I have a confession to make. I strive to cook "real food". By that, I mean that I like to cook meals for my family, using fresh ingredients-- organic, as much as possible. You will never find a tub of frozen fake whipped topping or canned cream soups in my pantry. I make all of my cakes and cookies from scratch. Sounds impressive? So, here's my confession-- I still love "comfort foods"! I also have a sweet tooth (ya think?)
When I was in high school, I can remember racing to the cafeteria to buy a slice of their famous cinnamon toast. It sold out in minutes, because most of the student body loved it as much as I did. If I was lucky enough to make it in line, a cafeteria worker would lift a piece of cinnamon toast, off a baking sheet. Score! I can remember savoring that crunchy piece of bread with a heavenly balance of cinnamon and butter. It was more than butter toast, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
I can't begin to describe it, but I longed for some of that toast many, MANY years later. I gave up trying to recreate it-- until the Pioneer Woman posted her version of making cinnamon toast on her blog. Ree Drummond is evil. She has no shame when it comes to ways of cooking and baking with butter. I wondered, was this the long-lost recipe?
I mean, how hard is it to make cinnamon toast? You toast bread, slather it with softened butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar. Right? Well... this version has two simple little twists. I mean, eensie weensie changes that are so darn simple, that I wonder why I didn't think of it myself?
On a Saturday morning, this was destined to be made.The night before, I removed a stick of butter so it would be nice and soft... this morning, I preheated the oven to 350F.
Spread on slices of bread, completely covering the surface all the way to the edges.
Slice in half diagonally. Be sure to have hot coffee ready. Oh, and don't forget the newspaper!
I take my coffee with cream and...um, sugar.
Ahhhh. For a fleeting moment, I could hear the school bells ringing that morning break was over. Bliss. Oh, wait a minute! I work at a high school! I hear those bells every morning, but they don't serve this cinnamon toast. They should-- it's much better than bagels and cream cheese, with smushed hot cheetos. (I don't eat that stuff, but the kids do! )
VERDICT: This isn't plain old cinnamon toast. It's buttery, with a crunchy texture of cinnamon-sugar. The notes of vanilla adds an extra layer of "yum". I also made this in a toaster-oven, which worked out perfectly. This comes pretty close to the flavors of my homemade cinnamon rolls. Your kids (and husband) will thank you. Thank you, Pioneer Woman, for sharing this recipe. Who knew something so simple, could be so good? I'm telling you, adding vanilla makes all the difference in the world!
A printable recipe card is at the end of this post.
UPDATE: If you are unable to see the recipe card, there appears to be a technical glitch with older versions of Windows Explorer. You can see it with Mozilla, Google Chrome and Safari-- and I can view it with my iPad. If you still can't see the card, click here.
What a way to start my weekend! Next-- water aerobics and something fresh and organic for dinner. Forgive me...
A printable recipe card is at the end of this post.
UPDATE: If you are unable to see the recipe card, there appears to be a technical glitch with older versions of Windows Explorer. You can see it with Mozilla, Google Chrome and Safari-- and I can view it with my iPad. If you still can't see the card, click here.
What a way to start my weekend! Next-- water aerobics and something fresh and organic for dinner. Forgive me...
Made with love (and sugar),
68 comments:
i'm pretty sure that when I saw this on Ree's site, I squealed. And then when I saw it here, I screamed. Looks amazing.
That cinnamon toast really hit home. I am a new follower and I LOVE YOUR BLOG. I love to cook from scratch as much as I can so I will be checking out your recipes, for sure. Have a great weekend. Deb (Carleton Place, Ontario Canada)
Oh my, Cindi told me about this gadge. can you copy and pace? Oh boy, I must want this or I would not be sweating right now! lol
Ohmygoodness. Can I start my day over and have this for breakfast? It looks amazing.
OK,that digital reader is really cool. And as for comfort food, for me, it is the most "real" of "real food!" You GO!
Debby, YUM, this is MY kinda toast! Thanks for posting it! Love the pics! Roz
I have a sad weakness for cinnamon toast. This version looks so delicious. Must try it soon.
I love Monica's version, and this certainly looks just as yummy too..
Your photos are beautiful!!
I'm so glad that you made this recipe! I just about passed out when I saw PW's version. It looks heavenly.
It looks absolutely fab!!!
XXX
Lia.
I'd like that brown sugar cinnamony butter on everything.
~ingrid
These are all the truly delicious and superb dishes with very sumptuous and scrumptious taste, which will just change the feel of your taste buds forever.
