Best Bread for French Toast (The Definitive Guide)

Have you ever worried about choosing the best bread for French toast? In a world where the bread options are endless, we’re here to help you break it down. 

When it comes to breakfast recipes, few foods make people smile like French toast. With its sweet, custardy inside and crispy exterior, it’s no wonder this dish has been a breakfast staple for centuries.

Now if you want to try a more decadent French toast give this Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast a try. And, if you or your friends are on a vegan diet try our Eggless French Toast.

You may have heard that you can use stale bread for French toast. This is absolutely true. In fact in medieval Europe it was sometimes called “poor knight’s pudding” or “lost bread” as it was seen as a good use of stale bread.

The name French Toast likely came from America. It is believed that a New York innkeeper named Joseph French served it in the early 1700s. His name was attached to the wonderful “discovery” and it just stuck.

Best Breads for French Toast

1. Brioche French Toast
2. Challah French Toast
3. Cinnamon Raisin Bread French Toast
4. Croissant French Toast
5. French Bread French Toast
6. Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast
7. Milk Bread French Toast
8. Sourdough French Toast
9. White Bread French Toast
10. Banana Bread French Toast

But what’s the best bread for French toast? While many types of bread can be used, some are better suited for this dish than others. Today we’ll explore some of the best breads to use for French toast to suit any taste. 

Brioche French Toast

Brioche is a rich, buttery bread that is perfect for French toast. Its high egg and butter content give it a slightly sweet flavor. When soaked in a custard mixture brioche absorbs the liquid beautifully, resulting in a creamy, decadent French toast. Here at Live Eat Learn this is our favorite bread for all these reasons!

Challah French Toast

Challah is a traditional Jewish bread that is often used for French toast. Like brioche, challah is enriched with eggs and butter giving it a soft, slightly sweet texture. Challah is perfect for absorbing custard, resulting in a light and fluffy French toast. 

Cinnamon Raisin Bread French Toast

For a twist on traditional French toast, try using cinnamon raisin bread. Its sweet, spicy flavor is perfect for a decadent breakfast, and the raisins add a wonderful chewy texture. We recommend using a custard mixture that complements the bread’s sweetness, such as one with vanilla extract and nutmeg. When soaked in a custard mixture, cinnamon raisin bread absorbs the liquid and creates a sweet breakfast treat.

Croissant French Toast

While croissants do not lend themselves to the traditional square French toast shape, their buttery taste and texture make them a great choice.

French Bread French Toast

French bread is a classic choice for French toast (as its name implies). Baguettes have a firm crust and a soft airy interior that absorbs custard well. French baguettes are not as rich as brioche or challah, but they have a subtle flavor that compliments sweet toppings like maple syrup and berries.

Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast

Hawaiian sweet bread is made with sugar, eggs, and milk which gives it a sweet rich flavor. Its buttery and slightly chewy texture make it an excellent choice for French toast. When cooked, Hawaiian sweet bread develops a crispy crust and a soft custardy interior, which makes it a perfect base for various toppings like berries, tropical fruits, maple syrup, powdered sugar, or whipped cream. For the best super sweet French Toast, this is our go-to bread.

Milk Bread French Toast

Milk bread is very similar to white bread, but tends to be more flavorful and generally comes unsliced. This allows you to make really thick French toast with a bread that absorbs custard well. Milk bread is made without water as the only liquid is milk. We assert that it makes a French toast similar to that made with brioche bread.   

Sourdough French Toast

Sourdough is the ideal bread for those who prefer a more savory French toast. Its tangy flavor pairs well with savory toppings like bacon, cheese, or avocado. Sourdough also has a sturdy texture which makes it ideal for soaking up custard without becoming too soggy.

White Bread French Toast

White bread doesn’t really bring much to the table in making French toast except that it is inexpensive and readily available in most people’s pantries. If you like white bread for your French toast, we recommend using the really thick Texas Toast to make a thick hearty breakfast.

Banana Bread French Toast

We put this one out of alphabetical order as it seems a stretch to most people so we didn’t want it right up front, but it really works.  We experimented with our Vegan Banana Bread Recipe and found it a great base for our simple French toast recipe. We know this begs the statement “But French Toast isn’t Vegan” Fair point, but eggless banana bread isn’t as dense as other banana breads, and it soaks up the egg custard dip nicely.  Coat it in maple syrup with a bit of cinnamon and powdered sugar.  Oh, ya! This is a good option for dessert, not just breakfast.

So which bread is best for French Toast? Brioche. Well, that is our vote, but we respect dissenting opinions.