French Toast Bagels

A recipe for French Toast Bagels! Bagel halves are briefly soaked in a cinnamon vanilla egg mixture, then pan-fried until golden.

I first made this French Toast Bagel recipe for Life Tastes Good back in 2019 and it is such a fun French Toast variation.

Simply halve bagels and soak for about 30 seconds to a minute per side in an easy cinnamon and vanilla-spiced egg mixture before pan-frying until golden.

We especially love making this recipe using mini-sized bagels (with the added benefit of being able to fry a few at a time). Otherwise, I like use standard-sized plain bagels as the base for breakfast sandwiches.

Cinnamon raisin or chocolate chip bagels would be great picks when pairing the dish with whipped cream cheese and fresh fruit.

A Few French Toast Bagel Tips

Day or two-day-old bagels or halved slices that have been dried (but not completely toasted) in the oven are best for this recipe.

You can even leave the slices uncovered on a wire rack at room temperature overnight to dry. Freshly made bagels will be more likely to fall apart or become soggy.

The exact amount of bagels may vary based on their size. For standard bagels, the egg mixture should be enough to cover around 4-5 bagels. If you are using miniature bagels, you may be able to get closer to 10 mini bagels.

Whisk the egg and milk mixture until thoroughly combined. All of the egg pieces and sugar should be blended completely into the milk. With time, the spices will naturally rise to the top. Whisk again to incorporate between dipping the bagels.

I personally like to add a combination of butter and vegetable oil to the pan when frying the French toast bagel slices. The vegetable oil helps keep the butter from burning.

Adjust the heat between medium and low as needed. You want the bagels to develop a golden crust, but still have enough time to heat through the center.

The French Toast Bagels are best warm from the skillet. To keep the slices hot while frying the remaining pieces, arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in a 200˚F (90˚C) oven until ready to serve.

Serving Ideas

We usually pair the French Toast Bagels simply with fresh berries, maple syrup, and/or whipped cream.

For a bit of savory mixed in with the sweet, you can also use the bagels as the base for a breakfast sandwich. I especially like it with egg, cheese, and a maple dijon sauce (equal parts maple syrup and dijon mustard).

When making the bagels in preparation for a breakfast sandwich, take care to not over-soak the halves in the egg mixture. They should still be sturdy enough to hold up to the fillings.

Other pairing ideas include cinnamon whipped cream cheese, jam, honey, caramelized apples, or pears.

Looking for more French Toast Recipes?

Try my:

• Vanilla Honey French Toast
• Orange French Toast
• Arme Riddere (Norwegian Cinnamon Toast)

This recipe was originally posted in January 2019 and updated in December 2025.

French Toast Bagel Recipe

Adapted from Dad with a Pan

Print Pin

French Toast Bagels

A recipe for French Toast Bagels! Bagel halves are briefly soaked in a cinnamon vanilla egg mixture, then pan-fried until golden.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword bagel, bread, breakfast, brunch, french toast

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients

French Toast Bagel:

• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) whole milk
• 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter plus more as needed
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) vegetable oil plus more as needed
• 4 bagels or 8-10 mini bagels, halved

Instructions

• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. 
• In a skillet, melt the butter and oil over medium low heat. 
• Soak each bagel half in the egg mixture for about 30 seconds to one minute per side.
• Place the soaked bagel half, cut side down, in the heated skillet and cook until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Flip and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes, until golden. Repeat with remaining bagels.
• Serve the French Toast Bagels warm with desired toppings.