French toast is a breakfast favorite, and cooking it on a griddle is the best way to make it. Whether you’re cooking French toast on a Blackstone gas griddle or cooking French toast on an indoor electric griddle in your kitchen, there’s a lot to be aware of, so yours comes out its very best.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about making incredible French toast on a griddle. Also, we’ve included a delicious griddle French toast recipe at the bottom of this article, so don’t forget to check that out. Let’s take a closer look at how to cook your best French toast yet.
Making Griddle French Toast
Cooking French toast on a griddle is pretty easy, but there are a few things to be aware of, so it comes out perfectly. When making French toast, there are things to consider, from the type of bread you use to the temperature you cook it at. Keep reading, and we’ll make sure you have all the knowledge you’ll need to cook incredible French toast on your griddle.
Tips for Making Perfect French Toast
- Use thicker cut bread, about ⅔ to ¾-inch thick. Thicker bread supports the egg custard better and results in a fluffier French toast.
- Lightly toast the bread on your griddle before dipping it in the egg custard to help avoid soggy French toast.
- Don’t let the bread soak in the egg mixture for more than 10 seconds per side, as this can cause the French toast to become soggy or fall apart.
- Make sure you have all the ingredients and tools you need ready before getting started.
What Type of Bread to Use
There are so many bread options available, so you may be asking yourself what type of bread is best for making French toast.
Ideally, you want the bread to be firm to hold together well after being soaked in the egg custard. This can be accomplished by lightly toasting the bread, letting it dry out a bit, or using a firmer bread type.
There’s no right or wrong answer as you can make it with any type of bread, but here are some that we recommend. If possible, use a thicker cut of bread as mentioned in our tips section above.
Brioche
This is my go-to bread for making French toast on my griddle. The taste and texture of this type of bread really shine with this dish. Brioche has a rich taste because it’s made with eggs and sugar, which compliment the other French toast ingredients. If you can get your hands on a loaf of this and cut it into thick slices, it’ll help you make some amazing French toast.
White Bread
One of the most popular slices of bread to use for French toast is regular white bread. It has a neutral flavor and a great canvas for the seasonings like cinnamon and nutmeg in the egg custard. This is a great option but as we’ve mentioned, try to find a thicker cut of white bread or an unsliced loaf you can cut into thicker slices yourself.
Honorable Mentions
- Challah
- French Bread
- Cinnamon Raisin
- Sourdough
Griddle Temperature for French Toast
One of the most important parts of cooking French toast on a griddle is using the correct griddle temperature. The ideal French toast griddle temperature is approximately 325 degrees.
If you cook at higher temperatures, you’re more likely to overcook the outside, and it could have a burnt taste to it. It’s better to cook at a lower heat than a higher one, so keep the temperature low if unsure.
The best way to know the griddle’s temperature is by using an infrared thermometer. If you don’t have one, I definitely recommend picking one up as this is useful for virtually anything you cook on the griddle. If you don’t have one, set the burners to medium-low heat.
What Oil to Use
When cooking French toast on your griddle, you’ll want to apply a thin layer of oil to the cooktop to help it cook, and so it doesn’t stick. If you are a traditionalist, use regular butter but do not heat the griddle too hot as the butter has a smoke point between 300 to 350 degrees.
If you’re looking for a neutral oil with a higher smoke point, try avocado oil. You won’t have to worry about exceeding the smoke point, and it will prevent the French toast from sticking and won’t impart any unwanted flavor to the dish.
You can choose other cooking oils and only use a thin layer, and reapply as needed if doing multiple batches.
How to Cook French Toast on a Griddle
If you want to cook delicious, golden brown, light, and fluffy French toast, then follow the steps below, and you’ll be serving perfect restaurant-quality French toast every time.
Griddle French Toast Recipe
Here’s a delicious French toast recipe make on your griddle. We’ve also provided a long list of various toppings you can put on your finished French toast!
Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 slices of thick-cut bread
- Butter or cooking oil
Step 1:
Make sure your griddle has been properly cleaned. Preheat your griddle on low heat. You don’t want to crank the heat right away but rather bring it up to temperature slowly.
Step 2:
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Once the egg custard is properly blended, pour it into a large shallow bowl like a glass baking dish.
Soak each slice of bread for 5 to 10 seconds on each side. Use a spatula to flip them carefully so they don’t fall apart.
You can transfer the custard-soaked bread to a plate or place them directly onto the preheated cooktop. Be sure to whisk the egg custard as needed to ensure it stays well blended during the coating process.
Step 3:
Apply a thin layer of butter or your cooking oil of choice to the griddle surface. Place the custard-soaked pieces carefully onto the preheated cooktop.
Allow the custard-soaked bread to cook undisturbed for approximately 3 minutes or until golden brown. Using a spatula, flip each piece over to cook the other side.
Allow the French toast to cook for an additional 3 minutes or until golden brown. Once both sides have been cooked sufficiently, remove them from the griddle.
Step 4:
Serve the French toast immediately with your desired toppings.
Reminder:
Don’t forget to clean your flat top grill after each use. You can wait until after eating so you can enjoy the French toast while it’s nice and warm, but don’t forget to come back and wrap things up, so your griddle is protected and ready for the next cook.
- Butter
- Maple syrup
- Mixed berries
- Banana slices
- Jam
- Honey
- Nutella
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
- Chocolate sauce
- Nuts
Extra Griddle French Toast Tips
- Take the butter out of the fridge ahead of time, so it has time to warm up and soften.
- Serve the maple syrup warm.
- Use cream or half & half instead of milk for an even richer French toast.
- To save extra French toast pieces, wait till they are fully cooled and then store them in the freezer using a plastic freezer bag and a piece of wax or parchment paper between each piece.
Final Thoughts
Griddles are the perfect tool to cook French toast on. Its large surface area allows you to cook up large batches, and the cooking surface provides the perfect texture.
Be sure to take advantage of the information and tips provided here, and your next batch of French toast will be your best one yet.
If you’re looking to cook more delicious breakfast foods on your griddle, be sure to see Griddle Sizzle’s articles on how to cook eggs, bacon, and pancakes too!