This easy English muffins French toast is sure to become a part of your breakfast routine. English muffins are dipped in a sweet custard and then fried until crisp and golden brown. A fabulous twist on traditional French toast that will have you coming back for more.
What is English muffins French toast?
English muffins French toast is your classic French toast recipe consisting of bread soaked in an egg custard mixture and fried until crisp. Except for regular bread or toast, English muffins are used.
Whether they are condensed milk French toast, hamburger bun French toast, or this scrumptious hot dog bun French toast, my family enjoys them all. And not just on the weekends, we eat it all the time.
English muffins aren’t my favorite bread as they can be a bit bland on the flavor front. But turning them into French toast is the answer! Soaking English muffins in a vanilla-infused custard and roasting them in butter adds so much flavor and texture.
Served with syrup, berries, and whipped cream, English muffins French toast is incredibly good for breakfast and brunch. You can even make the recipe in advance to free up more time on weekday mornings or holidays.
Why you’ll love English muffins French toast
- Uplevel English muffins: Turning English muffins into tasty French toast is a game-changer. Crips outside and custardy inside, it turns stale buns into a tender, soft delight.
- Simple cupboard ingredients: All the ingredients to make French toast with English muffins are basic pantry/refrigerator staples, making this an excellent recipe for every day.
- Great meal prep: This French toast recipe keeps well and is great to have on hand for a quick breakfast or snack. Warm in the microwave for a couple of seconds and enjoy with your favorite condiment.
- Customizable: Make this English muffins French toast your own and add whatever topping you desire. Try maple syrup, caramel sauce, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and jam.
Ingredients
Lucky for you, English muffins French toast is simple and easy, and the ingredients list is too! Consult the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact ingredient measurements.
- English muffins: The recipe calls for 4 English muffins. The great thing about this recipe is that you can make it with fresh AND stale English muffins. Usually, stale, day-old bread is recommended for French toast, but English muffins are chewier and firmer, and even fresh English muffins will hold up well.
- Eggs are the base of the custard and create a crisp crust when fried. Set the eggs out on the counter half an hour before starting so they warm to room temperature and mix better.
- Milk: Together with eggs, milk creates a creamy coating over the English muffins. You can use any kind of milk you like, dairy, non-dairy, whole, skim, or non-fat.
- Sugar: You’ll only need 1 tablespoon of sugar for added sweetness. Granulated (white) sugar and brown sugar will both work.
- Vanilla takes this easy French toast up a notch and adds so much aroma. For the best results, use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Cinnamon: A bit of ground cinnamon adds warmth and the perfect comforting flavor.
- Butter is needed to grease up the pan or skillet where we’ll be frying our English muffins French toast.
How to make English muffins French toast
Wondering how to make English muffins French toast? Follow these instructions exactly, and before you know it, you will have the best French toast ready and waiting for you to dig in. Enjoy!
#1: Mix custard
- To a medium bowl, add the eggs and whisk until yolks and whites are well combined. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon.
- Tip: Be sure to beat the eggs before adding the milk. This way ensures that the eggs will mix properly with the other ingredients.
#2: Soak English muffins
- Pour the custard mixture into a shallow, rimmed baking pan.
- Cut each English muffin in half and place into the custard mixture with the cut side down.
- Let soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Flip the buns around and soak 5 minutes more.
#3: Fry
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a large non-stick frying pan, skillet, or griddle and melt over medium heat.
- When melted, cook the 2 to 3 muffins, cut side down, for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.
- Then turn around and fry the other side for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining English muffins.
- Tip: Don’t crowd the pan and only roast 2 to 3 muffins at a time. You can keep cooked French toast warm in a 200°F / 100°C / gas mark 1/4 oven while cooking the remaining English muffins.
#4: Serve
- Serve warm and pass with powdered sugar, syrup, whipped cream, fresh berries, and fruit if desired.
Tips for success
There’s nothing worse than burnt or soggy French toast. Read through my tips, and your English muffins French toast will turn out just right with crisp edges and a fluffy center!
- Room temperature ingredients: It’s important to use room temp ingredients so the custard combines properly. Warm eggs and milk mix easier and won’t become lumpy.
- Soak the buns for at least 20 minutes. Let the English muffin halves lay in the egg mixture with the cut side down and soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Flip and do the same on the other side for 5 minutes.
- Medium heat: To avoid burnt French toast, use medium heat at all times. The English muffins will take a little longer to cook, but you are rewarded with a perfectly golden-brown crust.
- Continue to add butter to your pan while roasting your French toast. This helps the rolls from sticking and burning to the pan.
Troubleshooting
I have a few more tips to help you troubleshoot common French toast mistakes:
- Burnt French toast with undercooked inside indicates that the temperature was probably too high. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low.
- Soggy French toast: Sogginess will not be an issue with English muffins since they are relatively firm and chewy.
- Dry French toast: Try soaking your English muffins a little longer to have them absorb all the custard and cook over medium heat.
- Eggs on the outside of the English muffins mean the custard wasn’t properly combined. Be sure to break the eggs first and then mix until smooth and even looking. This step will take a few minutes.
Topping ideas
The sky is the limit when it comes to French toast toppings! Every piece of this English muffins French toast deserves a mound of toppings. I have some ideas for you to try:
- Sugar: powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
- Syrup: honey, maple syrup, buttermilk syrup, or fruit syrup.
