Name: Sourdough French Toast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 thick slices sourdough bread; 4 eggs; 1/2 cup milk; 1/4 cup cream; 2 Tbls maple syrup; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp nutmeg; butter, for frying

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This Sourdough French Toast recipe is definitely a personal favorite. Homemade sourdough bread soaked in a custardy egg mixture and fried in butter – served with maple syrup and fresh berries. The perfect recipe for weekend breakfasts!

pinterest graphic for sourdough french toast

If you like french toast but haven’t tried sourdough french toast, then you’re really missing out. Custard soaked bread with that tangy sourdough flavor covered in butter and maple syrup seriously makes the best french toast. We love to make this on the weekends using homemade sourdough bread, eggs from our chickens, local raw milk, homemade raw butter and maple syrup that my parents made in the spring. It’s really satisfying to know exactly where your food is coming from, and recipes like this bring them all together. It’s a delicious full circle moment.

To make this perfect french toast recipe, you’ll just need a few simple ingredients. Use any kind of sourdough bread, even leftover sourdough bread. This is a great recipe to use up some stale bread that no one is coming back for. Soaked in custard and fried in raw butter, you would never know it was old bread. Raw butter is perfect for frying this french toast in, and spreading on top when it’s done. If you’ve never made your own butter, check out the tutorial here. It’s well worth the extra step!

two slices of sourdough french toast in a cast iron frying pan

two slices of sourdough french bread with raw butter and fresh strawberries

homemade french toast ingredients

sourdough bread – pretty much any style of sourdough will work. Homemade sourdough is is the best bread in my opinion. I like to make french toast with a softer bread like sourdough sandwich bread or sourdough brioche bread, but a crusty sourdough bread will also work. If you don’t want to / don’t have time to make homemade sourdough bread, pick up a quality loaf of sourdough. French toast is also a great way to use up stale sourdough bread.

eggs – try to find local, pasture-raised eggs if you can. A local farmers market is a great place to look.

milk and cream – raw milk and raw cream if possible, but store-bought whole milk and heavy cream are great too.

maple syrup – we put it on top of the french toast, why not in it?? Maple syrup is the perfect sweetener for the creamy custard.

cinnamon / nutmeg – give the french toast a warm, spiced flavor. Definitely don’t skip the spices.

butter – for frying, follow this recipe to make your own.

tools and equipment you may need

stand mixer – for making homemade sourdough bread
bread loaf pans – these stainless steel pans work great and are non-toxic
cast-iron skillet – cast iron evenly distributes heat and is also non-toxic
glass mixing bowl
measuring cups and spoons
whisk
shallow baking dish

egg mixture in a glass bowl with a whisk with egg shells and sliced sourdough bread in the background

sourdough bread soaking in egg mixture and butter melting in cast iron skillet

how to make sourdough french toast

1. Plan ahead if you want to make fresh sourdough bread, as it takes about 24-48 hours from start to finish. You can also use your favorite store-bought sourdough bread.

2. Start by cutting 3/4″-1″ thick slices of sourdough bread. Get a large skillet or frying pan heating on medium heat.

3. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg in a glass bowl. Pour it into a shallow baking dish.

4. Soak two slices of bread (or however many will fit in your skillet at a time) in the egg mixture for about 2-3 minutes. You want them to be fully soaked but not so saturated they’re falling apart.

5. Melt some butter in the hot pan. Place each bread slice in the hot skillet and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, until the edges are golden brown.

6. Repeat with all remaining slices of sourdough bread.

7. Enjoy this delicious french toast with butter, maple syrup, fresh berries and/or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

two slices of sourdough bread on a plate with butter and fresh strawberries. strawberries and maple syrup and butter next to the plate

recipe tips & notes

Cooking times kind of depend on the type of sourdough bread that you choose. For soft, fresh bread, it is usually done after cooking for 2 minutes on each side. The center should be cooked all the way through with crispy edges on the outside. You may need to adjust the cooking time if the middle is soggy.

This sourdough french toast recipe is delicious with fresh butter, maple syrup, fresh berries and/or a sprinkle of powdered sugar. You could also serve some homemade whipped cream or homemade yogurt.

To make this recipe dairy free, just swap the milk and cream for almond milk or coconut milk. The french toast will not be as rich because these milks are lower in fat.

Always, always use REAL maple syrup! Not only are there a lot of health benefits, the flavor does not even compare to imitation maple syrup.

sourdough french toast with slices strawberries and raw butter. a bowl of strawberries maple syrup and butter in the background

close up of two pieces oof sourdough french toast with butter and fresh strawberries

how to store leftover french toast

For best results, eat the sourdough french toast fresh. But if you have leftovers, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat in a pan on the stove over medium-low heat or in a toaster oven.

try these other sourdough breakfast recipes

Sourdough Egg Bake
Sourdough Discard Scones
Classic Sourdough Pancakes or Waffles
Easy Sourdough Crepes
Sourdough Blueberry Coffee Cake

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