This post first appeared on Sift & Simmer in April 2018. Updated Feb 2021.
Amongst breakfast perennial favourites pancakes and waffles, I think French toast often gets overlooked.
I mean, pancakes are great, and waffles are one of my kids’ favourites.
But I love French toast.
WHAT IS FRENCH TOAST?
French toast is sliced bread dipped in a custard mixture of beaten eggs and milk.
It can be sweet or savoury.
Sweetened versions of French toast have flavours such as cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar added to the eggs and milk.
The slices of egg-coated bread are then pan-fried in a little butter or oil.
MY MATCHA SPIN ON FRENCH TOAST
I’ve taken my childhood weekend breakfast favourite and added earthy matcha to the batter, giving the French toast a more grown-up flavour.
Matcha French Toast.
Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?
INGREDIENTS IN MATCHA FRENCH TOAST
You’ll need:
- sliced bread: day-old bread; thick sliced/Texas-style. Using day-old bread helps to ensure that bread won’t absorb too much liquid and become soggy. But it’s OK to use fresh bread. Just be careful not to soak the bread too long in the egg mixture.
- butter: or you can use a neutral oil, but butter adds more flavour
- beaten egg: is the base of the custard mixture for the bread
- milk: you can use whole milk, or any dairy-free alternative
- granulated sugar: adds a little sweetness to the egg mixture; you can use any sweetener you like
- vanilla extract: use a pure vanilla extract for the best taste
- matcha: sifted, use a high quality matcha powder for the best flavour and colour retention
- powdered/icing sugar: optional, for sprinkling over top of the French toast
HOW TO MAKE MATCHA FRENCH TOAST
In a bowl, whisk together egg, oil milk, sugar, vanilla, and sifted matcha.
Dip the bread into the egg-custard mixture, ensuring it soaks up the mixture, but doesn’t get too soggy.
Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat.
Add 1 tsp of butter to the pan and swirl it around.
Place the custard-soaked bread into the pan, cover with a lid and cook for 4-5 minutes over low heat.
Flip the bread and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Serve the Matcha French Toast immediately.
HOW TO SERVE MATCHA FRENCH TOAST
My favourite way to serve Matcha French Toast is with some powdered sugar, maple syrup, a pat of butter and some fresh berries.
If you want, you can dust additional matcha powder on top.
CAN YOU FREEZE FRENCH TOAST?
For a quick breakfast, you can freeze the Matcha French Toast.
Wrap the cooled French toast in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place into a freezer-safe bag.
Store the French toast for up to 2 months.
HOW TO REHEAT THE FRENCH TOAST
Microwave the French toast for about 30 seconds, or until warmed through.
Alternatively, you can heat the slices of French toast in a toaster oven.
TIPS & TROUBLESHOOTING
CAN I DOUBLE THE RECIPE?
Absolutely.
IS FRENCH TOAST VEGAN?
No, this Matcha French Toast is not vegan.
Eggs are part of the custard for the toast to soak in.
HOW TO PREVENT THE TOAST FROM BEING SOGGY
The best way to prevent soggy French toast is to use day-old bread.
Another way is to lightly toast fresh bread and be sure not to oversoak the bread.
Just dunk the bread long enough on both sides so that the custard has a chance to soak in.
MY TOAST TURNED BROWN RATHER THAN GREEN
The key to maintaining the green colour from the matcha is to cook the French toast on low heat.
Also, use a high-quality matcha powder to ensure that the vibrant green colour doesn’t dissipate.
You can also increase the amount of matcha powder if you prefer a more pronounced earthy flavour and colour.
OTHER MATCHA RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE
If you’re looking for more matcha breakfast ideas, try:
Mini Matcha & Hojicha Pancakes Cereal
Hotteok (Sweet Korean Pancakes)
Matcha Raspberry Cream Cheese Rolls
This is an easy recipe for Matcha French Toast that you can make for an elevated breakfast or brunch any day of the week.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it! Be sure to tag me @siftandsimmer on Instagram or leave a comment/rating below!
Matcha French Toast
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
Matcha French Toast:
- 2 thick-cut sliced bread day old is best
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 Tbsp melted butter or neutral vegetable oil
- ¼ C whole milk or non-dairy alternative
- 1 tsp granulated sugar or any sweetener that you like
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ Tbsp matcha sifted
- 1 tsp butter or oil for greasing the pan
To serve:
- powdered sugar optional
- maple syrup
- fresh berries
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, lightly whisk together the egg, melted butter (or oil), and milk. Add in sugar, vanilla extract and matcha. Whisk until everything is combined.
- If the mixture has a few lumps from the matcha powder, pour the mixture through a sieve.
- Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat. Lightly grease with 1 tsp butter (or oil).
- Dip one slice of bread into the egg mixture and flip. Press firmly on the bread to ensure it soaks up the mixture.
- Place the egg-soaked bread into the frying pan and cook over low heat for 4-5 minutes (depending on how thick your bread is). Cover with a lid. Remove the lid and flip the bread. Cover and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Repeat with the remaining slice of bread.
- Serve with powdered sugar/matcha dusted on top, and/or maple syrup and berries.
YES PLEASE. i tried mixing cocoa powder into my french toast batter once and it was so dang stubborn. i can see matcha being much more forgiving (; also thinking about how good this would be with a scoop of matcha ice cream on top :3
Ohhhhhhhh yes to ice cream!
I love French toasts, and there was a period when I was experiencing a lot. Unfortunately, I haven’t done it for a while, so thank you for such a beautiful (And delicious! And certainly creative too) reminder.
Always glad to help, Ben! π
Ah, we love French toast around here – and come to think of it, we haven’t made it in a while. We have some matcha in the pantry, so perhaps I should make this version – it sounds fantastic! (Perhaps I could convince Robbie we made it green for St. Patrick’s Day?? Hah!)
Yeah, I find that French toast is always so missed when it comes to “pancakes or waffles?” Def a great idea for St. Patrick’s Day! Robbie would love it π
Such a huge fan of french toast and love the matcha spin! So delicious!
Thanks Kim! French toast is my fave! π
What a fun — and flavorful!! — twist on classic French toast. Really inspired recipe — thanks.
Thanks John! π