Sourdough French Toast

Sourdough french toast is the all-time best weekend breakfast! Top with your favorite seasonal fruit and real maple syrup or follow the directions for my homemade blueberry compote for a lower sugar option.

Oh wowowow this is about the easiest recipe on this entire site. The simplicity and sophistication of french toast is hard to beat and it works for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner on nights when you’re limited on options. I like that it has a little bit more protein than pancakes and isn’t sweet (there’s no added sugar in the batter).

Now if you’ve never made it before, now is your time to give it a try! If you’re a french toast lover but haven’t tried it with sourdough bread yet, this simple modification makes all the difference.

Here’s what you need to make it:

Ingredients for Sourdough French Toast

• sourdough bread. Preferably day-old since super fresh bread can get soggy. I like buying it from the bakery section of the grocery store when possible.
• eggs, or make it vegan with a flax egg (see recipe notes)
• milk or milk alternative. I use unsweetened soy milk, but you can also use almond, cashew, or even coconut milk if you wish.
• vanilla & cinnamon for that classic flavor
• toppings of choice. I love it with fresh berries and real maple syrup, but I’m also sharing a recipe for a quick homemade blueberry compote for a lower sugar option.

It isn’t super “technique heavy” but there are a few key steps to making great french toast.

Tips for Making Great French Toast

Use day-old bread

Like I mentioned above, it’s best to use bread that’s at least a day old, if not more. This will give you the best result (crispy outside, tender inside). Sourdough has an extra tangy flavor which is why it makes the best french toast. At least in my opinion. I also prefer to buy a whole loaf and slice it myself so it’s extra thick. Izzio makes my favorite!

Whisk liquid ingredients really well

If you don’t whisk your milk/eggs/etc well, you could get a sweet “scrambled egg toast” instead of french toast which isn’t great (trust me, I’ve done it before 😆 ). Make sure everything is very well-incorporated before soaking the bread. There shouldn’t be any egg separation going on.

Let the bread soak for a few minutes

It’s tempting to do a quick dip and then get straight to cooking. Let the bread soak longer than you think (at least a few minutes per side) so it’s nice and custardy when it goes into the skillet.

Cook in a cast iron skillet

Cook your french toast in a cast iron skillet! It’s the best way to get that brown and crispy exterior. I like to keep a small dish of oil close and then brush the pan between batches. If you don’t have cast iron, you can certainly use whatever you have, but you might not get that beautiful browning.

Sourdough french toast doesn’t need a whole lot of extras for serving. Fresh berries and maple syrup are more than enough. Sometimes I don’t love starting my day with a pool of syrup and I whip up a quick homemade blueberry compote instead. It is SO simple and as long as you have berries and a lemon on hand, you can make it.

After a quick simmer on the stove, you’ll have a beautiful and vibrant fruit topping that’s packed full of antioxidants. Optional, but perfect if you’re not as big a fan of syrup. It pairs well with plain Greek yogurt too, if you want to add a bit more protein and make this a more balanced meal.

Leave a comment and let me know how you prefer to eat your french toast. Sweet? Savory? Butter and syrup only? Whatever you choose… just make this ASAP and be sure to snap a picture 📸

You might also like:

• Fig Toast with Caramelized Onions, Bleu Cheese & Arugula
• Blood Orange Ricotta Toast with Cardamom & Pistachios
• Strawberry Overnight Oats with Coconut Milk

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