Name: 7 Ingredient Sourdough French Toast
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 Large Eggs; 1 tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup (+ more for serving); 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract; 1 cup (235 grams) Half and Half; 1 1/4 teaspoons Orange Zest (from about 1 large orange); Pinch Fine Sea Salt; 1 pound (453 grams) Sourdough Bread (preferably day old, cut into 4, 1 inch thick slices); 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter (+ more for serving); Candied Maple Pecans; Toasted Slivered Almonds* (see note); Powdered Sugar

A rich and decadent breakfast or brunch, I’m here to tell you, you can make French toast with sourdough bread! Infused with bright orange zest and a touch of vanilla, every bite is a delicious balance of richness and warmth. Griddled to golden-brown perfection, sourdough French toast is lightly crisp on the outside and irresistibly tender on the inside. And, it’s ready in 25 minutes.

French Toast made with sourdough bread on a plate, topped with butter, maple syrup and powder sugar.

Rich. Decadent. One of Life’s Little Luxuries

When it comes to breakfast or brunch, this is a recipe I turn to for special occasions (your guests will loooove), or whenever we’re in the mood for something simple and comforting. Sourdough French Toast is one of the tastiest ways to enjoy leftover sourdough bread!

This Recipe Is

light with crisp exterior
warm and soft custardy (not eggy) interior
lightly sweet and tender

Ingredients on a table for French toast with Sourdough Bread.

Standout Ingredients

Sourdough Bread: creates a sturdy texture for the custard to soak into while allowing the outside to crisp up. Since we’re cutting inch-thick slices of bread, there’s plenty of nooks and crannies for the custard to make its way into.

I love this recipe made with homemade crusty Multigrain Sourdough Bread or softer Maple Oat Sourdough Sandwich Bread. If you’re feeling extra decadent, try it with Sourdough Discard Banana Bread!

Orange Zest: fresh and sunny, fresh orange zest adds a burst of citrus flavor and takes this French toast beyond ordinary. Don’t skip it!

I tested this recipe using all whole milk, half whole milk with half and half, and all half and half. By far, the all half and half version created the richest texture simply because it contains more fat than using whole milk alone or in part.

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How to Make Sourdough French Toast
Step by Step

Whisking eggs and maple syrup in a measuring cup. — 1. whisk the eggs, maple and vanilla.

Adding half n half to the eggs in a measuring cup. — 1. whisk the eggs, maple and vanilla.

Customize your French toast by adding cinnamon, cardamom or nutmeg to the custard. Share with toasted slivered almonds or Candied Maple Pecans.

Sourdough Bread soaking in French toast custard. — 5. soak the bread.

You don’t have to be a sourdough baker to enjoy sourdough French toast. Look for sourdough bread at your local bakery, preferably without an open crumb. A closed crumb will soak up more custard.

Sourdough Bread French Toast on a plate, topped with butter, maple syrup and powder sugar.

Traci’s Tips

Keep it Low: since we’re cooking with butter, so you’ll want to keep the griddle or skillet over medium to low heat. It’s a balance of cooking the soaked thick cut sourdough bread through, while creating a golden-brown exterior without burning.
One-Inch Thick Sliced Sourdough Bread is called for in the recipe. If using thinner sourdough bread, you’ll need to soak for a shorter period of time.

7 Ingredient Sourdough French Toast