Buttermilk French Toast

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If you are a fan of homemade buttermilk pancakes, you will love Buttermilk French Toast. Thick slices of crusty bread are coated with rich buttermilk and eggs and lightly sweetened with a touch of maple syrup. Each slice is cooked to golden-brown perfection in melted butter.

Serve Buttermilk French Toast alongside wedges of Cougar Gold Quiche and Country Potatoes for a special start to the day.

Three slices of buttermilk french toast on a plaste with berries on top.

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⭐ Why You'll Love Buttermilk French Toast
🍞 Ingredients to Have on Hand
📖 Substitutions
🥞 Step-by-Step Instructions
💭 Recipe FAQs
🍓 What to Serve with Buttermilk French Toast
🍯 More Breakfast Recipes
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⭐ Why You'll Love Buttermilk French Toast

Buttermilk French Toast isn't overly sweet so we can top each slice with our favorite, indulgent toppings, fruit or a dusting of powdered sugar.

This version of French toast is lightly sweetened with maple syrup, so it's the ideal way to enjoy sweet jam, fresh berries, Homemade Honey Butter and decadent syrups.

Fresh from the skillet or griddle, each warm slice of French toast is lightly crispy on the outside and almost custard-like on the inside.

Making Buttermilk French Toast is a great way to use up day-old French or Italian bread or any time you have extra buttermilk. Another recipe to keep on hand when you have buttermilk in the refrigerator is Buttermilk Chicken Tenders.

Pro Tip: For the best Buttermilk French Toast, use thick slices of bread, ideally ¾" to 1" thick.

🍞 Ingredients to Have on Hand

Ingredients for buttermilk french toast on a cutting board.

Scroll to the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Bread: Grab a loaf of French or Italian bread and slice it into thick portions. This is the best way to ensure the perfect size to soak up the buttermilk and egg mixture to become smooth and custard-like on the inside, yet crispy on the outside. (Scroll down for details on substitutions.)

Buttermilk: What a difference-maker in French toast. It adds a creamy and slightly tangy flavor and is a huge improvement over regular milk.

Maple Syrup: A dash of sweetness is the perfect complement to the creamy buttermilk. Just remember to use real maple syrup and not pancake syrup there's a big flavor difference between the two.

Pro Tip: Although maple syrup is a little more expensive than pancake syrup, it will stay fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to a year so there will be plenty of time to enjoy it again and again.

📖 Substitutions

Bread: A thick sturdy slice of bread is a must for Buttermilk French Toast, but you can use Brioche, challah or even a sandwich bread sliced thick like Texas Toast to ensure great results.

Maple Syrup: You could substitute the three tablespoons of maple syrup for ¼ cup of sugar and have the same touch of sweetness in the buttermilk mixture.

Add Spices: Whisk a ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg with the eggs and buttermilk to add cozy warmth and a little spice to your French toast.

🥞 Step-by-Step Instructions

Sliced bread and ingredients for buttermilk french toast arranged on a cutting board.

Step 1: Slice a loaf of French or Italian bread into thick slices, between ¾" and 1" thick. (Photo #1)

Pro Tip: Day-old bread is best for making Buttermilk French Toast, dry bread soaks up the buttermilk mixture better than fresh bread.

Step 2: Assemble all the ingredients plus a baking dish or pie pan, which you'll use to blend the buttermilk and eggs. (Photo #2)

Eggs and buttermilk in a dish plus additional ingredients held in a smaller dish.

Step 3: Place eggs and buttermilk in the dish. (Photo #3)

Step 4: Add all of the remaining ingredients - except the butter. Add maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. (Photo #4)

Step 5: Use a whisk to thoroughly blend all of the ingredients. (Photo #5)

Step 6: Whisk until all of the ingredients, especially the eggs are blended. (Photo #6) Heat a skillet on the stove over medium heat.

Slices of french toast in a buttermilk and egg mixture in a dish and each slice in a skillet.

Step 7: Place three slices of the sliced bread into the liquid and soak each side for about 20 seconds. (Photo #7) Lift each slice and allow it to drain over the buttermilk and egg mixture for a few seconds.

Step 8: Melt a tablespoon of butter in the hot skillet and add the bread slices. (Photo #8)

Pro Tip: If you cook Buttermilk French Toast in batches, use several paper towels to wipe out the skillet between batches. Be very careful, the skillet is hot. Add a fresh tablespoon of butter then cook the additional slices. Reusing the butter will cause it to burn and impact the flavor of the French toast.

French toast in a skillet and lifted with a spatula onto a baking sheet.

Step 9: Cook the bread slices for about 2 minutes on each side or until each slice is golden brown. You may need to lower the heat so the bread doesn't cook too fast and burn, but still cooks in the middle. (Photo #9)

Step 10: Transfer the slices to a baking sheet and place them in the warm oven as they are cooked. Add slices to the baking sheet with each batch until all the French toast is cooked. (Photo #10) Serve with optional toppings. (Scroll down for ideas on what to serve with Buttermilk French Toast.)

💭 Recipe FAQs

Can I use regular white bread?

Thick slices of bread, between ¾" and 1" work best. Regular sandwich bread is quite thin and has a hard time keeping its shape after soaking up the egg and buttermilk, making it difficult to create a custard-like filling with a slightly crispy exterior. If you'd like to use pre-sliced bread, I recommend using Texas Toast, which is a thick style of sandwich bread.

No buttermilk on hand. What's a good substitute?

You can easily make your buttermilk. Pour 1 tablespoon of either lemon juice or white vinegar into a cup and add enough whole or 2% milk to equal one cup. Let the milk sit for 5 minutes to give the milk time to curdle. This Buttermilk French Toast recipe calls for just ¾ cup so pour out ¼ cup of the homemade buttermilk and you'll be set.

How do I store leftovers?

Buttermilk French Toast is best served right after you make it, but leftovers will store great in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wrap the leftover slices between sheets of waxed paper and either place them on a plate covered with plastic wrap or in a zipped-top food storage bag. To reheat, toss out the waxed paper and warm each slice in the microwave on half power until hot.

Several slices of french toast on a plate with berries, orange juice and syrup.

🍓 What to Serve with Buttermilk French Toast

Fresh Fruit: Add sliced strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries or any variety of mixed fruit. Or make a Fresh Fruit Tart to serve on the side.

Maple Syrup: I'm a big fan of pure maple syrup, there is always a bottle in my refrigerator. In my experience - many years of buying and enjoying maple syrup - the less expensive store brands are usually just as good as the big brand names. Use maple syrup to top Blueberry Baked Oatmeal and to sweeten Banana and Carrot Muffins.

Powdered Sugar: A classic and nostalgic way to add a delicate sweetness to French toast. A light dusting of powdered sugar looks beautiful and tastes wonderful. This is how I used to eat French toast as a kid. Every. Time.

Bacon, Sausage or Ham: Crisp bacon or sausage links are the perfect contrast to the light sweetness of French toast. A thick slice of ham is also delicious, especially for brunch. And all these meats taste great with maple syrup too!

Breakfast Casseroles: For a hearty flavor combination serve French toast with Green Chile Egg Casserole and Cheesy Grits.

Nuts: Sprinkle chopped nuts like pecans, almonds or walnuts on each serving to add a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor. Plus, nuts taste delicious with maple syrup and powdered sugar. Save leftover walnuts for a batch of Crockpot Banana Bread.

🍯 More Breakfast Recipes

Buttermilk French Toast is an excellent way to get the day started. Here are a few more ideas and inspiration to go alongside your breakfast coffee.

See more Breakfast →

If you tried Buttermilk French Toast or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below.

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5 from 27 votes (22 ratings without comment)