Hong Kong Style Cinnamon Apple French Toast
Turn a peanut butter sandwich into a true autumn treat with this Hong Kong Style Cinnamon Apple French Toast! Crispy, creamy Hong Kong Style French Toast oozing with peanut butter, topped with a warm, tart brown butter apples. It’s a decadent brunch to start the day, or a delicious dessert to share at the end of the night!
Apple Cinnamon French Toast
Hong Kong Cafe Inspired Cinnamon Apple French Toast
Fall is honestly my favorite time to play in the kitchen, because it’s the perfect time for cozy breakfasts like pancakes, waffles, and this Cinnamon Apple Hong Kong Style French Toast. What better way to cheer up a gloomy day than a warm, sweet cinnamon apple brunch to start your morning! Who can resist crispy toast oozing with peanut butter, drizzled with that toasty sauteed apples on top.
I’ve been craving French toast recently, but there’s simply nothing that screams fall season more than cinnamon apple desserts, pastries, and breakfasts. So, I decided to combine them! This seasonal flavor combo with the Hong Kong cafe classic is truly the brunch of my dreams. The combination of creamy, tart, and fragrant, and leaves me thinking about it all fall.
Cinnamon Apple French Toast Ingredients
Cinnamon Apples:
- 1 large apple peeled and chopped
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp Cinnamon
French Toast:
- 3 slices milk bread or any soft, thick white bread
- 2 tbsp peanut butter or any filling of choice
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Neutral oil for deep-frying (enough to submerge the toast halfway)
To Serve:
- Maple syrup or condense milk
- Powdered sugar optional
HK Peanut Butter French Toast
To make that classic Hong Kong Style French Toast, you have to start with a peanut butter sandwich. Hong Kong Style French Toasts are usually made with Asian Milk Bread and your favorite fillings, like jam or peanut butter. Then, they’re deep fried and covered in syrup or condensed milk.
Today, I’m going with peanut butter today for that nutty fall flavor. I’m using milk bread I bought from our local bakery. But, I highly recommend baking my mom’s Homemade Milk Bread recipe, which uses NO MACHINE! Optional, but I like to cut off the crust from the milk bread. I’m going to snack on these while I cook.
Custardy French Toast Batter
Before frying the French toast, we’re gently dipping the toast into a quick custardy batter until fully coated. This batter is actually what gives this dessert its creamy bite. Made with eggs, heavy cream, and a little vanilla, this rich batter soaks deep into the milk bread, giving it a rich, decadent vanilla flavor. After deep frying for about 1-2 minutes on each side, it becomes golden brown and crispy. The outside’s going to be perfectly crunchy while the inside stays soft and creamy.
Brown butter Cinnamon Apples
The Brown Butter Cinnamon Apples on top give this French toast all its seasonal flair. Warm, tart, and rich, this saucy sautéed apples alone makes everything smell so festive. All you need is some chopped apples, sautéed with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The apples get soft and caramelized, releasing their natural juices that simmers together with the butter. Your whole house is going to be smelling like a cozy little cafe.
French Toast Finishing Touches
Once you’ve spooned the apple topping on top of your French Toast, it’s time for the finishing touches. Drizzle with maple syrup or condensed milk if you like it extra sweet, then dust on a soft layer of powdered sugar or a pinch of cinnamon. They melt into the hot toast and apples, making everything look even warmer and more inviting with a little visual contrast.
Cinnamon Apple French Toast Instructions
- Make the Cinnamon Apples:
In a small pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add chopped apple, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Sauté for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft, released juices, and caramelized. Set aside and keep warm. - Assemble the Toast:
Take three slices of milk bread. Spread peanut butter between two layers to form a sandwich with three stacked slices (peanut butter in between each). Optional: Trim off the crusts for that classic HK-style look. - Prepare the Batter:
In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Dip the sandwich into the mixture, making sure all sides are well coated but not soaked through. - Deep-Fry the Toast:
Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (about 1–1½ inches deep).
Carefully fry the toast for 1–2 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels. - Assemble & Serve:
Top the crispy French toast with the warm cinnamon apples.
Drizzle with maple syrup or condense milk and dust with powdered sugar if you’d like.
Tea Recipes To Pair For the Full Home Cafe Experience
Hong Kong Style Cinnamon Apple French Toast
By Tiffy Cooks
Ingredients
Cinnamon Apples:
- 1 large apple peeled and chopped
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp Cinnamon
French Toast:
- 3 slices milk bread or any soft, thick white bread
- 2 tbsp peanut butter or any filling of choice
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Neutral oil for deep-frying (enough to submerge the toast halfway)
To Serve:
- Maple syrup or condense milk
- Powdered sugar optional
Instructions
- Make the Cinnamon Apples: In a small pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add chopped apple, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Sauté for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft, released juices, and caramelized. Set aside and keep warm.
- Assemble the Toast: Take three slices of milk bread. Spread peanut butter between two layers to form a sandwich with three stacked slices (peanut butter in between each). Optional: Trim off the crusts for that classic HK-style look.
- Prepare the Batter: In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Dip the sandwich into the mixture, making sure all sides are well coated but not soaked through.
- Deep-Fry the Toast: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (about 1–1½ inches deep). Carefully fry the toast for 1–2 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Assemble & Serve: Top the crispy French toast with the warm cinnamon apples. Drizzle with maple syrup or condense milk and dust with powdered sugar if you’d like.
