Honey Baked French Toast Bites

Say goodbye to standing over a hot skillet and hello to the easiest, cutest French toast you’ll ever make! Meet your new obsession: Honey Baked French Toast Bites. We’re taking humble bread squares, giving them a quick dip in a sweet egg-milk bath (with a secret touch of condensed milk!), and baking them to golden perfection.

The grand finale? A luscious honey glaze baked right on top, creating tiny, caramelized, utterly addictive bites. Imagine the classic flavor of French toast, custardy inside, slightly crisp outside, but in a fun, poppable format, kissed with the natural sweetness of honey. Perfect for little hands, lazy weekend brunches, or even a sweet afternoon pick-me-up, these baked bites are pure, simple happiness.

Easy Honey Baked French Toast Bites Recipe
Golden Honey Baked French Toast Bites! 🍯🍞✨

Why You’ll Be Buzzing About These Bites

  • Effortless & Oven-Baked: No frying, no flipping over a greasy pan! The oven does most of the work, making cleanup a breeze.
  • Perfectly Portioned: These bite-sized cubes are incredibly fun to eat and ideal for sharing (or not!).
  • Kid-Friendly Favorite: Little ones adore the size, the sweetness, and the dippable nature of these bites.
  • Subtle Sweetness: The touch of condensed milk adds richness, while the honey glaze provides a lovely, natural sweetness that isn’t overpowering.
  • Quick & Simple: Using basic pantry staples, this recipe comes together in no time, perfect for busy mornings.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gather these simple ingredients for French toast magic:

  • Sliced Bread: The star! Sturdier breads like brioche, challah, Texas toast, or even a thick-cut white bread work best as they hold their shape after soaking. Cut into uniform squares (about 1-inch is great).
  • Eggs: The binder for our French toast custard.
  • Condensed Milk: Just a small amount adds a touch of richness, sweetness, and helps with caramelization. Don’t skip this little secret!
  • Milk: To thin the custard mixture to the right consistency for dipping. Whole milk adds richness, but any milk will work.
  • Honey: For that beautiful, sticky, sweet glaze baked on at the end.

(Note: The full list of ingredients with precise measurements is available in the recipe card just below this article!)

How to Bake Up a Batch of Bites

Let’s get baking! This is wonderfully straightforward.

Step 1: Prep the Bread Cubes

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grab your slices of bread and cut them into roughly equal-sized squares. Aiming for consistency helps them bake evenly. Set them aside for a moment. You’ll also want a baking tray ready, lining it with parchment paper can make cleanup even easier!

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Step 2: Mix the Eggy Dip

In a shallow bowl or dish (wide enough for dipping), crack the eggs. Add a small drizzle of condensed milk (you don’t need much!) and pour in enough regular milk to create a smooth, whiskable mixture. Whisk everything together until it’s well combined and uniform, no big streaks of egg white remaining.

Step 3: Dip and Soak (Briefly!)

Take each bread square and dip it into the egg mixture. Make sure to coat both sides evenly, but work relatively quickly! You want the bread to absorb some custard, but not become completely saturated and fall apart. Let any excess drip off back into the bowl.

Step 4: First Bake, Getting Golden

Arrange the coated bread squares in a single layer on your prepared baking tray. Make sure they aren’t touching too much, giving them space to crisp up. Pop the tray into the preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes. This first bake starts cooking the custard and setting the shape.

Step 5: Flip, Honey, and Finish Baking!

After 5 minutes, carefully take the tray out of the oven. Gently flip each bread bite over using tongs or a spatula. Pop the tray back into the oven for another 3 minutes to brown the other side slightly. Now, remove the tray again. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush a layer of honey over the top surface of each bite. Return the tray to the oven one last time and bake for a final 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them during this stage, the honey should bubble and caramelize slightly, but you don’t want it to burn!

Step 6: Serve Warm and Enjoy!

Once the bites are beautifully golden and the honey is lightly caramelized, remove the tray from the oven. Let them cool just slightly (they’ll be hot!). Serve these delightful Honey Baked French Toast Bites warm and enjoy every sweet, custardy morsel.

