Almond Poppy Seed French Toast at Home

Almond Poppy Seed French Toast is simple, stunning and savory! In this method, thick slices of bread are dipped in an almond poppy seed egg mixture and griddled until golden with buttery crisp edges. Serve with salted butter, maple syrup and toasted sliced almonds. Yields approximately 6 (3-piece) servings.

French toast is the only dish you can rationalized eating 4 slices of bread.

And I’m here for it! In this French toast recipe, eggs are beaten with milk, sugar, poppy seeds and both vanilla and almond extract for a simple yet savory custard. Quickly dip the bread into the custard and cook on a hot buttered griddle until golden brown and the edges crispy.

Over the years I’ve conclude that the go-to bread for French toast (that I’ve tried for far) is either brioche, challah, Texas toast and croissant bread (if you can find it) all of which are sturdier and are usually sliced thicker than sandwich bread. In this dish I like using croissant bread, but any of the ones I mentioned previously will do. However, keep in mind some bread may be larger loaves and/or sliced thicker and may soak up more custard. For me croissant bread yields 18 slices of french toast, but the final amount will depend on the bread you use.

I like to serve these almond poppy seed french toast with salted butter, reap maple syrup, powdered sugar and toasted sliced almonds. And alongside, a few maple sausage links and fresh blueberries.

To Make Almond Poppy Seed French Toast Gather:

• eggs – Adds richness and flavor to the custard.
• granulated sugar (white) – Adds a touch of sweetness and aids in crisping the French toast.
• poppy seeds – Adds a pop of color, subtle flavor and texture.
• almond extract – Lends strong, sweet and slightly fruity flavor.
• pure vanilla extract – Adds distinct flavor and enhances the other flavors in the dish.
• milk – Use whatever you have on hand (cow’s milk, soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk or cashew milk). Any of these will work.
• thick sliced bread – I like using croissant bread, Texas toast, brioche or challah. Preferably slightly stale or “day old”.
• butter – Used when griddling, helps to create crispy edges.

for serving:

• salted butter
• pure maple syrup
• powdered sugar
• toasted sliced almonds

Make the Custard:

Place a wire rack into a large rimmed baking sheet and set off to the side but still nearby.

In a large shallow dish, add 3 large eggs, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of both almond extract and vanilla extract.

Whisk well to combine.

Lastly pour in 1 cup milk.

Again, whisk well to combine.

Before every slice of bread, give the egg mixture a whisk before dipping the bread on both sides. This helps disperse the poppy seeds throughout the custard because they do like to sink.

Dip each side of the brad and allow the excess liquids to drip off back into the bowl. Place the dipped bread onto the wire rack and repeat with the remaining slices of bread – make sure you whisk the custard before dipping each slice.

Place the dipped bread onto a wire rack (set into a rimmed baking sheet) and repeat with the remaining slices of bread.

Preheat your griddle to 325°F.

Once preheated, melt a tablespoon of butter over the skillet and work in batches cooking the French toast for 3 to 4 minutes.

Carefully flip and continue to cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Once the first batch has been griddled, serve immediately or transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in a low oven. Repeat with buttering the griddle and cooking the remaining slices of bread.

This may take up to 3 batches or more depending on the size of your griddle

Note: I always have to adjust the heat on my griddle as needed to avoid burning.

Serve spread with butter and drizzle with maple syrup.

I like to sprinkle mine with powdered sugar and serve with toasted sliced almonds.

Not only stunning, but flavor-packed too!

The almond is subtle, but you of course can add a little more extract in the custard for a more pronounced almond-esque flavor.

What To Serve With Almond Poppy Seed French Toast:

• pork (regular), chicken or turkey bacon
• veggie, regular or maple sausage links or patties
• fresh fruit and/or berries
• orange juice, coffee or tea
• for brunch, serve with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, yogurt and hash browns.

How Long Will French Toast Last In The Fridge:

Got leftover French toast? Save it and enjoy it later in the week! Store the French toast in an air-tight container or resealable bag/stasher bag (to avoid drying out or absorbing fridge odors) and refrigerate for up to 3 to 5 days!

Can French Toast Be Frozen?

Completely! Flash freeze the French toast first on a rimmed baking sheet for 30 minutes, portion serving amounts into resealable baggies (or stasher bags) and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Enjoy! And if you give this Almond Poppy Seed French Toast recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!