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Caramel French Toast (VIDEO)

This Caramel French Toast recipe will spoil you forever. It is stunning, simple to make and tastes as good as it looks. The combination of homemade caramel sauce loaded with crisp bacon and topped with pecans is memorable.

We love breakfast treats that are special-occasion worthy and easily feed a crowd like Cinnamon Rolls, bakery-style Almond Croissants and of course Classic French Toast. Make this Caramel French Toast for your next brunch party and you will get recipe requests.

Slices of Caramel French Toast arranged on a platter and served with berries

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The Ultimate French Toast Recipe:

My sister Svetlana attended a brunch party where she tried and fell in love with a Caramel French Toast made by Nataliya Shevchuk so she re-made the recipe and shared it with me. This has a little less sugar than the original, but you won’t miss it. This French Toast is a slice of heaven on a plate. You’ve never had French Toast like this before.

All you need is a slice of French Toast and a big mug of coffee to make your day brighter.

Ingredients for making French Toast

The Best Bread for French Toast:

A thick-sliced bread that absorbs well without getting soggy is ideal for French Toast. Do not use bread that is too fresh or cotton-candy soft. Bread that is 1-3 days old works best and will absorb the egg mixture well. Our top bread choices for French Toast are:

  • Italian bread loaf (pictured here)- slice yourself to 3/4″ thick
  • Texas Toast – packaged thickly pre-sliced
  • Brioche – a sturdy bread that soaks well
  • Challah Bread – a lightly sweet bread
  • Easter Bread – similar to Challah

Bread loaves for French toast

How to Make French Toast:

The process for making French toast is quick and simple. The key is in getting the egg soak mixture right. This has the perfect balance of eggs to milk and is lightly sweet with a touch of cinnamon. The real secret is in adding a little bit of flour. It makes helps the French Toasts to cook up plump, fluffy and beautiful without getting soggy. To make French Toast:

  1. Whisk together all French toast ingredients in a bowl
  2. Dip toasts to generously coat, turning a couple of times
  3. Sautee 3-4 minutes per side in a buttered skillet

French toast sauteed and assembled on a plate served with berries

Homemade Bacon Caramel Sauce:

This caramel sauce is sweet, salty, savory and dangerous. Dangerously good that is! It is decadent without being overly sweet, being balanced by the bacon (is it possible for bacon to balance anything, really?).

Ingredients for homemade bacon caramel with brown sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, salt and bacon

This caramel sauce excites your taste buds. It’s an elevated version of our basic caramel sauce but has all of the best flavors of Autumn, plus it there’s B-A-C-O-N! You’ll savor every bite of French Toast that touches it.

Bacon Caramel Sauce pouring from a spoon into a bowl

Make-Ahead Tips for French Toast:

The French Toast (bread) – can be sauteed an hour before serving, covered loosely with foil and kept warm in the oven until ready to serve.

Caramel sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead then warmed before serving until it reaches a pourable consistency.

If you are looking for an overnight recipe, try our French Toast Casserole recipe.

Assembled slice of French toast topped with caramel and pecans

More Easy Breakfasts to Feed a Crowd:

If you are planning a breakfast or brunch party, our Breakfast Category will be a great planning resource for you. Here are some of our favorites to easily feed a crowd:

Watch Natasha Make Caramel French Toast:


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Caramel French Toast

4.94 from 15 votes
Slices of caramel french toast arranged on a platter with berries scattered
This Caramel French Toast recipe will spoil you forever. The combination of caramel sauce with crisp bacon and pecan topping is memorable.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 people

For the Bacon Caramel Pecan Topping:

Ingredients for French Toast:

  • 1 loaf Italian Bread , Cut 3/4" thick (or 9-10 slices Texas Toast)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, or as needed to saute

Instructions

How to Make the Bacon Caramel Pecan Topping:

  • Toast pecans on a dry skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently until golden and fragrant. Remove from pan and set aside to cool.
  • Place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add chopped bacon, sauteing and stirring ocassionally until browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove to plate.
  • Melt 5 Tbsp butter into the bacon fat then add 1 cup brown sugar, 1 Tbsp water and 1/4 tsp salt. Bring to a boil then keep at a low boil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove pan from heat and stir in 1/2 cup whipping cream and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir in chopped bacon, place back over heat and lightly boil another 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 10 minutes before serving.

How to Make French Toast:

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together wet ingredients until combined: 1 cup milk, 3 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla. While whisking, add dry ingredients: 1/4 cup flour, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
  • Cut bread into 9 or 10 slices each 3/4" thick. Place a large skillet over medium heat with 1 Tbsp butter.
  • Dip each piece of toast generously in the egg mixture, turning a couple of times to thoroughly coat. Add to the skillet in a single layer, cooking in batches about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown on each side.* Repeat with remaining toasts, adding more butter as needed then transfer to a platter.
  • To serve: Top French Toast with a heaping Tablespoon of the bacon caramel topping then sprinkle each with toasted pecans.

Notes

*Adjust the heat if browning too quickly. You want the egg mixture to cook all the way through the bread. 