This does look great - but so do all of your photos and recipes. My mind is boggling at all the great ideas and recipes I want to try. I like best how you incorporate garden produce in so many items - yay for green you!
I make something similar to this bread - but I don't have to use arm power or a mixer for it- lazy me. I cut leftover french bread into 1 1/2 in. slices, then cut across slices so that you have thick rectangles/batons. Dip in melted butter - don't bother to clarify. Then roll in a mixture of 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp cardamom, mixed together in a shallow bowl, gently patting the bread sticks for a good coating. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven about 15 minutes, or until browned and crispy. I usually turn them over with tongs after the 1st 10 min. Bake the bread in a 15x11x1 in. pan with a rack - I use parchment or a silpat underneath to keep bubbling sugar cleanup to a minimum. Cool slightly on a rack to keep crisp and prevent burning your mouth by cramming one in [because the aroma is so great - the cardamom? - hmm.] Delicious with crisp bacon and some creamy hot chocolate on a snowy Saturday [which I hope are over for the year.] Recently served to some friends who biked over with big appetites - they were inhaled. No talking at the table while they drank 2 pots of coffee and ate a whole loaf of French bread - with butter and spiced sugar, natch!
Thanks again from a grateful reader --
Maureen O.
Maureen-- I wish I had a way to write to you personally. Thanks so much for your recipe; it does sound mouth-watering!
Cheers!
My mom always made our cinnamon toast like this! I love it.. I need to make this for my kids.. Thank you for reminding me..
Im licking my screen :(
Cinnamon toast is a big favorite around here too. Can't wait to try your version. Is there a chance that you'll make your cinnamon rolls with raisins?
Why preheat the oven if you are going to broil it?
I grew up eating it prepared this way too, along with hot cocoa made from milk, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla, YUM.
I grew up eating it prepared this way too, along with hot cocoa made from milk, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla, YUM.
My children absolutely love Cinnamon toast. But I do it all wrong :) Can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!
Yep, that's the way my mother made it. Only difference is she toasted the bread on one side, took it out of the oven, then spread the yummy goodness on the other side and put it back in the oven. Adds that extra crunch and texture. You can also make up your "spread" in large patches and keep in the refrigerator. Saves time.
That looks sinful!! I must tryit lol :-)
Mmmm. My mama used to make this for me!!
My dad taught me to make toast in the toaster then slap butter on thick, sprinkle with an excessive amount of cinnamon and sugar and microwave for 10 seconds to make sure the butter is melted fully, 34 years later I still make this weekly! :) But I hate using the oven, maybe I am just lazy. LOL
My grandma taught me this years ago, but she used brown sugar with butter. Oh so good!!!
I come from the brown sugar and cinnamon with butter school I will have to try adding vanilla!
This really does look delicious! I'm very pleased to discover your blog. I'm here via Pinterest :)
I'm so glad I clicked over & found your blog! This recipe will be a huge hit & I'm eager to check out your blog.
WOW. I just made myself a slice and can not believe how delightful it was! Will make more when my little brothers get home! Thank you for this :)
Made this morning and my boys couldn't stop eating it. This was so delicious and better than any sticky buns!
Thank you for the great recipe!!
I'm still amazed at how many people are viewing this recipe. It's so simple, but I agree, so good! Thanks for the comments and welcome!
It looks awesome... snowy, windy night! Oh.. I will make everyone happy!
I home made all our bread and I bet this is awesome on that.
I just found you on pinterest ;) Oh my who would have thought vanilla!! My kids are gonna love me in the morning. Thank you!!!
Jessica, hi! I hope your kids love it as much as my adult kid. I made more, this morning, and my son just loved it.
It seems like I remember something similar in Home Eco. only it had powdered sugar instead of the regular. Does that sound familiar to anyone? (That would of been in the 60's!) Love your blog!
My Grandmother from Arkansas use to make me something similiar...except she just put a thick coat of butter on a slice of white bread-then sprinkle a light dusting of sugar on it and pop it into the broiler. The sugar carmalizes and its yummy!
Thanks for the memories!
Melisa H.
Thanks for sharing, looks yummy. I'd be careful saying that you wouldn't find anything processed in your kitchen, White sugar is very processed
Dear Anonymous:
Hmmm, I'm getting daily anonymous comments on my blog. Is that you?
If you read my tongue in cheek narration, I say that I have eliminated processed foods, and yet I do have a sweet tooth.
