This easy sourdough french toast recipe is the perfect breakfast any time of year.
You might also like Sourdough Avocado Toast, Maple Bacon Cupcakes, and Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake.
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Sourdough French Toast
French toast is a classic sweet breakfast food that’s both extremely delicious and easy to make. It’s quick enough to whip up on a weekday morning and classy enough to impress your brunch party guests. For all of the breakfast and brunch lovers that want to explore new flavors, this easy sourdough french toast is truly incredible.
This recipe makes the perfect french toast that is soft and fluffy in the middle with slightly crisp, caramelized edges. Dress up this sweet breakfast dish with all of your favorite toppings like a fruit compote, whipped cream, maple syrup, powdered sugar, or even Nutella!
Can You Make French Toast With Sourdough?
You can make amazing french toast with pretty much any type of bread out there. That said, if you’ve never made french toast with sourdough bread, you are missing out!
Sourdough bread adds a tangy, flavorful twist to a classic breakfast favorite. Once you try it, you may not ever go back to your old french toast ways.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I love a simple recipe that also tastes gourmet. That is exactly why I can’t stop making this sourdough french toast with buttermilk. Here are just a few reasons why you are going to love this recipe.
- It’s simple! Anyone can make it, no matter how much experience you have in the kitchen.
- It uses sourdough bread, which adds great flavor!
- You can make this recipe in just 10 minutes
- It’s great for any meal – breakfast, brunch, or even dinner!
- You can switch up the flavors with pretty much any topping you can think of
Ingredients
Half-and-half: The half-and-half adds a creamy texture and enhanced rich flavor to this french toast. It pairs really well with the hint of sugar and spices in this recipe. Besides adding moisture, the half-and-half contributes to the golden brown color and fluffy texture.
Eggs: The eggs contribute additional flavor and act as a binder that holds all the ingredients together. When cooked, the eggs solidify and help firm up the liquid that’s been absorbed into the bread.
Pure vanilla extract: The vanilla extract adds another layer of flavor and compliments the tanginess of the buttermilk and sourdough.
Salt: The salt enhances and adds depth to the flavors of the other ingredients. It also balances out the sweetness.
Ground cinnamon/ground nutmeg: The ground cinnamon and nutmeg add a warm, rich flavor to the french toast.
Granulated sugar: The granulated sugar provides additional flavor and balances out the tang from the sourdough and the buttermilk. It also caramelizes during the cooking process, contributing to the crisp golden brown exterior. You can easily omit the granulated sugar for a more savory french toast.
Sourdough bread: The sourdough bread has a distinct flavor and perfectly chewy texture that makes for amazing french toast. You can use either thin-cut or thick-cut slices depending on your preference. Slightly stale bread is the best for french toast, but you can easily use fresh sourdough for the recipe if needed.
How To Make This Recipe
To get started, add the half-and-half, eggs, and pure vanilla extract to a wide, shallow bowl. A shallow bowl works best so you can easily dip the slices of bread in the egg mixture before cooking.
Next, add in the salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and granulated sugar.
Thoroughly mix in the rest of the ingredients until the custard is fully combined. Set the mixture aside.
I usually use a griddle to cook this french toast so I can make several pieces at once. If you don't have a griddle, you can cook it in a frying pan on the stove. Grease the griddle or frying pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter and heat it to medium heat (about 350°F).
Next, dip each slice of sourdough bread in the egg mixture, fully coating each side. Place them immediately on the heated griddle or pan. Be careful not to let the bread soak in the egg mixture for too long or it may get too soggy.
Cook the french toast slices until each side is golden brown (about 3-5 minutes total). Then, add all of your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Use a shallow bowl: It’s best to make the egg mixture in a wide, shallow bowl like this one. This makes it a lot easier to evenly coat the bread slices for the perfect french toast.
Use a blender: Another option for making the french toast batter is to use a blender. Add the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, salt, spices, and sugar to a blender and blend until smooth.
Make homemade half-and-half: If you don't have any half-and-half on hand, you can easily make your own in minutes. Combine ¾ cup of whole milk with ¼ cup of heavy cream. Gently stir the mixture and then store in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Use stale sourdough bread: You may have heard that stale bread is ideal for making french toast. This is because stale bread tends to absorb the egg mixture better than fresh bread. That said, whether you use fresh or stale sourdough, this recipe will turn out absolutely amazing!