Nutrition Per Serving

633kcal Calories58g Carbs10g Protein41g Fat20g Saturated Fat86mg Cholesterol493mg Sodium252mg Potassium3g Fiber42g Sugar504IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C71mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Caramel French Toast
Amount per Serving
Calories
633
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
41
g
63
%
Saturated Fat
 
20
g
125
%
Cholesterol
 
86
mg
29
%
Sodium
 
493
mg
21
%
Potassium
 
252
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
58
g
19
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
42
g
47
%
Protein
 
10
g
20
%
Vitamin A
 
504
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
71
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: French
Keyword: caramel french toast
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $8-$10
Calories: 633

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Read comments/reviewsAdd comment/review

  • Doris Sutton
    March 26, 2023

    can I use salted butter & will the results be the same?

    Love all your recipes & have ordered 2 cook books.
    Can salted butter be used in other recipes

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 26, 2023

      Hi Doris, I prefer to use unsalted because it allows me to control on how salty it is. If you use salted butter, then I would omit the salt in this recipe.

      Reply

  • Vanessa
    April 10, 2022

    The French toast and bacon caramel sauce has become a family favorite for us… I work 2 jobs 7 days a week… so on a Sunday morning when I tell my family I’m making this recipe they get excited knowing it’s a special breakfast…

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 10, 2022

      It indeed makes breakfast happier. I’m glad your family loves this recipe a lot!

      Reply

  • sofy
    February 26, 2022

    Your video presentations are awesome .Very well explained and i love your laugh .
    I was going through your caramel french toast and regular one .
    In one you are using oven another one just skillet .Why so ?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 26, 2022

      You’re so nice! Thank you!

      Reply

  • Iggy
    September 14, 2021

    May want to consider using French bread ( not fresh) to make French toast as we do here in South Louisiana !!!

    Reply

  • CG
    September 14, 2021

    Hi Natasha,

    Is there any substitute for bacon in this recipe?

    Thanks,
    Chandini

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 14, 2021

      Hi Chandini, I honestly haven’t tried another substitute ingredient to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

  • Susan Brown
    April 1, 2021

    Made this morning. So Good. Loved the touch of bacon in it.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 1, 2021

      I’m glad you enjoyed it, Susan! Thank you for this wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Kris
    February 14, 2021

    This is, by far, the most delicious French toast I have ever eaten! I was afraid it was going to be too sweet, but the salted caramel and bacon flavors were a perfect compliment to each other. My sister and I made this for Valentine’s Day for our 90 year old parents – and they ate more than we did! This is DEFINITELY a keeper! Thanks for such an amazing recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 15, 2021

      Wow, that is just perfect! Good to know that you and your family enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for an awesome review too.

      Reply

  • Jessica Stamey
    October 17, 2020

    I made this recipe this morning. It is so delicious!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 17, 2020

      Hi Jessica, I’m so glad you loved the french toast. Isn’t it such a treat? I’m tempted to make it again soon!

      Reply

  • Donnalhyn
    May 13, 2020

    O.M.G!! The carmel sauce is everything. I made this today and it was definitely husband and daughter approved! I’ll be making this again!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 13, 2020

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Sue Hopf
    May 13, 2020

    Made this for Mother’s Day brunch,the french toast was very good but we found the caramel bacon sauce too sweet. Guess we expected more bacon flavor.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 13, 2020

      Thank you for sharing that review with us! You can definitely add more bacon!

      Reply

  • Aries Love
    February 14, 2020

    It’s look yummy! I can’t wait to make it. Thank you Natasha for sharing all your delicious foods

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 14, 2020

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.

      Reply

  • Melissa Anderson
    November 17, 2019

    Hands down the BEST french toast. I’ve always had another favorite but that has now been thrown to the curb. I am so glad I found you Natasha. I love your recipes and watch all of your videos!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 18, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Melissa!

      Reply

  • Devin D.
    November 16, 2019

    Absolutely lovely! Had the in-laws over and now I think they actually like me because I made this for them

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 17, 2019

      Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. That’s just awesome!!

      Reply

  • wilhelmina
    October 7, 2019

    I was the breakfasst hero when I made this yesterday! So delicious and easy to prepare!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 7, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Valerie
    October 7, 2019

    I love french toast. I’ve never had it with caramel, it looks pretty darn amazing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 7, 2019

      I hope you give it a try soon, Valerie!

      Reply

  • Anna
    October 6, 2019

    This French toast is divine! My family enjoyed it this weekend!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 7, 2019

      Hi Anna, I’m so happy to hear that!! Thank you for the wonderful review.

      Reply

  • Suzy
    October 6, 2019

    Can’t wait to give this a try! That caramel sauce looks amazing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 7, 2019

      It sure is Suzy! Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply

  • mimi
    October 6, 2019

    can you do a gingerbread house with the gingerbread recipe?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 7, 2019

      Thank you for that suggestion, Mimi!

      Reply

  • Jere Owens
    October 6, 2019

    This is absolutely amazing! No word’s can describe how delicious this actually is !! My new favorite

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 6, 2019

      It’s one of those recipes that once you discover it, you make it over and over. I’m so happy you loved it!

      Reply

  • Kellie Hemmerly
    October 5, 2019

    This was so easy and totally spectacular! Great for Sunday breakfast or entertaining. Love, love, love!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 6, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

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