. Christine B

    February 10, 2021 at 8:21 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 10, 2021 at 10:28 am

      So glad to hear they enjoyed it!

      Reply
  18. Terry B

    November 30, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      December 8, 2020 at 3:50 pm

      Not at all. Go right ahead! Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  19. Alan

    November 28, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    Turned out great!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      November 29, 2020 at 1:02 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it, Alan!

      Reply
  20. Suzanne

    November 7, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    Delicious! Tastes just like the cinnamon toast my mom made for me as a kid….instant nostalgia in every bite!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      November 9, 2020 at 11:18 am

      Ha! Love hearing that!

      Reply
  21. Kimberly Hock

    September 8, 2020 at 11:35 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 9, 2020 at 10:05 am

      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!

      Reply
  22. Nick

    July 20, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Meh…

    Reply
  23. Kelly

    July 7, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    Wow, that was good and literally is the Best Cinnamon Toast ever!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 8, 2020 at 10:35 am

      So glad that you enjoyed it!!!

      Reply
  24. Rox

    June 17, 2020 at 10:08 am

    Just be sure to toast the other side before you spread the cinnamon/butter mix on the top side.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 19, 2020 at 11:29 am

      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?

      Reply
      • Sharon

        December 20, 2021 at 6:28 am

        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.

        Reply
        • Stacey

          December 20, 2021 at 10:12 am

          That sounds SO good!

          Reply
  25. Colleen

    June 14, 2020 at 10:54 am

    This is the perfect cinnamon toast and is the comfort food we all need right now. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 19, 2020 at 11:39 am

      Thanks, Colleen! I couldn’t agree more!

      Reply
  26. Cynthia

    May 20, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    Throw a lil brown sugar in the mix and whoa!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 20, 2020 at 5:40 pm

      Yum!

      Reply
  27. Christina Sandage

    April 29, 2020 at 6:40 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 29, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      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!!

      Reply
  28. JAnet Reem

    April 25, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    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..

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 27, 2020 at 9:20 am

      I always did it that way too. This, to me, is WAY better and totally work dirtying up a small bowl.

      Reply
  29. Judith Ziemnicki

    April 4, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    made this and its amazing…I used texas toast bread in stead of regular bread. great sweet snack!!!! Thank you

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 5, 2020 at 12:34 pm

      Great idea! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  30. Debbie

    April 2, 2020 at 9:35 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 2, 2020 at 11:35 am

      What a great idea! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  31. Peggy Kirby

    April 1, 2020 at 9:34 am

    Do you put it on both sides of the bread?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:27 am

      No, just one side of each piece of bread.

      Reply
  32. Sobia

    April 1, 2020 at 5:45 am

    Will try this out tomorrow for breakfast. Toast and cinnamon… two of my favourite things!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:27 am

      Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  33. Debby Mayne

    March 31, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:28 am

      Those folks knew what they were doing! 🙂

      Reply
  34. Louise

    March 31, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    Omgosh. Made it and eating it now for dinner. Yummy. Thanks

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:28 am

      So glad it turned out great for you!

      Reply
    • Deb Fox

      March 19, 2021 at 2:42 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Stacey

        March 19, 2021 at 2:53 pm

        It’s so good, right!?!?

        Reply
  35. Aileen

    March 31, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    This does not sound like ordinary cinnamon toast! Yummy!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:29 am

      It is SO. GOOD!

      Reply
  36. Jacqueline

    March 31, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:29 am

      Yum! That sounds amazing!!

      Reply
  37. Collier A.

    March 31, 2020 at 2:53 pm

    This is the way my momma made it! I hadn’t thought about it in years. Definitely making for breakfast tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!????

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:30 am

      Hope you enjoy it and that it brings back happy memories!!

      Reply
  38. Beverly

    March 31, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    We made this in my home ec class in 7th grade over 50 years ago. Glad to see it making a comeback!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:30 am

      The best things always come back around, right? 🙂

      Reply
  39. Beverly Blissitt

    March 31, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 1, 2020 at 10:30 am

      Yum! Yum!

      Reply
      • Bob White

        April 8, 2021 at 6:20 pm

        Just made for dinner desert. Absolutely fantastic although I didn’t use broiler still wonderful. First slice almost gone.

        Reply
        • Stacey

          April 9, 2021 at 12:39 pm

          So glad to hear you enjoyed it!!

          Reply

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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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