Pro Tips for Perfect Bites

  • Bread Choice: Use slightly stale or thicker-cut bread for the best structure. Soft, thin bread might get too soggy.
  • Uniform Cubes: Cutting the bread into similar-sized squares ensures even baking.
  • Don’t Oversoak: A quick dip is all you need. Soaking too long will make the bites mushy.
  • Watch the Honey: Honey can go from caramelized to burnt quickly. Keep a close eye during the final 5 minutes of baking. If they’re browning too fast, you can loosely tent the tray with foil.
  • Parchment Paper: Highly recommended for easy cleanup, especially with the sticky honey glaze.
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How to Serve Your Honey Baked Bites

These little gems are fantastic on their own, but also love company:

  • Dipping Fun: Serve with small bowls of maple syrup, fruit compote (like berry or peach), yogurt, Nutella, or extra honey for dipping.
  • Fresh Fruit: A side of fresh berries, sliced banana, or other seasonal fruit adds freshness.
  • Dusting Delight: A light dusting of powdered sugar makes them look extra special.
  • Breakfast Platter: Add them to a larger breakfast or brunch board with fruit, yogurt, and maybe some savory items like bacon or sausage.

Make Ahead and Storage

These bites are truly best enjoyed fresh and warm from the oven for the optimal texture (slightly crisp outside, soft inside).

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers, let them cool completely. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day, or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Note that they will lose their crisp exterior and become softer upon storing.

Reheating

Reheat gently in a toaster oven or air fryer for a few minutes to try and revive some crispness. You can also microwave them briefly, but they will remain soft. Avoid reheating with extra honey, as it can burn easily.

FAQs : Honey Baked French Toast

1. Can I use maple syrup instead of honey for the glaze?
Yes, maple syrup can be substituted for honey. Brush it on during the last 5 minutes of baking, just like the honey. Keep an eye on it as it bakes.

2. What’s the purpose of the condensed milk? Can I skip it?
The condensed milk adds a subtle richness, sweetness, and helps the bites caramelize nicely. You can skip it, but the flavor and browning might be slightly different. If skipping, you might want to add a tiny pinch of sugar to the egg mixture.

3. Can I add cinnamon or vanilla to the egg mixture?
Absolutely! A dash of ground cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract in the egg mixture would be delicious additions.

4. Can I make these in an air fryer?
Yes, you likely can adapt this for an air fryer. You’d need to work in batches, air fry at around 350°F (175°C), flipping halfway, and adding the honey glaze near the end. Cooking times will be shorter, so watch them closely.

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Easy Honey Baked French Toast Bites Recipe

Honey Baked French Toast Bites

Easy, oven-baked French toast bites! Bread squares dipped in a sweet egg mixture, baked golden, and finished with a delicious honey glaze. Perfect for breakfast or snacks!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Baking Tray
  • Shallow Bowl (for dipping)
  • Whisk
  • Pastry Brush (optional, for honey)
  • Parchment Paper (recommended)

Ingredients
  

  • Sliced bread sturdy type like brioche, challah, or thick-cut white bread, cut into squares
  • 2 large eggs
  • A small amount Condensed milk e.g., 1-2 tablespoons
  • Enough Milk e.g., 1/4 – 1/3 cup, to mix smoothly
  • Honey for brushing

Instructions
 

  • Prep Bread & Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Cut bread slices into equal-sized squares. Line a baking tray with parchment paper if desired.
  • Make Mixture: In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs, condensed milk, and enough milk until well combined and smooth.
  • Soak Bread: Quickly dip both sides of each bread square into the egg mixture, letting excess drip off. Place coated squares in a single layer on the prepared baking tray.
  • First Bake: Bake for 5 minutes.
  • Flip and Honey Coat: Remove tray, flip the bread pieces. Bake for another 3 minutes. Remove tray again and brush the tops with honey.
  • Final Bake: Bake for a final 5 minutes, or until golden and honey is lightly caramelized. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
  • Serve: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm.

Notes

Use sturdy, slightly stale bread cut into uniform cubes. Don’t oversoak. Watch honey carefully during the last bake. Best served fresh and warm. Add cinnamon or vanilla to egg mix if desired. Serve with dipping sauces or fruit.
Keyword Baked French Toast, Breakfast Bites, Condensed Milk, Easy Breakfast, French Toast Bites, Honey French Toast, Kid-Friendly

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