Apple French Toast Muffins

What Makes These French Toast Muffins So Good?

These aren't your typical French toast muffins made by tossing bread cubes with custard. Each one starts with a thick slice of baguette that soaks up a sweet vanilla-maple custard while still holding together.

Then there's the topping. Diced apples are tossed with cinnamon, maple syrup, sugar, lemon juice, and melted butter before being piled over each piece of bread. As the muffins bake, you get tender French toast underneath and warm cinnamon apples on top.

Finish them with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup and you've got everything you love about a classic French toast breakfast in one convenient serving.

Ingredients and Their Role in the Muffins

These baked French toast breakfast muffins combine a simple custard with fresh apples and warm spices. Here's what you'll need and what each ingredient brings to the recipe.

For the French Toast

• French Bread (Baguette) - A sturdy bread that absorbs the egg mixture while holding its shape.
• Eggs - Form the base of the French toast custard and help it set during baking.
• Milk - Combines with the eggs to create the creamy custard that soaks into the bread.
• Sugar - Adds just enough sweetness to the French toast.
• Vanilla extract - Brings warm vanilla flavor to the custard.
• Maple syrup - Sweetens the custard while adding classic maple flavor.
• Nutmeg - Adds a touch of warm spice that complements both the French toast and apples.
• Salt - Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.

For the Apple Topping

• Apples - The star of the topping. They soften as they bake while adding fresh apple flavor to every muffin.
• Lemon juice - Adds a little brightness to balance the sweet apples and maple syrup.
• Sugar - Sweetens the apple topping.
• Cinnamon - Gives the apples that classic warm, spiced flavor.
• Maple syrup - Adds sweetness and ties the apple topping to the maple flavor in the French toast.
• Butter - Adds richness and helps coat the apples with the cinnamon-maple mixture.
• Powdered sugar - A pretty finishing touch sprinkled over the cooled muffins.

Best Bread for French Toast Muffins

I love starting with one of those long, thin baguettes because the slices fit nicely into the bottom of a standard muffin cup. Baguette is also sturdy enough to hold together while soaking up plenty of the egg mixture.

Day-old or slightly stale bread works particularly well because the drier bread readily absorbs the custard.

You can also use brioche, challah, sourdough, or another sturdy bread. Since those loaves tend to be wider, cut the bread into pieces that will fit into the muffin cups rather than trying to use whole slices.

Best Apples for French Toast Muffins

Choose a firm apple that will soften during baking without completely falling apart. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Braeburn, and Fuji are all good choices.

For a sweeter topping, try Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Fuji. Granny Smith is a great choice when you want a little tartness to balance the sugar and maple syrup.

How to Make Apple French Toast Muffins

Making French toast muffins with cinnamon apple topping is surprisingly simple. The bread soaks right in the muffin pan while you prepare the apples, so there's no separate soaking bowl or complicated assembly. Here's what to do:

1. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, maple syrup, nutmeg and salt. Whisk well.
2. Slice French bread into 12 ¾"-wide pieces.
3. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Lay one piece of bread in the bottom of each muffin cup.
4. Pour egg mixture over each slice. Don't overdo it at first. Let some soak into the bread while you make apple mixture, then add a little more to each cup to cover bottom.

5. Dice apples and place in a clean bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Add sugar, cinnamon, maple syrup, and melted butter and stir well.
6. Press the bread down gently to make sure it has soaked up most of the egg mixture. Now you're ready to top it with your cinnamon apples.
7. Sprinkle the apples over the top of the egg-soaked baguette slices.
8. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes or until egg mixture is set. Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.

9. After 10 minutes, gently remove muffins and let cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Recipe Tips for Success

The recipe is easy to put together, but these simple tips will help you get tender French toast, perfectly set custard, and plenty of apple topping in every muffin.

