We all know that the classic French toast was traditionally made to be sweet, but did you know it can also be savory? Throughout history, the dish has diverted into many ways of preparation to produce many varieties of French toast.
While the thought of a savory French toast is unique and enticing, let’s try to focus on the sweeter things in life. So, with that said, how and what are the different ways we can do to make French toast sweet?
It’s always fun to experiment with classic recipes, and if you’re just as curious as we are, you’re in for a treat. In this article, you’re going to learn the different ways how to make French toast sweet.
What Can I Do to Make My French Toast Sweet?
The classic French toast recipe calls for a simple preparation using everyday ingredients that are easily accessible. The popular dish has stood the test of time in proving to be a delicious and satisfying breakfast despite its simplicity.
At the base of all variations of French toast comes a basic set of ingredients prepared with little difficulty. Before we add some extra dose of sweetness or use different ways to sweeten the dish, you’ll need the following:
- Bread (preferably day-old or dry)
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Salt
- Milk
- Butter
While the core ingredients of a classic French toast recipe can still grant some sweetness to the dish, we have a few more tricks up our sleeves. Here are a few examples of what you can do and use to emphasize the sweetness of your French toast.
1 – Sugar Rush
When preparing your custard mixture, it’s a must to add a teaspoon of sugar or more, depending on how much French toast you’re making or how sweet you want it to be. With this alone, you can already control the sweetness of your French toast’s custard mixture.
It’s conventional to use granulated sugar in the custard mixture as it provides sweetness to the custard and combines easily with the mixture. To switch things up though, and add more depth to the French toast’s flavor, you can try the following sugars:
- Powdered or Confectioners’ Sugar: This sugar dissolves better than granulated sugar and will provide smoothness to your custard mixture.
- Brown Sugar:This sugar will add a caramel flavor to your custard mixture as it cooks.
Apart from using the alternative sugars in your custard mixture, you can also sprinkle them on your French toast upon serving. Use them to your discretion, however, as you might overpower the other flavors of your French toast if it’s too sweet.
2 – Use a Naturally Sweet Bread
If you want to add a natural source of sweetness to your French toast, you might want to consider your choice of bread. Just be careful not to choose bread that’s too soft and moist.
You might’ve gotten so used to making do with any available bread that’s stay or day-old, but it wouldn’t hurt to try different things. Below are examples of naturally sweet bread you can use to make French toast:
- Brioche
- Challah
- Portuguese sweet bread
- Raisin bread
The type of bread you choose can give a distinct flavor, texture, and sweetness to your French toast. Be sure to use dry and thick slices of whichever bread you choose for better absorption of your custard mixture.
3 – Cinnamon Works Well
Cinnamon is almost always a great addition to any sweet dish, and it exceptionally works well with French toast. Despite being classified as a spice, cinnamon gives a distinct flavor and sweetness when paired with sweet and sugary dishes.
You can add some cinnamon powder to your custard mixture to give your custard that sweet and aromatic cinnamon flavor. If you want a stronger cinnamon taste, you can also sprinkle a bit on top of your French toast upon serving.
4 – Drizzle Some Maple Syrup
A lot of common sweet breakfast dishes are no strangers to maple syrup. From pancakes to French toast, it’s always exciting to drizzle some maple syrup on top and let it soak in.
The conventional way of incorporating maple syrup into French toast is by adding it as a topping. Some use maple syrup to substitute sugar in the custard-making process too, so that may be worth a try.
If you want a natural sweetener for your French toast, then look no further. You can never go wrong with some maple syrup on top of a steaming pile of French toast first thing in the morning.
5 – Healthy Syrup Alternatives
Other than using maple syrup, there are a few healthier syrup alternatives you can use to make your French toast sweet with less guilt.
We understand the need to satisfy a sweet tooth, but if there’s a way to make French toast sweet, flavorful, and healthy at the same time, we’re all for it.
French toast is one of those dishes that are best enjoyed sweet, but food that is too sweet may cause some health problems. Luckily, these healthy syrup alternatives can work just as well for your French toast:
- Honey: One of the best sweetener alternatives. Honey is similar to maple syrup in texture but is way healthier in nutritional benefits.
- Molasses:A natural sweetener that doesn’t have any added sugars and has a lot of nutritional benefits.
- Coconut Nectar: A natural sweetener with a subtle caramel taste and rich in nutrients.
The next time you want to make your French toast extra sweet, try giving these healthy alternatives a go. Your blood sugar levels might just thank you in the future.
6 – Try Some Fresh Berries and Other Fruits
While we’re on the topic of healthy sweetener alternatives, how about adding some fresh berries and other fruits? Doesn’t a plate full of stacked French toast topped with different colorful fruits make you want to dive right in?
Fresh fruits contain natural sugars, and each fruit can give a different flavor and sweetness to your French toast. Try adding some slices of these fruits to your French toast for a more colorful, tastier, and healthier breakfast:
- Berries (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, etc.)
- Kiwi
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Melons
- Mangoes
- Apples
- Bananas
If you want to go the extra mile, you can caramelize fruits such as apples, bananas, and peaches before adding them to your French toast. Nothing better than a happy and healthy tummy to start the day!
7 – More Fruity With Fruit Jams
Do you want to add some extra fruitiness to your French toast? Fruit jams might be what you’re looking for.
Instead of using maple syrup or other sweeteners, you can try spreading a generous layer of fruit jam on top of your freshly cooked French toast. This will add a fruity sweetness and a thick, jelly-like texture to the dish.
Fruit jams can also be considered healthy sweetener alternatives for your French toast, as long as they’re all natural and don’t contain excessive sugar. Some of the best fruit jams to pair with your French toast include:
- Strawberry jam
- Blueberry jam
- Raspberry jam
- Grape jam
- Orange marmalade
Fruit jams are not only sweet and delicious but also have some health benefits that can be good for your diet. If you’re looking for a way to make your French toast sweet while keeping an eye on your diet, you might want to try this out.
8 – A Sweet, Creamy, and Milky Twist
While this may not be as healthy as our previous suggestions, a little treat once in a while wouldn’t hurt. If you want a sweet, creamy, and milky twist to your French toast, try drizzling some condensed milk.
As condensed milk is already sweet, you may want to use it as a replacement for maple syrup or other sweeteners for your French toast’s topping.
Try to use it in moderation, though, as condensed milk contains added sugar—and a French toast that’s too sweet spells bad news for your health and taste buds.
Final Thoughts
French toast is generally a sweet dish, but its sweetness depends on how much sugar or sweetener you add. The popularity of French toast across different countries gave birth to different variations and recipes.
The more curious and experimental we get, the more ways we discover how to make French toast sweet. Just look at the different ingredients and techniques we can use to improve such a simple dish.
While it’s good to spoil ourselves once in a while, we must remember that too much of something is never a good thing!
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.