Sourdough French Toast Recipe
Published May 24, 2024
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Indulge in the ultimate breakfast or brunch with this Sourdough French Toast Recipe. Sourdough bread is transformed into perfectly cooked French toast that is golden brown on the outside and creamy and rich on the inside.
It’s the best French toast you’ll ever sink your teeth into! Ready in 30 minutes!
You can enjoy this French toast with some Healthy Strawberry Jam as a topping and Tropical Fruit Salad or Scrambled Eggs with Vegetables on the side.
And if you’re a fan of all kinds of French toast, consider trying my Savory French Toast recipe, which has a crispy crust and can be paired with mayo or even ketchup.
French Toast Recipe With Sourdough Bread
This French toast with sourdough bread is unique for a few reasons. First, it has a wonderful, decadent flavor. The stale sourdough bread is the foundation of the French toast and is much more flavorful than plain sandwich bread.
Secondly, the use of evaporated milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon elevates the flavor to a whole new level.
The egg mixture is incredibly easy to make and is oh-so-creamy, resulting in a light and custardy center for the French toast.
Why This Recipe Works
- The perfect weekend breakfast! This recipe is perfect for your upcoming weekend breakfast recipe with your family! It’s one of those perfect recipes that brings everyone together. The taste is amazing, and it’s customizable, so each family member can top their French toast however they like.
- Crowd-pleasing recipe! It’s also great for brunch gatherings and is sure to please a crowd. It’s not overly sweet because the sourdough helps to create a perfect balance of flavors. You can serve it with other brunch recipes and beverages like orange juice, coffee, or tea.
- Easy to-follow recipe! Lastly, you’ll love how straightforward the process is. If you’ve never tried to make French toast before, don’t worry! I’ll break it down for you in simple steps. It is such an easy sourdough French toast recipe. You’ll get it down in no time.  Let’s take a look a look at the recipe, shall we?
Sourdough French Toast Recipe Ingredients
This sourdough bread French toast recipe requires simple ingredients that you likely have in your home already.
Here are some notes about the most important ingredients:
- Bread For French Toast: The sourdough gives the French toast subtle tangy hints. The flavor contrast is amazing with maple syrup! Try to use day old bread if you can. You can use either bakery sourdough or homemade sourdough. Use the best sourdough you can find.
- Milk: This recipe calls for both whole and evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is slightly thicker, which helps prevent the egg custard mixture from being too thin. It also has a deeper concentrated flavor.
- Eggs: The eggs help the French toast form its golden brown crust. They also help the center of the bread have that lovely rich, custardy taste and texture. They are crucial to the recipe.
- Cinnamon: What is French toast without some cinnamon? This spice gives the soaked bread a warm flavor and really helps the maple syrup’s taste pop when you serve it. It also pairs with the vanilla extract used.
- Sugar: Without sugar, the French toast might taste bland or too eggy. This ingredient gives it the right level of sweetness.
Scroll down to the recipe card below to see the remaining ingredients and exact quantities needed!
Recipe Variations
- Stuffed French Toast: Make stuffed French toast by filling bread slices and assembling them like sandwiches before soaking them. For instance, you can fill them with a cream cheese filling, Nutella, or sweetened mascarpone. Just make sure to be careful when flipping them and to soak them for a bit longer.
- French Toast Sticks: To make French toast sticks, cut each slice of bread into four strips. Then soak them into the custard mixture and follow the recipe as usual. This is a fun way to involve your kids in the kitchen; they will love it!
- Unique Toppings: There are plenty of ways to give the French toast an upgrade with toppings. Aside from the classic drizzle of maple syrup, you can top it with Nutella, berry compote, nuts, bacon bits, powdered sugar, or even yogurt!
Substitutions
- Evaporated Milk: You can swap this ingredient with heavy cream if needed!
- Milk: Although I suggest using whole milk, you can use skim milk or dairy-free milk (like almond milk or oat milk) if you are in a pinch or follow a certain diet. You can also try buttermilk, which complements the sourdough’s tanginess.
- Sugar: If you want your French toast to have an extra caramelized exterior, you can replace the granulated sugar with brown sugar.
- Spices: Cinnamon is definitely the best option here! But if you don’t have it, you can get creative by using other spices, such as pumpkin pie spice or even a dash of nutmeg. I suggest using slightly less of these spices, though.
If you’re making a larger batch, like two to three times the original amount, you can keep the earlier French toast pieces warm in the oven while you finish and cook the remaining bread. Keep the oven at a low temperature, such as 250°F.
How To Make Delicious Sourdough French Toast
Here is how to make French toast with sourdough bread in 4 easy steps!
- Make the custard. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
2. Soak the bread. Pour the egg mixture onto a baking sheet. Place the bread into the egg mixture and let them soak in a single layer. Flip each slice of bread to ensure the other side is completely soaked.
3. Cook the soaked bread slices in butter. Heat a skillet, such as a cast iron skillet, over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter, letting it melt. Add two slices of bread and cook French toast until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat the process with the rest of the soaked bread, adding a tablespoon of butter to the hot skillet each time before frying.
4. Serve with fresh berries and maple syrup or whipped cream.
If you do not have a cast-iron skillet or other large skillet, you can use a pancake griddle to cook the French toast. It will help them cook uniformly!
Important Tips
- For optimal results, it is recommended to use stale bread when making French toast. This is because using fresh bread can make the French toast soggy. Additionally, leftover sourdough works like a sponge and effectively absorbs the egg and milk mixture, resulting in exceptionally tasty French toast.
- Resist the urge to raise the skillet’s temperature. If you cook it at a high heat, the outside of the bread will burn while the inside is gooey. It is better to keep the stove top at medium heat for an even golden brown crust.
- Make sure to add butter to the skillet for every new batch. This gives the French toast a buttery flavor, helps it become golden, and prevents it from sticking.
- To keep your leftover French toast fresh and tasty, transfer it to a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, I recommend reheating it in the air fryer, toaster oven, or stovetop rather than using the microwave for best results.
Serving
Serve this Sourdough French Toast alongside the following:
Love sourdough? Check out my Sourdough Bread Grilled Cheese.
More Breakfast Recipes
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Sourdough French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 slices sourdough bread ½-inch thick slices, stale bread is preferred
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup evaporated milk sub with heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 Tablespoons butter for frying
Instructions
- Whisk together the eggs, whole milk, evaporated milk (or heavy cream), granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the egg mixture onto a baking sheet. This will allow enough room for all the bread slices to soak at once. Place the bread slices in the egg mixture and let them soak until each slice of bread is completely soaked. Flip the bread slices after the first 5 minutes to ensure the other side is completely soaked.
- Heat a skillet on medium heat. Add about 1 tablespoon of butter and let it melt. Add two slices of bread and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Repeat the process with the rest of the soaked bread, adding about a tablespoon of butter each time before frying.
- Serve with fresh berries and maple syrup or whipped cream.
Notes
- If you have leftover custard, add more bread slices to make more French toast. You can save any leftover French toast to enjoy later.Â
- To keep your leftover French toast fresh and tasty, transfer it to a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, I recommend reheating it in the air fryer, toaster oven, or stovetop rather than using the microwave for best results.
- If you use a cast iron skillet to make this recipe, be sure to regulate the heat to prevent the bread from burning, as cast iron skillets holds more heat than other skillets.
