Buttermilk is the not-so-secret reason this french toast tastes rich without being too sweet. Buttermilk French Toast is an easy crowd-pleaser brunch with its lightly caramelized edges and silky center.
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Almost everyone prefers buttermilk pancakes to regular pancakes. So, why aren't we adding buttermilk to more foods?
I recently discovered that buttermilk french toast is so much more delicious than french toast made with regular milk. And just as easy!
Add this buttermilk french toast to your weekend brunch menu, whether you're cooking for your family or having a brunch party.
❤️ Why this recipe works
Buttermilk adds cling and tang: since it's thicker than regular milk, buttermilk grabs hold to the bread and adds gentle acidity for a flavor that's rich without being overly sweet.
Buttermilk tenderizes: the acidity of the buttermilk helps give brioche a custardy center without turning it eggy or soggy.
Brioche is best: though you can use any bread for this french toast, brioche has a high butter and egg content and is perfect for soaking up the buttermilk mixture. It holds its structure and is rich and slightly sweet.
Sugar mixed into custard: mixing granulated sugar into the custard mixture adds sweetness, but also helps jump start browning when you put the bread on the griddle.
Easy and impressive brunch: french toast is one of the easiest breakfast entrees (easier than pancakes or waffles!) and this simple ingredient swap makes it even more impressive for a brunch party or for just serving at home on a slow Sunday morning.
🗒 Ingredients
You don't need much to make this buttermilk french toast... Most of the ingredients you likely already have in your pantry and fridge.
Here's what you need (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- Brioche bread: you can swap with challah or another thick bread
- Buttermilk
- Large eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Butter: for griddle
- Maple syrup, berries, confectioners' sugar, butter, etc.: for topping french toast
🍞 Recipe tips
- Adding granulated sugar into your buttermilk custard mixture will help your french toast turn golden brown when you put it on the griddle/skillet.
- I add ground cinnamon and vanilla extract to my custard, but you can use any spices or extracts you want. Try nutmeg or even pumpkin pie spice!
- I always choose brioche for bread if I can find it, but challah is a really good second choice. You can even use regular sliced bread; just be sure not to soak it for too long in the custard.
- Day old bread or bread that's getting close to stale territory is best. If your bread is super fresh, you can dry it out a little in the oven (5-7 min per side at about 275 degrees).
- Be sure to saturate bread slices in the custard mixture, but not to the point it tears or is over-soaked.
- Let excess custard mixture drip off bread slices before putting on griddle.
- Cook french toast over medium heat (I highly recommend a griddle for lots of room) and be sure to brush griddle or skillet with butter or neutral cooking oil to prevent burning.
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- Let the first side fully color to golden before flipping once.
- When cooking in batches, you can keep cooked slices in the oven (on a rack at about 200 degrees) to keep it warm and crisp.
- Top buttermilk french toast in any way you want. I love using lots of berries, a little burrer, and a heaping drizzle of maple syrup!
And get ready to enjoy the most tender, custardy french toast with lightly crisp, caramelized edges and a subtle buttermilk tang.
You'll never want to make french toast with regular milk again!
🎉 Variations on recipe
One of the reasons I love this buttermilk french toast so much is for its simplicity. But if you're looking for something more outside the box, here are som variations you can try:
- Brûléed: after the first side of the french toast is cooked, sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar on top and flip to caramelize.
- Browned butter: brown the butter in the pan or griddle before cooking the french toast.
- Bananas foster: top french toast with sliced bananas caramelized in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add in a splash of rum for true bananas foster flavor.
- Lemon: add a little lemon juice and zest into the custard. Top french toast with a scoop of ricotta.
- Tiramisu: add espresso powder into the custard mixture and top french toast with mascarpone and a little cocoa powder.
- Egg sandwich: use the buttermilk french toast as the sandwich bread for a french toast egg sandwich.
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwich: or use it for the bread for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
There's an endless amount of twists you can make on this easy brunch recipe.
☀️ More french toast recipes
We all need more french toast in our lives and here are some fabulous recipes to get you started... You can swap the milk in any of these recipes for buttermilk, of course:
French toast always makes the perfect weekend brunch food, but it's easy enough to make on a weekday morning, too.
Next time you make french toast, make it with buttermilk and let me know what you think!
📖 Recipe
Buttermilk French Toast
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Ingredients
- 8 slices brioche bread (can also use challah or other thick bread)
- 1 cup buttermilk*
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch salt
- Butter or cooking spray for cooking
- Maple syrup, berries, confectioners' sugar, butter, etc. for topping
Instructions
- Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, in a wide, deep bowl until well combined.
- Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat and brush with butter or cooking spray.
- Working in batches, dip slices of bread into egg/milk mixture until well saturated and shake off excess liquid before placing on heated griddle.
- Cook each slice for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve french toast hot with maple syrup, butter, confectioners' sugar, berries, and/or your favorite toppings.
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