"Toast is one of the first things every person learns how to make — especially cinnamon sugar toast," says cookbook author Raquel Pelzel. "It's the elemental toast." Omitting it from her book was unthinkable. But coming up with a recipe was harder than she thought. "I asked myself, 'How do I make cinnamon sugar toast better than it already is? Because it's already pretty perfect.'" The answer: cinnamon simple syrup. The sweet liquid helps caramelize the outside and creates a custardy interior. Pelzel stopped by Food Network Kitchen to show us how she makes the ultimate version of this childhood favorite.

 

Photography by Heather Ramsdell

"I like to toast buttered bread," says Pelzel, slathering both sides of each slice before applying it to heat. Instead of using a toaster, she prefers to pan-fry bread or brown it under the broiler or on a grill. "I like the inconsistency of the char," she explains.

To amp up the flavor, Pelzel uses cinnamon simple syrup in addition to the usual cinnamon sugar. She simmers cinnamon sticks with sugar and water for about 5 minutes, lets the mixture cool and then brushes it on one side of each piece of toast. "Don't oversaturate or you'll risk sogging out," she warns. Leftover syrup is excellent in cocktails and homemade chai.

Pelzel presses the sticky, syrupy side of her toast onto a plate of cinnamon sugar, making sure to coat the bread thoroughly.