- Sauce: vanilla sauce, caramel, Nutella, peanut butter, or cookie butter.
- Chocolate: melted chocolate, chocolate sauce, or chocolate chips.
- Nuts: chopped pecans, walnuts, almond slices, shredded coconut, or pistachios.
- Fruit: fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherry or bananas.
- Jam & compote: strawberry jam, raspberry preserve, orange marmalade, blueberry sauce, or cherry pie filling.
- Other toppings: butter and flavored compound butter, whipped cream, ice cream, or sprinkles.
Serving suggestions
Complete your French toast breakfast or brunch with some other breakfast favorites to make it a well-rounded meal. Scrambled eggs, baked eggs, crisp bacon, potatoes hash, hash browns, and fruit salad are perfect companions to serve alongside French toast.
Storage instructions
Can you make French toast English muffins ahead of time?
Absolutely – because who doesn’t love warm French toast early in the morning? To prepare ahead for busy mornings, place the cooked, cooled French toast in plastic bags or wrap in foil to warm them up quickly. They will last for about 5 days in the fridge, or 1 month to 2 months in the freezer.
Can you soak English muffins overnight?
Yes! Soaking English muffins is a great way to save time on busy mornings. Unlike most bread or hamburger buns, English muffins hold up well when soaked overnight and won’t fall apart.
Pour the egg custard onto a rimmed baking sheet and arrange the English muffins with the cut side down in the custard. Cover with plastic wrap (cling film) or foil and refrigerate until it’s time to cook.
How to store English muffins French toast
If you have leftovers, make sure to store them in an airtight container in your fridge! French toast English muffins are best eaten within 5 days of making.
Can you freeze English muffins toast?
Yes! First, cook your English muffin French toast, then let cool completely. Next, place the bread pieces in a freezer bag, pressing out most of the air. Freeze for up to 1 to 2 months.
When you’re ready to eat, you don’t need to thaw. Just simply warm the English muffins in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds or reheat them in a pan or skillet.
More delicious breakfast recipes
If you’re a breakfast lover, then you know that no matter how many recipes you have, it’s never enough. Here of our other favorites that you must keep on hand. They are all the best go-to breakfast recipes!
- Condensed Milk French Toast
- Hamburger Bun French Toast
- Fluffy Condensed Milk Pancakes
- Bread Pudding with Condensed Milk
- Vanilla Muffins
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Bagel Spread
- Mini Pancake Cereal
English Muffins French Toast Recipe
This easy English muffins French toast is sure to become a part of your breakfast routine. English muffins are dipped in a sweet custard and then fried until crisp and golden brown. A fabulous twist on traditional French toast that will have you coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 4 English muffins
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup / 240 ml / 8 fl oz milk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix custard. To a medium bowl, add the eggs and whisk until yolks and whites are well combined. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon.
Tip: Be sure to beat the eggs before adding the milk. This way ensures that the eggs will mix properly with the other ingredients. - Soak English muffins. Pour the custard mixture into a shallow, rimmed baking pan. Cut each English muffin in half and place into the custard mixture with the cut side down. Let soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Flip the buns around and soak 5 minutes more.
- Fry. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a large non-stick frying pan, skillet, or griddle and melt over medium heat. When melted, cook the 2 to 3 muffins, cut side down, for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Then turn around and fry the other side for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining English muffins.
Tip: Don’t crowd the pan and only roast 2 to 3 muffins at a time. You can keep cooked French toast warm in a 200°F / 100°C / gas mark 1/4 oven while cooking the remaining English muffins. - Serve. Serve warm and pass with powdered sugar, syrup, whipped cream, fresh berries, and fruit if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 397mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 2gSugar: 10gProtein: 10g
FAQ’s
What are English muffins anyway?
English muffins are small, round yeast-leavened bread rolls. In North America, they are called English muffins to distinguish them from sweet muffins. In Britain, they are simply referred to as muffins.
What are the best English muffins for French toast?
English muffins come in a wide range of varieties, including plain, cranberry, raisin, whole wheat, pumpkin spice, honey wheat, and many more. Any type of English muffin will work for French toast. Plain, whole wheat, and dried fruit English muffins are best.
I don’t recommend savory English muffins. Sourdough English muffins will work, but the texture is a bit tougher and chewier than regular ones.
Can I make this recipe with crumpets?
Yes, you can make French toast with crumpets, too. Expect the taste and texture to be a little different since crumpets have a spongier texture compared to English muffins. Crumpets are popular in Ireland, England, and Scotland, and different types of crumpets exist.
English muffin French toast casserole
You can certainly make one if you’d rather have an English muffin French toast casserole! It features all the characteristics of French toast with a deliciously gooey texture and crispy bits. The casserole can be prepared the day before and baked on the day of. Follow these easy steps, the ingredient measurements remain the same:
- Grease a casserole dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut your English muffins into bite-sized cubes and place them into the greased baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon.
- Pour the egg mixture over the cubed muffins and mix with a spatula. Spread out into an even layer.
- Let soak for 20 minutes or covered in the refrigerator overnight.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until cooked through and the top has browned. Serve warm.