• Start with sturdy bread - A baguette holds together well even after soaking up the custard.
• Try day-old bread - Slightly stale bread is ideal for French toast because it readily absorbs the egg mixture without becoming overly soft.
• Choose a narrow baguette - The slices from a long, thin baguette fit more easily into standard muffin cups.
• Add the custard gradually - Don't pour all the egg mixture into the cups at once. Let the bread absorb some, then add more as needed.
• Don't overfill the muffin cups - Leave enough room for the apple topping and a little expansion as the custard bakes.
• Press the bread down as it softens - Once the baguette has absorbed some custard, it will be easier to gently press it into the bottom of the cup.
• Dice the apples into small pieces - Smaller pieces cook more evenly and are easier to keep piled on top of the muffins.
• Use all the apple mixture - Divide it evenly and pile those cinnamon-maple apples on top.
• Give them time to cool - The muffins firm up as they cool, making them much easier to remove from the pan.
• Loosen the edges first - Run a thin knife around each muffin before gently lifting it from the pan.

Recipe Variations to Make It Your Own

Once you've made the original recipe, there are plenty of easy ways to change the bread, fruit, spices, and toppings to create a different breakfast.

• Bread - Substitute brioche, challah, or sourdough for the baguette. Cut or tear the bread into pieces that fit into the muffin cups rather than using full slices.
• Spices - Add cinnamon to the French toast custard, replace the nutmeg with allspice, or use apple pie spice instead of cinnamon in the apple topping.
• Fruit - Replace the apples with diced pears or peaches, or try berries such as blueberries or strawberries.
• Nuts - Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the apple topping for a little crunch.
• Dried Fruit - Mix raisins or dried cranberries into the apples before baking.
• Caramel Apple - Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple muffins for an indulgent breakfast or brunch treat.

What to Serve with French Toast Muffins

These apple French toast muffins can certainly stand on their own with a little maple syrup, but adding a savory side or something cool and fresh can turn them into a more complete breakfast or brunch.

• Scrambled Eggs - A simple savory addition that pairs well with the sweet French toast.
• Bacon or Sausage - Add your favorite breakfast meat for a hearty sweet-and-savory combination.
• Greek Yogurt - A cool and creamy side that works nicely with the warm cinnamon apples.
• Fresh Fruit - Serve with berries, orange slices, melon, or a simple fruit salad.
• Smoothie - Pair a warm muffin with your favorite fruit smoothie for an easy breakfast on busy mornings. See my smoothie recipes for lots of ideas.

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat

Apple French toast muffins are ideal for making ahead, so don't hesitate to bake a full batch even if you won't eat them all at once.

Storing: Let the muffins cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 to 4 days. Since they're made with an egg-and-milk custard, they should be refrigerated rather than stored at room temperature.

Freezing: Once completely cooled, wrap the muffins individually and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Individually wrapping them makes it easy to take out only what you need.

Reheating: Microwave a refrigerated muffin for about 30 seconds, then continue heating in short intervals until warmed through. For a frozen muffin, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating or microwave it from frozen, adding time as needed.

You can also warm the muffins in the oven or air fryer if you prefer a slightly firmer exterior. Wait until after reheating to dust them with powdered sugar, then serve with maple syrup.

More Fruity Muffin Recipes

Fruity muffins make breakfast a little sweeter and are easy to bake ahead for busy mornings. From bananas and berries to peaches and pineapple, here are a few more delicious muffins to add to your breakfast lineup.

• Banana Nut Muffins - Tender banana muffins filled with crunchy nuts and topped with a sweet crumb topping.
• Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins - Bright lemon muffins dotted with poppy seeds and finished with a sweet lemon glaze.
• Peach Oatmeal Muffins - Fruity peach muffins made with oats and almonds for an easy make-ahead breakfast.
• Pineapple Carrot Muffins - Moist muffins packed with sweet pineapple and carrots.
• Strawberry Banana Muffins - A delicious combination of sweet bananas and juicy strawberries in every bite.

Find lots of easy muffin recipes here on 2CM!