Easy Sheet Pan Sourdough French Toast

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Looking for a quick and easy brunch recipe? This Sheet Pan Sourdough French Toast recipe is one of my favorite go to weekend breakfasts. It is so easy to make and can be ready in less than 30 minutes!

This recipe features thick slices of sourdough bread that is soaked in a custardy egg mixture and baked to a perfect golden brown. Then it gets topped with homemade cream cheese whipped cream and a homemade raspberry syrup.

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover sourdough bread or bread that may have gone stale. I promise this easy breakfast recipe will quickly become a family favorite!

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

This French toast recipe is super easy to make and can be ready in less than 30 minutes!
Everything is done on one sheet pan, making clean up a breeze!
You can make breakfast for your entire family in a single batch. No need to cook each slice of French toast separately.

BEST TYPE OF BREAD FOR FRENCH TOAST

Based on my experience, there are only three types of bread that are suitable for making crispy French toast: Challah bread, Texas toast, and of course sourdough bread.

Lets see why each bread is perfect for French Toast.

Challah bread. This bread has a soft fluffy crumb that is slightly sweet and spongy. Due to the sponginess of Challah bread, it is able to absorb a ton of the cinnamon and nutmeg flavored egg mixture, making it perfect for French toast.
Teaxs toast. Similar to Challah bread, Texas toast features a soft and spongy crumb for maximum soakage of the tasty egg mixture. It is also a very sturdy bread and even when fully soaked, it does not fall apart.
Sourdough bread. This bread is unique in the way that it is baked. It is baked in a Dutch oven which allows you to trap in moisture while the bread bakes. This allows for a fluffy crumb that is full of air pockets. These air pockets are perfect for holding the egg mixture that the bread is soaked in.

KEY INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

SOURDOUGH BREAD. Obviously this is the star of the show. You can use homemade sourdough bread (which I prefer) or if you are short on time, you can go to your local grocery store and pick up a loaf of fresh sourdough bread. You can also use other types of bread like Challah bread or Texas toast.
WHOLE MILK. This is added to your egg mixture to help thin it out so that your bread does not get too soggy. If you are lactose intolerant or do not use whole milk, you can use almond milk or oat milk. You can easily substitute it at a 1:1 ratio.
EGGS. This forms the base of your egg mixture. If you are allergic to eggs, you can try an egg alternative product. When substituting, make sure to use the ratio of liquid eggs to whole eggs that they recommend.
CINNAMON AND NUTMEG. These spices form the base flavor profile for your crispy French toast.
VANILLA EXTRACT. This helps cut through the cinnamon and nutmeg flavor which can easily take over a dish. Vanilla extract offers a distinct but mellow flavor that helps balance this sourdough French toast.
CREAM CHEESE. This is the base for the cream cheese whipped cream that will be used to top the French toast. It provides a delicious tang that balances the sweetness of the French toast.
HEAVY CREAM. This is for the homemade cream cheese whipped cream.
RASPBERRIES. This is a key ingredient in the homemade raspberry syrup. You can use any type of syrup you want, like maple syrup, but I love the tartness of raspberry syrup.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Sourdough French Toast

Cut both loaves of bread into about 1 inch thick slices, discarding the ends. You should get about 7 slices per loaf (14 slices total). Set aside.
In a large bowl combine your eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Whisk until combined.
Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
Dunk each slice of bread into your egg mixture and then lightly squeeze out the excess liquid (without crushing the bread too much). Transfer bread to your sheet pan. Repeat this for each slice of bread. NOTE: the cinnamon tends to rise to the top of the egg mixture so in between each dunk, whisk your mixture again so that you do not have one slice soaking up all of the cinnamon.
Once all of your toast is soaked and on your sheet pan, pour any left over egg mixture over your bread. Let your toast rest in the fridge for about 1 hour to overnight (allowing the bread to really soak). If you are really in a rush, you can skip this step.
Bake your toast at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Take out and let cool for about 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Raspberry Syrup

In a medium bowl add your fresh raspberries, sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir until combined. Using the back of your fork mash about ¼ of your berries leaving the rest whole. Stir until evenly combined. Let mixture sit until ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add your whipped cream. Whip on high until stiff peeks are formed. Set aside.
In the bowl of your stand mixer add your cream cheese, honey and vanilla. Beat on high until soft and airy.
Add your whipped cream back into your bowl and fold your whipped cream into your cream cheese.
Dollop your cream cheese whipped cream on top of your French toast, then serve it with a little of your raspberry syrup/ fresh berries.

EXPERT TIPS

Instead of standing over a hot stove making one piece of French toast at a time, bake your French toast on a sheet pan and they are all done at the same time!
Let your French toast chill in the fridge after soaking but before baking! This allows the bread to really absorb all the cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla flavor.
The key to the best French toast is using super fresh sourdough bread! It's worth a stop at the bakery for this one!
When stacking your toast on the sheet pan, instead of laying them flat , I like to sit them up and crisscross them. That way the toast gets a crispy and even bake all around!

FAQS

What to serve with French toast?

Anything you want! You can serve French toast with breakfast sausage or bacon for a sweet and salty flavor combination. Or you can serve it with fresh fruit! I love using fresh berries or bananas but any fruit works! You can top this recipe with some caramelized bananas and maple syrup for a delicious banana French toast!

What type of dish works best for this recipe?

I've tried making this recipe using different types of dishes like a large baking dish, casserole dish, or cast-iron skillet but the results are best with a simple sheet pan. The sheet pan is shallow enough so that the heat fully circulates around the French toast allowing for golden brown and crispy French toast every time!

Can I use oat milk or almond milk to make French toast?

Absolutely! You can use oat milk or almond milk for delicious French toast. When substituting, use a 1:1 ratio!

How to reheat leftover French toast?

Nobody likes soggy French toast so the best way to reheat French toast is either in an oven or an air fryer. You can place leftover French toast on a baking sheet and reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Or you can place a few slices in the air fryer and reheat it at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

Can I make French toast with whole wheat bread?

Based on my personal experience, my answer would be no. Whole wheat bread is too thin and does not have a spongy enough crumb to soak up the egg mixture.

STORAGE AND FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS

This Sheet Pan Sourdough French Toast should be stored in the fridge (soaking) for up to 3 days. You should then bake your desired amount of toast right before serving. The toast reheated wont be ideal.

Lastly, if you try out this Sheet Pan Sourdough French Toast, be sure to leave a comment/rating on how it turned out. I love hearing from you guys and will try my best to reply to every comment! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!

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