How to Serve French Toast: Sweet & Savory Topping Ideas
This sourdough french toast is extremely versatile and can be made either sweet or savory. You can top it with just about anything, but here are some of our favorite french toast toppings.
Sweet French Toast
- Fresh fruit
- Whipped cream
- Maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Fruit compote
- Nutella
Savory French Toast
- Avocado and tomatoes
- Fried egg and bacon
- Spinach and mozzarella
- Cheddar and fried potatoes
Making the Perfect French Toast
The perfect french toast isn’t the same for everyone. Some people enjoy it on the crisper side while others like it a bit more soft and tender. Because everyone prefers theirs a little differently, here’s how you can make the sourdough french toast of your dreams.
Firmer texture: add more eggs, soak for a shorter period of time, add less half-and-half
Softer or soggier texture: use fewer eggs, add more half-and-half, soak for more time
Crispier exterior: add more sugar, use less half-and-half, cook at a higher temperature
How to Store Leftovers
Store your leftover sourdough french toast in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and soft for up to 3 days. Keep it in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container. For longer storage, separate the french toast slices with parchment paper and store them in a plastic freezer bag or container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Your french toast can easily be reheated in the oven or toaster oven. This can also be done in the microwave or on a griddle or frying pan. Keep in mind that frozen french toast will take a little bit longer to reheat.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes! We love using half-and-half for french toast, but this recipe works great with milk, heavy cream, and even buttermilk! Buttermilk adds depth of flavor and takes it to the next level.
Sourdough is great for french toast because of its thick and chewy texture with a firm crust that holds the french toast batter very well. Other breads that work well for french toast include brioche, challah, french bread, or just plain old white or wheat bread.
To keep your french toast from getting too soggy, be careful not to soak it in the batter for too long. If you want a crispier texture, you can also add a little extra sugar to the batter and cook the french toast at a slightly higher temperature.
Yes, it’s best to place a piece of parchment paper between slices before freezing. Store them in the freezer in a freezer-safe ziplock bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven, toaster oven, microwave, or on a griddle or skillet.
No, french toast was not actually invented in France! This breakfast dish actually dates back to ancient Roman times. The Romans would dip slices of bread in milk and eggs before frying them in butter or oil.
There are a variety of factors that will make or break the final outcome of your french toast. These are some of the most important steps to follow for the best french toast:
Use stale bread for the best texture and flavor. Stale bread absorbs more liquid, and therefore more flavor than fresh bread.
Beat the eggs completely until they are perfectly smooth. This can also be done in the blender. If the eggs aren’t beat well enough, you may end up with pieces of cooked egg white on your french toast.
Cook your french toast with butter instead of cooking oil. The butter adds extra flavor and contributes to the golden brown exterior.
The milk, or buttermilk, adds the necessary moisture to the french toast batter. Additionally, it provides a rich and creamy flavor and a light and fluffy texture to the french toast.
More Brunch Recipes
Recipe
Easy Sourdough French Toast
September 12, 2022Equipment
- Whisk or fork
Ingredients
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 6-8 slices sourdough bread
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, add the half-and-half, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir until combined with a fork or whisk.
- Mix in the salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and sugar.
- Grease a griddle or frying pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter and heat to medium heat (about 350°F).
- Dip each slice of bread in the egg mixture, fully coating each side. Place them immediately on the griddle or pan.
- Cook until each side is golden brown (about 3-5 minutes). Add toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe makes 6-8 slices of french toast
- Use a shallow bowl to easily dip the bread
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Katie Jacques says
This french toast is incredible! The sourdough and buttermilk pair so well together. They were also super filling too which was nice!
Andrea says
first time trying sourdough french toast and it turned out spectacular! so tasty and delicious for a yummy brunch with the family!
Brittany F. says
This recipe is wonderful! I followed your advice on using stale sourdough bread and it turned out amazing. My family loved this French toast!
Sage Scott says
I love the unique flavor that sourdough bread brings to this stepped-up classic French toast. Yum!
Andra says
Super delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe! I'll definitely be making this again
Audrey says
This was so good - everyone loved it!
Nancy says
Delicious combine with sourdough bread. Love it. Makes a delicious breakfast
Katie says
Love this sourdough french toast! It came out perfectly soft and crisp! My boyfriend is already asking for it again!
Holly says
This was a big hit at our house! Thanks for the recipe!
Rosanna Stevens says
This was so delicious for brunch, we all loved it!