I'm not perfect. What you won't find it my house is fast food, frozen processed dinners, canned creamed soups, fake whipped cream etc. Lighten up, okay?
Yesss!!! I am planning to try this next week when my kids come home for their first college spring break! They are counting down the days until they can get "real" food, and they will LOVE this! I'm having trouble seeing the amounts on the recipe - is it 1/2 cup sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon?
I may have gained five pounds this morning by just looking. I'm making these in the am :) My kids will thank you..my bum probably won't but oh well!
This looks amazing definitely will have to try it some morning!
I cant seem to find the recipe link to the download o this... can you email it to me? thewdfam[at]gmail.com, thank you!! :)
Thank goodness for Pinterest!! I had cinnamon toast like every day when I was a kid - great memories :) Doing it this way is outta this world though. And I like how you plopped on a whole lot of the mix. YUM. I had it twice today, but let's keep that between us!
Where did I miss the recipe? I can't find it.
this is like my mom use to make all us kids on Sundays after church love this one even better .love your blog
Mock French Toast:
I used to make this for my kids when I didn't want to go all out and make french toast the traditional way. Liberally butter toast and then drizzle with maple syrup and lightly dust with powdered sugar. Tastes so much like the real thing they will be satisfied
Mock French toast sounds interesting. Trust me, if you spread the butter on the bread and then toast it-- it's a whole new game!
Hi Debby, thanks for the blog! At first glance, my brain read "french" instead of just "cinnamon" so as I read the directions I was quite confused that there were no eggs involved!! It wasn't until the end that my brain clicked on and I realized this was NOT for french toast, but cinnamon toast!! Too funny. I am excited to try this kind of cinnamon toast, b/c yes, I am totally of the variety that toasts a piece of bread, then spreads (peanut) butter and sprinkles cinn. sugar on. Just to clarify, there was nothing in the post that was confusing, it was just my brain!! Great post, thank you!
how much sugar and cinnamon?!?
Anonymous. You don't see the recipe card?
This sounds amazing, but I can not find the recipe. Can you help please?
Dear Mrs. D:
You don't see the recipe card at the end of the post? Did you scroll down? If you can't find it, please email me at foodiewife@gmail.com and I'll send it to you.
This is the first thing we learned to cook in home ec when I was in the 7th. grade. Brings back great memories!
Thanks! This looks like the cinnamon toast my grandmother used to make. Deliciousness!
Did we go to the same home ec class Pam? I, too, learned this method in grade 7 and still make it the same way since. No other way will do. Thank you for the reminder. .... Suzanna
I really just miss Nature's Pride bread. Have you found anything similar since Hostess went under? It was seriously the perfect bread!
Thanks! Delicious. Try adding a dash of cardamom like my grandmother did.
I found this recipe via Pinterest, and it looked so good that I just had to try it! I made it this morning for my family and it blew my mind! It is soooooo delicious. The edges get all crunchy and have crystallized sugar on them and the middle is a bit gooey. I will never make cinnamon toast any other way! The vanilla absolutely makes this so special! I did add a bit of the nutmeg, and I really enjoyed the flavor combo. Thanks so much for posting!
Mom made this cinnamon toast for us, and I thought it was just the best. I haven't lived at home for 40 years, and still remember how perfect it was. Thanks for posting, and thanks for the memory.
My mom made cinnamon toast for us similar to this. She would just slather the bread with butter than sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon than pop it under the broiler till melted and slightly toasted. One side was toasty and the other side still soft and gooey. So yummy dipped in hot chocolate! This is definitely a more "gourmet" version than what I am use to but looks worth it. Yummy! :)
How much sugar & cinnamon did you use?
In RED there is a comment that if you cannot view the recipe card, I have provided a link to find the recipe!
Sounds yummy, can't wait to try it. My mom used to do something similar when we were kids. She would take left over hamburger and hot dogs rolls and thickly butter them then sprinkle on a mix of sugar, cinnamon and brown sugar. Then bake. The rolls added a bit of softness under the crispy sugar and toasted edges. Ahh, comfort food sweets. :o)
Thank you four sharing this. Yes, Pinterestis exponential like that. You have some awesome recipes and tips.
I used to love eating my mom's cinnamon toast as a kid, but I'd never thought of mixing all the ingredients together before hand. And the vanilla... is genius.
Happy cooking ~
Sound really nice....I'll try it right away! Thank you
Yum, have to try this one. I love the Pioneer Woman. I am also a Debby. Saw this on Pinterest.
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