Churro French Toast

Thick slices of brioche are dipped in a vanilla custard and sauteed in butter until golden. While still hot they’re rolled in cinnamon sugar and served with chocolate sauce and a big swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

The result is soft, custardy French toast with the texture of a crispy churro on the outside. Churro French toast combines the best parts of both worlds! I made this recipe over the weekend and I’m so happy with how it turned out. It was even better than I expected.

It looks like something you’d order at a brunch spot, but it only takes about 20 minutes and uses ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love Churro French Toast

Like a churro, the cinnamon sugar clings to the warm, buttery toast creating a slightly crunchy, sweet crust. The inside of the brioche is soft and custardy and the chocolate sauce melts into every crackle and crevice. Finished off with cold, whipped cream to contrast all the warm goodness. But honestly, the texture is the best part.

This breakfast casserole is always a hit with both kids and adults alike. It’s great for a leisurely Saturday morning, a special birthday breakfast, or any morning you’re looking for a little extra something.

What You’ll Need

The bread is critical, so if you’re going to use a sliced bread try to find something a bit on the thicker side. I prefer to use challah or brioche, which I buy in whole loaves and cut into thick slices myself.

This allows me to cut slices that are thick enough to soak up all that custard without falling apart! Sprouts actually had a really good sliced brioche loaf made with all real ingredients (no seed oils).

All you need for the cinnamon sugar is cinnamon and sugar (regular granulated works great). The custard is made with eggs, whole milk and vanilla. It’s not sweetened and has no cinnamon because the coating does all the sweetening and spicing.

The chocolate sauce is a super-easy ganache made with chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet) and heavy cream. Top with store-bought or homemade whipped cream and a little extra cinnamon for dusting.

How to Make Churro French Toast

While the toast is cooking, stir together the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish.

To make the chocolate sauce, heat the cream in a saucepan until it steams, but does not boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and let stand for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.

In a skillet, melt some butter over medium heat. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla. Dip bread slices into egg mixture, making sure each side is thoroughly coated. Fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side.

You can also combine ingredients for the custard in a blender for easier coating.

Coat both sides of the bread with the cinnamon sugar while the toast is still hot out of the pan. This way, the cinnamon sugar sticks much better (thanks in part to the hot butter!). If you wait until the toast cools down, the cinnamon sugar won’t stick as well.

Stack the slices on a plate, drizzle with the warm chocolate sauce.

Top with whipped cream and a light dusting of cinnamon. Serve it right away while the outside is still crisp.

Tips for the Best Churro French Toast

Since brioche has a lot of butter and sugar in it, it will brown quickly, so cook it over medium heat to prevent the outside from browning too quickly while the custard in the middle is still cooking.

Don’t soak the bread for too long. Just a quick dip on each side should do it. If you leave it in for too long it can get soggy and hard to flip.

If it does thicken while cooking, return to the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds and stir again.

Add fresh butter between batches. This will keep the toast from sticking to the pan and ensure each slice turns out with a delicious, golden brown crust.

Ways to Change It Up

You could also substitute dulce de leche or caramel for the chocolate sauce to get a taste closer to the churros you’d get at a Mexican bakery.

For a kids version, you can cut the French toast into stick shapes before breading it and serve the chocolate sauce on the side for dipping. You can add a pinch of cayenne to the chocolate to get that kick you get with some Mexican hot chocolates, or serve with sliced fresh strawberries or bananas.

What to Serve With Churro French Toast

It pairs nicely with a hot cup of coffee or mug of hot chocolate. Since it’s on the sweeter side, try it with something a bit saltier, like crispy bacon or breakfast sausage. It also pairs nicely with scrambled eggs and a bowl of fresh fruit.

Storing and Reheating

Churro French toast is best enjoyed straight away as the cinnamon sugar tends to soften as it sits.

If you have any Churro French toast leftovers, it can be stored in the fridge (separately from the chocolate sauce) in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To serve, reheat in a 350°F oven or air fryer for a few minutes until warm and crisp again. Reheat sauce, top with whipped cream and serve!