Sourdough French Toast is a simple, hearty breakfast that uses up any leftover sourdough bread that might be a little bit stale.

Recipes that use up leftovers are always a win in my book.

And this Sourdough French Toast recipe just might be the very best way to use up those slightly stale pieces of bread that are floating around your kitchen.

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What is French Toast?

French toast is a classic breakfast made by soaking slightly stale or dry slices of bread in a custard mix before cooking them on a griddle.

The original French name is pain perdue, which translates to lost bread because bakeries in France developed the recipe using day-old bread that would otherwise be thrown out or “lost.”

But French toast has become an American breakfast and brunch staple.

Traditionally, it’s made with a thick slice of brioche, challah (which we used for our whipped ricotta French toast), or soft bread.

However, sourdough bread also makes an excellent slice of French toast.

It’s hearty and the denser crumb soaks up the egg custard beautifully.

Sourdough french toast will make all of your brunch dreams come through!

Ingredients for Sourdough French Toast

Slices of sourdough bread

Whole milk

Heavy cream

Large eggs

Vanilla extract

Cinnamon

Zest of 1 orange

Large pinch of salt

Butter for cooking

You can also check this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe for another taste of the vanilla extract.

How to Make Sourdough French Toast

Step 1 — Begin by heating a griddle or large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.

Step 2 — In a baking dish, whisk together the whipping cream, whole milk, and eggs.

Beat them until they are fairly smooth and you can’t see whole egg whites in the mixtures. You may have to remix the custard several times as you use it to keep the egg whites from separating.

Step 3 –– Add in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, orange zest, and salt, then whisk the custard again.

Step 4 — Add 2-3 pieces of bread (or as many as will fit in your cooking space) to the custard and allow them to soak for 1-2 minutes.

Then, flip it and soak the other side.

Step 5 –– Just before you put the French toast on the griddle, put about a teaspoon of butter on it.

Step 6 –– Place the slices on the hot surface and allow them to cook for about 2 minutes.

Use a spatula to flip the pieces of French toast and cook the other side.

The slices of French toast are finished cooking when they’ve developed a deep golden-brown crust and there’s no more wet egg on the surface of the bread.

Step 7 — Repeat the soaking and cooking process with the rest of the slices of bread or until you’ve used up all of the custard.

You’ll have more or less finished pieces of French toast based on how thick and/or dry the bread is, as well as how long you let it soak in the custard before cooking.

How to Store French Toast

Leftover French toast can be stored in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

To reheat it, simply pop a slice of french toast in a toaster set on low. Reheat it until it is warmed through and is a bit crusty again.

Recipe Notes and Tips

— The drier your bread is, the more custard it will soak up. You can even slice a loaf of bread and leave it sitting out overnight to make it become stale faster.

— If you don’t need as much Sourdough French toast as this recipe makes, you can easily cut it in half.

— If your French toast is browning too quickly, turn down the cooking heat so that it can cook through without burning. The center of the bread may still be a bit soggy if it cooks too quickly.

— The vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest are all optional flavorings that you can not add at all or substitute for other flavors. Almond extract, lemon zest, cardamom, or chai spice mix would all be fun flavors to play with. Customize your Sourdough French Toast to be what you want it to be!

— Maple syrup is a classic topping for French toast, but you can also serve it with butter, whipped cream, fresh fruit, jam, or any combination of the above.

What Kind of Sourdough Bread Works Best for French Toast?

Pretty much any kind of sourdough bread will work, whether it’s homemade or from the grocery store.

A loaf with a tighter crumb (the inside of the bread) will soak up custard better than a loaf with large air holes.

If you’re slicing your own bread, cut the slices about the thickness that you would for a sandwich or toast.

Traditionally, French toast is made with thickly sliced light bread like brioche or challah.

But because sourdough is a more dense bread, it won’t soak up the custard well and may be unpleasant to eat and dense if you cut it too thick.

If you’re feeling fancy, you can whip up this delicious All Natural Unicorn Toast Recipe pairing.

Check Out Other Delicious Toast and Bread Recipes