Sourdough French toast

Sourdough French Toast - Yes, you can absolutely make French toast with sourdough bread! All you need are eggs, milk, sugar, butter and a few slices of sourdough bread to make the most indulgent weekend breakfast.

Buttery, eggy, crispy caramelized bread, topped with syrup and powdered sugar. What's not to love!

The only thing to remember is that sourdough bread needs a slightly longer soak than softer breads like brioche. But on the plus side, it holds its shape beautifully and gets lovely crispy edges.

Depending on how thick or stale your bread is, allow about 20–30 minutes, including soaking and cooking.

You can build it up and serve with ice cream or whipped cream or dial it down a notch and serve it with honey or maple syrup.

There are only a handful of recipes that can be served at a fancy brunch and packed in your child's lunch box too. This is one of them!

Another brunch recipe that I make quite often, especially on Christmas is my brioche French toast casserole. You can prep it a day in advance, pop it in the oven an hour before serving.

We have also been obsessing over burrata hot honey toast lately. You must try it!

Can You Make French Toast with Sourdough Bread?

Absolutely! In fact, sourdough bread makes fantastic French toast!

Unlike soft sandwich bread, sourdough has a firmer texture and a slightly tangy flavor that balances the sweetness of the egg custard.

It also gets beautifully crisp on the outside without falling apart as easily when you flip it.

The trick is to soak the sourdough bread for a little longer.

For regular slices, about 5 minutes per side should work. If you're using thick slices or slightly stale bread, you might need 10 minutes per side.

You want the bread to absorb the egg and milk mixture, not just have a coating of custard on the outside.

And yes, day-old sourdough is brilliant for this recipe! It's one of my favorite ways to use up leftover bread.

Ingredients for sourdough french toast

Here are the simple ingredients you need to make this French toast recipe.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Sourdough bread - You can use any other bread like ciabatta and brioche too. This recipe is great to use up stale sourdough bread.

Butter - I like using salted butter. The contrast of sweet and salty is just pure heaven!

Milk - You can use any kind of milk. Whole milk and half and half are great options. I really do not see the need for heavy cream but if you want to go there, then you can!

Egg & granulated sugar

Beyond this, you can choose the kind of sugar, flavors and toppings that you want to add.

On a regular day, I rarely add cinnamon and vanilla but that said, they do turn an otherwise busy mom recipe to something you would serve at a restaurant.

How to make sourdough French toast

Step 1: Make the custard & soak the bread

Unlike softer breads, sourdough bread needs to be soaked for longer. But on the plus side, it is easier to handle and won't play dead for you!

Flip the bread midway so both sides absorb the custard.

For regular slices, a 10-minute soak should do. But if the bread is old and cut into thick slices, you might need to soak it for 20 minutes.

The bread should feel nicely soaked through but still hold its shape when you lift it out of the custard.

Flip the bread midway. If the slices are thin, a 10 minute soak will do. But if the bread is old and cut into thick slices, you might have to let the bread soak for a whole 20 minutes.

Step 2: Cook the French toast

Heat a well seasoned cast iron or a nonstick pan on medium heat. Add a teaspoon of butter and swirl it around.

Place the soaked bread and cook till it turns golden brown. Flip and repeat on the other side.

Sourdough French Toast for Christmas Morning

I love making French toast for special breakfasts, and Christmas morning is the perfect excuse to make it a little more indulgent!

If you're making breakfast for just two or three people, this sourdough French toast is perfect. You don't have to make a whole casserole or spend an hour in the kitchen.

To make things easier, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla the night before. Keep the mixture covered in the refrigerator, and give it another whisk before using it.

In the morning, all you have to do is soak the bread, heat up the skillet and cook!

For a festive breakfast, serve it with berries, powdered sugar and warm maple syrup. Or go all out with whipped cream and caramelized bananas.

If you're feeding a crowd, my overnight brioche French toast casserole is a better option because you can assemble the whole thing the night before.

Variations

We love making all kinds of homemade French toasts.

Christmas special- overnight baked brioche French toast casserole. It's perfect when you have to feed a crowd! Another holiday favorite it making nutella babka bread.

Stuffed French Toast- Make a cream cheese and blueberry jam sandwich with two bread slices. Soak it in the custard and make a stuffed French toast. You can also make this with peanut butter and jelly instead.

Savory French toast - I grew up with the Indian masala version of French toast with chilies and cilantro, served with ketchup. We also make a cheesy, herby savory French toast.

Here are more breakfast recipes and ideas for you. And if sweet breakfasts are your jam, try my Nutella banana crepes. They are amazing!

How to Serve Sourdough French Toast

Sourdough French Toast is best served warm, straight from the skillet, when the edges are still lovely and crispy!

I usually keep it simple with a drizzle of maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar and some fresh berries.

But if you're making it for a special weekend breakfast or Christmas morning, here are a few ways to make it extra indulgent!

• Caramelized Bananas: Top your French toast with my Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas. They're warm, buttery and absolutely delicious with the crispy sourdough.
• Fresh Fruit: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or sliced bananas add a lovely freshness.
• Whipped Cream: Add a generous dollop of whipped cream and some chocolate shavings for a more dessert-like breakfast.
• Nutella: Spread a little Nutella between two slices and finish with powdered sugar. It's especially good with strawberries!

If you're serving French toast for brunch, put out a few toppings and let everyone make their own. It's easy, looks lovely on the table and means everyone gets exactly what they like!

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