Sourdough French Toast (Easy 30-Minute Recipe)

Quick Summary: Sourdough French toast is a twist on the classic, using tangy sourdough bread soaked in a rich egg, milk, and cream custard, then pan-fried in butter until golden. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes over medium-low heat, and serve with vanilla whipped cream, balsamic caramel, and fresh fruit. Total time is about 30 minutes, and it serves 6.

What is sourdough French toast?

Sourdough French toast is a twist on traditional French toast by using sourdough bread, and it tastes even better than you would expect!

Why you'll love this recipe

• Imagine your favorite breakfast sandwich upgraded to sourdough French toast that will have you feeling like royalty.
• Hands down, it is a weekend breakfast staple. It actually comes together pretty quickly, so you can serve it any day of the week.
• This sourdough breakfast is also perfect for a special occasion. This rich French toast makes the ideal Mother's Day brunch or birthday breakfast.

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

• Sourdough bread: For the best French toast, use stale bread - leftover sourdough sandwich bread or a baguette - that is one or two days old. Feel free to use homemade sourdough or store-bought. You will need thick slices of bread - about ¾ inch / 2 cm thick.
• Eggs are essential to make this rich toast. Use 3 large egg yolks or 2 whole eggs.
• Milk: The recipe calls for whole milk, but you can replace it with skim milk or dairy-free milk (oat milk or almond milk).
• Cream: Use whipping cream with 30% content or heavy cream with higher fat content.

Pro tip: Purists of French toast don't use cream but milk. Moreover, they use low-fat milk instead of whole milk.

• Sugar: The recipe calls for white granulated sugar, but you can replace it with golden brown sugar or vergeoise sugar.
• Vanilla bean brings a lovely flavor to French toast with sourdough bread.
• Salt: A pinch of salt or French fleur de sel balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors of your toast.
• Butter makes a difference when frying the sourdough toast. If desired, use coconut oil for cooking.
• Balsamic vinegar is used to make the balsamic caramel.
• Mascarpone cheese: As a staple of Italian cuisine, it is often used to stabilize whipped cream.
• Icing sugar: Make it yourself with a coffee grinder or use store-bought powdered sugar.
• Fresh mixed fruit is used for serving the toast. You can use any fresh fruit you desire.

Equipment

• large shallow dish
• whisk
• nonstick pan or skillet
• flexible turner or spatula
• saucepan
• stand mixer or electric hand mixer
• wire rack

How to make French toast with sourdough

Step 1. The day before, take out the sourdough slices and air-dry until stale.

Step 2. The following day, in a large, deep dish with a flat bottom, beat eggs with sugar, then add cream and milk. Dip the sourdough slices in the milk-and-egg mixture and soak for 2 minutes (photo 1).

Step 3. Heat a nonstick pan and make sure it is hot. The bread slices need to start cooking as soon as you place them on the pan surface. Once the skillet is hot, reduce the heat to medium-low and melt a pat of butter in the pan.

Step 4. Fry the first slice of bread in the heated skillet for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Then flip it with a flexible turner and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes. Repeat the operation with the remaining pieces (photo 2).

Pro tip: Don't cook bread too quickly; use medium heat to cook it correctly. To ensure even cooking, cut the butter into small pieces, adding them as you cook to avoid the bread burning.

Step 5. To make balsamic vinegar caramel, pour vinegar and sugar into a saucepan. Cook the caramel over low heat for about 15 minutes until frothy. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.

Step 6. To make the whipped cream, place the stand mixer bowl and the whisk attachment in the freezer for a few minutes. Place the whipping cream, mascarpone, sugar, and scraped vanilla bean seeds in the bowl. Whisk until you obtain whipped cream.

To serve, place a slice of sourdough on the plate, and add a generous spoonful of vanilla whipped cream. Drizzle with the balsamic caramel, garnish with fresh red fruits, and serve immediately.

Pro tip: Make sure the toast isn't hot before garnishing it with whipped cream.

Expert tips

1. Use thick bread slices; the thin slices tend to fall apart when you soak them.
2. While French toast is cooked without crust, keep the crust if desired.
3. Soak each slice in the milk mixture for 1-2 minutes to get a tender result. Sourdough bread soaks up liquid slower than regular bread.
4. The best way to get golden-brown toast with no sticking is by making sure your pan is fully preheated before cooking.
5. To keep your toasts warm till serving, place them on a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in the oven at 195°F (90°C).

