Sourdough French toast

Total 25 mins

Start your morning with a bite of French indulgence, crafted from sourdough, Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese, and a few key breakfast staples. For this rich, savoury and sweetly satisfying take on French toast, lovers of crispy bacon, oozing eggs, and sweet, creamy flavour will unite, and with a few elevated ingredients in the mix, they will find their new favourite morning treat in this salty-sweet recipe, based upon a true breakfast classic.

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Ingredients

4 slices of sourdough bread, thickly cut
8 slices of bacon
2 eggs
100 ml milk
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
fresh blueberries
pinch of salt
liquid honey to drizzle
butter for frying

Preparation

Fry bacon until crispy.

Whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, and salt together in a shallow bowl.

Dip the slices of sourdough bread into the egg mixture, coating both sides.

Fry the bread in butter on both sides until golden brown and crispy.

Arrange a few slices of Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh blueberries on top of your French toast. Drizzle with honey.

Serve warm and enjoy.

Tips & Tricks

After frying the bacon, use the same pan to cook the sourdough French toast. A small amount of bacon fat left in the pan adds a subtle savoury note that complements the sweet toppings and cinnamon; just add a little butter before frying so the slices still turn golden and crisp.

Tips & Tricks

Choose sourdough bread that is around 2–3 days old for the best French toast. Slightly stale bread is a bit drier, so it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming overly soft. This helps the slices hold their shape in the pan and develop a crisp, golden exterior. If the sourdough is very fresh, leave the slices uncovered for a few hours to dry slightly.

Tips & Tricks

Strain the egg mixture through a fine sieve before dipping the sourdough. This removes small bits of egg and cinnamon, creating a smoother mixture and helping the bread absorb it evenly, so the French toast cooks to a lovely golden colour.

FAQ: Questions about sourdough French toast

Making sourdough French toast is a lovely way to start the day. This recipe is simple and quick, though a few questions may come up along the way. You will find helpful answers to some of the most common ones just below.

  • Can you make French toast with sourdough bread?

    Sourdough bread is an excellent choice for French toast. The sturdy texture absorbs the egg mixture well without becoming soggy, helping the bread turn golden and crisp in the pan. Its gentle tang also pairs beautifully with toppings like bacon, honey, fruit, and cream cheese.

  • How long to soak sourdough bread for French toast?

    Sourdough bread only needs a short soak for French toast. Let each slice sit in the egg mixture for about 10–20 seconds on each side, so it absorbs the mixture without becoming too soft. Thick slices, around 2–3 cm, work best because they hold their structure and fry to a crisp, golden surface.

  • What if my sourdough French toast is soggy?

    If your sourdough French toast turns soggy, return the slices to the pan and cook them a little longer over medium heat until the surface becomes crisp and golden. You can also place them in a hot oven for a few minutes to help dry them out slightly. To prevent sogginess next time, soak thick slices of sourdough for only about 10–20 seconds on each side. Slightly stale bread works best, as it holds its structure better. When frying, make sure the pan is properly heated with butter and cook the slices in batches so the bread crisps rather than steams.

  • How can I store leftover sourdough French toast?

    Store leftover sourdough French toast in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, preferably without the toppings. Place the slices in an airtight container and keep the cream cheese, bacon, blueberries, and honey separate. Warm the bread in a frying pan or in the oven to restore its crisp surface before serving with the toppings.

  • Can I freeze sourdough French toast?

    Yes, you can freeze sourdough French toast. Although it is best enjoyed right after preparation, the French toast keeps well in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let the slices cool completely before placing them in an airtight container or freezer bag without the toppings and with a sheet of baking paper between the slices to prevent them from freezing together. Reheat the slices in the oven or a frying pan until warm and crisp again before serving with the toppings.

Ideas and Inspiration

Easy sourdough French toast with sweet and salty toppings

French toast often leans either sweet or savoury, but this version happily brings the two together. Golden sourdough meets crisp bacon, juicy blueberries, creamy Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese, and a drizzle of honey – a sweet-and-salty combination which is exactly what makes this sourdough French toast recipe so tempting.

Despite its enticing presentation, this recipe is wonderfully easy to make. Simply fry the bacon, dip the sourdough slices in the egg mixture and cook them in butter until golden, add the toppings and finish with a drizzle of honey, and in just a few moments, you have a charming breakfast ready to enjoy.

If you are drawn to French-inspired recipes, try a tropical French toast with bananas and cream cheese or a rustic fougasse bread with kale pesto.

A tropical and crunchy finish with pineapple and almond cream cheese

Tropical flavours may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of French toast, but they offer a surprisingly charming sensation – and you only need a few slices of Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese to make it happen. Juicy notes of pineapple and papaya cut through the richness of the toast and honey. The almond undertones follow with a delicate nuttiness that complements the butter-fried bread, and when added to the warm sourdough toast, the cheese slices soften and melt into a wonderfully smooth bite.

With crispy bacon, juicy blueberries, and a drizzle of sweet honey

With a few thoughtful toppings, the sourdough French toast gains a beautiful balance of sweet and savoury. Bacon introduces smoky saltiness and a crisp bite that stands out against the tender bread and creamy cheese, meaning each bite begins with a pleasant savoury crunch before the sweet flavours unfold.

The blueberries contribute bright bursts of fruitiness and a hint of tartness, and with its faint floral scent, the honey adds a final touch of sweetness, drizzled over the crispy bacon and fresh berries in a glossy, irresistible finish.

Upgrade your morning with a classic-inspired breakfast

French toast holds a special place among breakfast favourites. Inspired by the French classic, this recipe keeps the familiar comfort of golden, egg-soaked bread with carefully picked toppings while offering a slightly more sumptuous presentation.

It is a simple way to upgrade your morning, but it is also perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch. Served alongside croissants, croque madame, bowls of yoghurt, cheese, fresh fruit, and steaming cups of coffee, it feels right at home among the brunch classics – though do not be surprised if the sourdough French toast disappears faster than anything else on the table.

Explore more variations

This sourdough French toast is easy to adapt, making it perfect for experimenting with different flavours.

If you prefer a more pronounced sweetness, replace the honey with maple syrup, which offers subtle caramel notes. You can also dust the plate with icing sugar for a finishing touch and a beautiful white contrast against the golden toast.

Try frying the sourdough in brown butter to give the bread a warm, nutty flavour that lightly soaks into the slices. In the egg mixture, add a pinch of cardamom – it pairs perfectly with the cinnamon, introducing a subtle citrusy aroma. Alternatively, a little lemon zest enhances that brightness and helps lift the toast's richer notes.

When it comes to fruit, raspberries offer a more prominent tartness than blueberries. Sweeter toppings, such as grilled nectarines, peaches, or pineapple, add caramelised layers and juiciness, but pineapple in particular pairs wonderfully with the Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese.

Finish the toast with toasted coconut for a delicate crunch that complements the tropical notes of the cheese. Alternatively, sprinkle finely chopped fresh mint across the plate for a cool herbal brightness.