This is one of our base recipes. This healthy French toast base recipe is a simple, flexible way to create a nourishing and delicious breakfast using wholesome ingredients. Made with whole grain or sourdough bread and naturally sweetened to your taste, this recipe is perfect for busy mornings or relaxed weekend brunches. Customize it with your favorite add-ins and toppings to make it uniquely yours, because great food should fit YOUR taste.
Must-Know Cooking Skills to Level Up Your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to learn how to:
Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in knife skills course: Sharp & Simple I!
Culinary Tips for the Best Healthy French Toast
- Use slightly stale bread. It absorbs the custard better without becoming soggy.
- Don’t skip toasting fresh bread. Lightly toasting helps mimic that “stale” texture if needed.
- Cook low and slow. Medium-low heat ensures the inside cooks through without burning the outside.
- Fully coat the bread. Let it soak briefly on each side so it absorbs flavor evenly.
- Avoid overcrowding. Cook in batches if needed for even browning.
- Customize sweetness. Adjust the sweetener based on your toppings and preferences.
Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions
- Bread: Whole grain and sourdough are ideal, but any sturdy bread works.
- Milk: Use dairy or plant-based options like almond, oat, or soy milk.
- Eggs: Essential for structure, but you can experiment with egg substitutes if needed.
- Sweetener: Maple syrup, honey, agave, or sugar all work—adjust to taste.
- Butter: Can substitute with oil or a plant-based alternative.
- Vanilla: Adds warmth, but can be skipped or replaced with other extracts.
French Toast Variations
Remember that this is a base recipe, so the goal is for you to customize it to your taste! Keep it simple or spice it up!
Add different fruit or veggie purees, have fun with extracts and spices, and go crazy with toppings. Look at what you have on hand already in the pantry, and go from there!
Need some French toast recipe inspiration?
Use this base recipe as a guide, or check out some of our favorite variations!
Banana French Toast with Sourdough
Coconut French Toast with Pineapple
Pumpkin French Toast with Whole Grain Bread
Equipment Recommendations
- Measuring Cups & Spoons – for accuracy
- Nonstick Skillet or Griddle – ensures even cooking and easy flipping
- Wide Spatula – helps flip without breaking
- Mixing Bowl or Pie Plate – ideal for soaking bread
- Whisk – for smooth custard
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything and everything!
Health Benefits of Healthy French Toast
This recipe combines balanced ingredients to create a satisfying and nutrient-rich breakfast.
Whole Grain or Sourdough Bread
Whole grains provide fiber and steady energy, while sourdough supports digestion and a balanced gut microbiome. Some of the world’s longest-lived populations consume sourdough regularly, so it must be working for them!
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein, choline, and several B vitamins that support energy metabolism and brain health.
Milk
Cow’s milk is rich in calcium, B vitamins, and protein. Dairy-free alternatives provide different benefits depending on which kind you choose. There are options available made from pea protein, bananas, oats, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, macadamia nuts, pecans, cashews, coconuts, and of course the originals: rice, soy, and almond. Soy milk is the most nutritionally comparable to cow’s milk.
When choosing a milk alternative, try to limit added sugars, gums, and stabilizers. Some varieties, like cashew or oat milk are creamier, and therefore create a thicker ice cream.
Learn more about the different types of milk in this article!
Explore our Ingredient Guide for more tips on choosing the freshest, most flavorful picks for your recipes. Because great ingredients = great food! 🌟🍴
How to Serve
Serve warm with your favorite toppings like fresh fruit, nut butter, toasted nuts, or a drizzle of maple syrup or honey. Pair with yogurt, eggs, and fruit or a smoothie for a balanced meal.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a toaster oven for best texture. French toast can also be frozen and reheated as needed.
Looking for more simple breakfast ideas?
Try these other base recipes!
Whole Wheat Waffles Base Recipe
Whole Grain Pancakes Base Recipe
Healthy Baked Oatmeal Cups Base Recipe
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Unlike many other recipe blogs, we encourage you to tweak our recipes to suit your taste. Try it out, leave us a review, and tell us what changes you made! We love hearing how you make it your own.
Healthy French Toast Base Recipe
Equipment
- Stovetop, Griddle
Ingredients
- 8 slices whole grain or sourdough bread, slightly stale*
- 1 cup milk or milk alternative
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½-1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1-2 Tablespoons sugar, agave, maple syrup, or honey
- Dash salt
- ½ Tablespoon unsalted butter
Add-Ins:
- ½ cup fruit or vegetable puree
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon almond or coconut extract
- Up to ⅛ teaspoon additional spices (nutmeg, cloves, cardamom)
Toppings
- Diced fresh fruit
- Toasted coconut or nuts
- Nut or seed butter
- Maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Preheat a griddle or skillet to medium-low heat.
- In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, sweetener, salt, and any add-ins.
- Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, flipping to coat both sides completely. Ensure bread fully absorbs the mixture, but is not soggy.
- Melt butter on the griddle and spread evenly with a pastry brush. Place bread slices onto the pan.
- Cook for ~2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Add more butter to the pan if needed between batches. Serve with toppings to YOUR taste. Enjoy!