Recipe variations

With the perfect balance of flavors, sourdough bread French toast will have your taste buds dancing. Try adding a flavor to the French toast variation to make it even better.

• Lemon zest adds an interesting twist on bitter notes; orange blossom water adds floral notes; cardamom seeds and star anise bring punchy flavors.
• Add a few pinches of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to the milk mixture. But if you are feeling really daring, try adding Grand Marnier liqueur or dark rum.
• Almond extract makes your French toast really pop, especially when topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
• Replace milk and cream with half-and-half. Then add a scraped vanilla pod to infuse for 30 minutes for an extra aromatic touch.
• Give your breakfast a tropical twist by using coconut milk and lime zest to make French toast.

Sourdough French toast toppings

Sourdough French toast is best served hot, straight from the pan while the edges are still crisp. The tangy bread pairs well with both sweet and creamy toppings, so you can dress it up or keep it simple.

For a traditional serving, drizzle the toast with maple syrup or top it with whipped cream and fresh red fruit.

You will also love these sourdough French toast toppings:

• caramelized bananas with fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup,
• Nutella and banana,
• caramelized strawberries and toasted flaked almonds,
• chocolate shavings,
• caramelized peaches with speculoos crumbs,
• crème fraiche and red fruit,
• hazelnut praline paste,
• butter,
• apple juice reduction,
• fruit coulis,
• jam or jelly,
• maple syrup,
• peanut butter,
• lemon curd,
• orange marmalade,
• blueberry compote,
• pear sorbet,
• caramel ice cream, or
• or your other favorite toppings.

To bring a twist to your presentation, dip the bread slices on each side in the sugar or shredded coconut once cooked. Then place each piece on a dessert plate with, for example, caramelized bananas on top.

Or cook 2-inch (5 cm )bread cubes instead of slices and dip them in the mixture of brown sugar and chopped hazelnuts. Then skewer on skewers, inserting a strawberry or raspberry between each bread cube.

Storing & freezing

Sourdough French toast is best served right after it is made, but you can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Place pieces of wax paper or parchment paper between the slices, wrap the stack in aluminum foil, and refrigerate.

To reheat, warm the slices in a toaster oven or in a skillet over low heat for a few minutes. Take care not to overcook them, or the toast will turn chewy. Avoid the microwave, as it makes French toast soft and less appealing.

To freeze, let the cooked slices cool on a wire rack for 20-30 minutes, then place the rack in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. You can also wrap each slice in waxed paper, then in aluminum foil, place them in an airtight container, and freeze for up to two months.

FAQ

Can you make French toast with sourdough bread?
Yes. You can use any sourdough loaf or sourdough sandwich bread to make French toast. The natural tang of the sourdough gives this classic dish an even more satisfying flavor.

What is the best bread for French toast?
Thick, sturdy bread works best because it soaks up the custard without falling apart. Sourdough, brioche, challah, and day-old country loaves are all great choices. Slightly stale bread absorbs the mixture better than fresh bread.

Can you use this recipe for another type of bread?
Almost any bread will work for French toast. Brioche, challah, white or whole wheat bread, cinnamon swirl bread, and hearty sourdough loaves all give good results.

How long should you soak bread for French toast?
It depends on the bread. Challah or brioche need only 15-30 seconds, while wheat, multi-grain, or sourdough bread needs 1-2 minutes since it absorbs liquid more slowly.

Why is my sourdough French toast soggy?
Soggy French toast usually comes from soaking the bread too long or cooking it too fast over high heat. Use thick, slightly stale slices, soak them just until saturated, and cook over medium-low heat so the inside sets while the outside turns golden.

How many calories are in a piece of sourdough toast?
An average slice of plain sourdough toast (without toppings) contains about 249 calories.

Looking for breakfast ideas? Try these next!

If you are more of a savory person, you might like Parisian crepes. Also, try these breakfast ideas:

• Vanilla Dutch Baby
• Yeasted Blini
• French Crepes
• Clatite Recipe (Romanian Pancakes)

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The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.