Sourdough French Toast

Sourdough French Toast is a simple twist on a breakfast classic with the ideal balance of tangy and sweet flavors with a creamy interior and crisp edges. It’s ready in just 25 minutes, making it quick while still being an impressive dish to serve at brunch.

about this sourdough french toast

Are you as obsessed with sourdough bread as we are? Granted, we have not perfected the loaf at home.. yet. But we are trying, and at least the bread still tastes amazing even if the loaves are a bit mis-shaped.

That’s how we decided to make French toast out of our most recent loaf! It doesn’t matter what the bread looks like – once it is sliced it all looks nice.

That slight tang from sourdough bread transforms ordinary French toast into something extraordinary. The tangy taste of the bread balances perfectly with the sweet custard coating for an easy meal. You’ll never want to use another type of bread for French toast again!

Breakfast at home should feel special without the restaurant price tag or the elaborate prep work. This sourdough French toast delivers exactly that – a simple upgrade that feels fancy but comes together in minutes. The sourdough soaks up the custard mixture beautifully, creating a creamy interior with perfectly crisp edges.

It pairs wonderfully with fresh berries, a drizzle of maple syrup, or a dusting of powdered sugar. The real beauty of this recipe is that you can make it with ingredients that you likely already have on hand!

ingredients

milk. Make sure that you use whole milk as this is important to making a good custard for the french toast to soak in. Do not use skim milk, 2% milk, or an alternative milk like almond milk or coconut milk. You could use heavy cream for a richer custard, if desired.

eggs. Use large eggs for this recipe.

vanilla. Have you ever tried to make your own homemade vanilla extract? It’s easier than you might think and you can really dial in the flavor how you like it. If you prefer to buy it, we recommend this Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract from Nielsen Massey.

sugar. We like to use light brown sugar, but you can also use dark brown sugar or granulated sugar.

salt. All you need is kosher fine salt.

cinnamon. You can use your favorite ground cinnamon. It brings a touch of warmth to the custard base.

sourdough. Store-bought or homemade will work wonderfully in this recipe!

butter. Use unsalted butter for cooking the french toast slices.

toppings. You can top this off with powdered sugar, maple syrup, whipped cream, and/or butter.

this recipe’s must-haves

Grab a set of mixing bowls and a whisk to make the custard for this french toast.

To cook the french toast, we usually use our Lodge cast iron skillet! You can also use a nonstick skillet if you prefer.

here’s how to make this sourdough french toast

make custard

In a large bowl, whisk together milk, egg, vanilla, sugar, salt, and cinnamon until well-combined.

Pour the egg mixture into a shallow baking dish.

soak

Add two thick slices of bread into the dish and press them down into the custard. Let soak for 2 minutes. Flip the bread slices and let soak on the other side for another 2 minutes. Remove to a plate and repeat this process with the remaining 2 slices of bread.

fry

Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add 1 1/2 Tablespoons butter to the pan. Swirl to coat as the butter melts. Place 2 slices in the pan and cook for 4 minutes. Flip, reduce to medium heat, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown.

Add remaining butter to the pan and repeat with remaining bread slices. Serve warm with your favorite toppings like powdered sugar and maple syrup.

tips and tricks

use good bread. Whether it is bought or homemade, use high-quality sourdough bread for the best results.

don’t cut it too thick. Make sure that you aren’t cutting the slices thicker than 1-inch. If the slices are too think, the center will be dry and uncooked. We always recommend slicing the bread yourself, versus buying bread that’s already been sliced.

watch the heat. Start by getting the pan nice and hot over medium-high heat. This will create that golden brown sear that you want. Once you flip the slices, reduce the heat to medium or medium-low to make sure the slices cook all the way through without burning.

More easy breakfasts to start the day with: Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles | Banana Bread Muffins | Turkish Eggs Platter | Savory Dutch Baby

my bread is fresh! how can I “age it” quickly?

If you are working with fresh sourdough, you can quickly “age it” by drying out slices on a baking sheet in the oven. Set the oven to 250˚F and place the baking sheet in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes. You are not trying to toast the slices, just to help remove some of the moisture so the slices can better soak up the custard mixture.

does sourdough taste good for french toast?

Yes, sourdough is fantastic for french toast! We love the combination of the crusty exterior, the soft interior, and the slightly tangy flavor that the bread brings to the classic breakfast recipe.

how long does sourdough french toast last?

If you have leftovers, you can store the french toast in either the fridge or the freezer. For the fridge, store the slices in an airtight container and it will last for about 3 to 4 days. You can also wrap the slices individually in plastic wrap, place in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheating instructions are listed below in the post!

Need some inspiration for breakfast? Check out my breakfast appetizers page!

what to serve with this sourdough french toast

Serve this french toast with all of your favorite toppings like powdered sugar, maple syrup, fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, etc), or even a dollop of whipped cream. You can also top it with pads of unsalted butter. Our son loves to have his slathered in peanut butter or Nutella for a special treat.

If you are serving this dish for brunch and need some additional breakfast dishes, we’ve got your covered! Since you already have the carbs, we like to add on veggies and/or eggs. Try our southwestern ham hash for an easy one skillet dish. For a more global twist, this turkish eggs platter is a personal favorite. If you want to keep things simple, serve up some instant pot poached eggs!

For a boozy brunch, sip on a strawberry mimosa, raspberry mimosa, or cranberry mimosa.

how to store

Store. Leftover fresh toast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

Reheat. We like to reheat leftovers in a cast iron skillet with a little melted butter over medium high heat. You can also microwave it or toast leftover slices in the toaster oven.

Freeze. Wrap each slice in a layer of plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container or a freezer-safe resealable bag. They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat straight from the freezer as noted above!

more french toast recipes to enjoy

This chocolate strawberry stuffed french toast is so decadent! It’s one of those really stellar breakfasts to bring out for special occasions.

For a unique take on french toast, try this roasted plum french toast with whipped ricotta.

Want to try a french toast casserole? Make our infamous raspberry chocolate croissant french toast casserole or an overnight blueberry cream cheese french toast casserole!

Finally, if you make this sourdough french toast recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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