French Toast with Condensed Milk {Oven Baked Sheet Pan Recipe No Milk} (2024)

French toast with condensed milk is such a great way to start the day! It’s a delicious and quick breakfast and has all the yummy flavors of classic French toast. This 5-ingredient recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and baked in the oven to crisp perfection.

French toast with sweetened condensed milk

My dream would be to begin every morning with a hot and sweet breakfast, and this condensed milk French toast is on top of my list. When it comes to breakfast, I adore pancakes and waffles, but French toast is by far my favorite option.

The secret ingredient in my French toast recipe is sweetened condensed milk. Not only provides this ingredient a light sweetness, but it also creates the most amazing custard texture. It’s just so good, and your family will be begging for this condensed milk toast again and again.

Can you make French toast with condensed milk?

Yes, you most definitely can prepare French toast with sweetened condensed milk. Condensed milk replaces the milk and sugar required by most traditional French toast recipes.

Maybe you’re out of milk and look for ways to make French toast without milk. Or you want to try something new. This no milk French toast recipe is the answer, and I hope you’ll love it as much on your breakfast table as my family and me.

And for more breakfast recipes with condensed milk, try our condensed milk pancakes.

Why you’ll love sheet pan French toast

• Delicious taste + texture: French toast with condensed milk has a crisp exterior and melt-in-your-mouth interior. The bread soaks up the amazing condensed milk custard, and it’s ever delicious.
• Easy sheet pan recipe: Baking French toast in the oven is less messy and allows you to prepare a larger batch. It’s perfect for Sunday brunch or when you’re entertaining.
• Only 5 Ingredients: You only need 5 simple ingredients for this, which are likely already waiting in your kitchen.
• Kids love it! No crumb is left when I make French toast for my family, and I’m sure your children will devour it, too. It’s the perfect kid-friendly breakfast.
• Freezer-friendly: It’s a tasty recipe for meal prep and stores well in the freezer for a quick breakfast throughout the week.

Ingredients

This cozy condensed milk toast is super easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Scroll to the recipe card for the quantities. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Bread: While you can make French toast with almost any bread, I recommend thicker, enriched bread, such as brioche, challah bread, or Texas toast, because it soaks up the moisture better and gives that delicious custard-like texture. The French toast you see in the photos is made with Texas toast.
• Sweetened condensed milk is the secret to this delicious French toast. It provides a nice, rich flavor and is used instead of regular milk. The recipe calls for a whole can, but feel free to cut the quantities in half if you need fewer servings.
• Eggs make up the custard mixture.
• Vanilla Extract adds a subtle sweetness and so much flavor.
• Salt boosts the aroma of the other ingredients and balances out the sweetness.

Optional ingredients

Although the following ingredients are optional, I recommend adding them all if you can for the best flavor.

• Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon warms up the recipe. I know some prefer French toast without cinnamon, but I think it’s scrumptious.
• Citrus zest: Freshly grated citrus zest brightens the whole dish. Use orange zest, lemon zest, or a mix of both.

How to make French toast with condensed milk

Sheet pan French toast is a twist on classic French toast where your oven does most of the work for you. You need 2 rimmed baking sheets and parchment paper or non-stick baking mats. Follow this easy step-by-step guide to bake French toast in the oven.

#1: Preheat oven

• Preheat your oven to 375°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 with a rack adjusted in the middle of the oven.
• Line 2 rimmed baking sheets (trays) with parchment paper (baking paper) or non-stick baking mats.

#2: Make egg mixture

• Add the eggs, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and citrus zest (if using) to a large mixing bowl.
• Beat with a fork or whisk until well combined.

#3: Soak bread

• Carefully dip the bread, one slice at a time, into the condensed milk-egg mixture to coat.
• Fully submerge each piece and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes to soak up the liquid.
• Next, lift the slice out of the bowl and allow the excess to drip off.
• Repeat this process for every piece of bread.

#4: Bake French toast

• Arrange 6 bread slices on each baking sheet (tray.) Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the custard has cooked and the bread looks golden.
• Repeat with the second cookie sheet (tray.)

#5: Serve

• Serve immediately and enjoy warm with fresh fruit, butter or cream, maple syrup, honey, or a drizzle of condensed milk.

French toast on the stovetop

If you prefer to pan-fry your French toast with condensed milk on the stovetop, follow these instructions:

1. Mix egg custard. Prepare the egg condensed milk mixture as described above.
2. Heat pan. Set a non-stick frying pan or skillet over medium heat to heat up. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan and allow to melt.
3. Soak bread. While the butter melts, dip each bread slice into the egg mixture and let soak on each side. Depending on the size of your pan, only soak 1 to 2 pieces at a time, so the bread doesn’t get too soggy.
4. Fry bread. Carefully place the soaked bread in the hot pan or skillet. Fry the bread on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Working in batches, repeat with the remaining pieces of bread and take care not to crowd the pan.
5. Keep warm. Transfer the fried French toast to a baking dish or serving platter and keep warm in the oven while frying the other slices.
6. Serve. Enjoy warm!

Tips for the best French toast

To make the best French toast with condensed milk, be sure to read my tips and tricks:

• Use stale bread that’s at least a day old and avoid fresh bread. Fresh bread soaks up too much egg mixture, becoming soggy and falling apart.
• Make sure your bread is as dry as possible. I like to lay my bread slices out on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour before soaking them in the egg custard.
• To make French toast with fresh bread, arrange the slices on wire racks and bake for 5 minutes at 300°F / 150°F / gas mark 2. Then flip and roast for another 5 minutes.
• Mix the custard thoroughly. Otherwise, pieces of egg white might show up on your oven-baked French toast.
• Soak the bread for 2 to 3 minutes. Condensed milk makes the egg mixture thicker instead of watery like regular milk. And since the egg custard is thicker, it takes a little longer to soak into the bread.
• If you prefer light and fluffy French toast, soak the bread only for 1 minute on each side.
• Switch to vegetable oil if your French toast always burns in the pan. Vegetable oil has a higher burn point than butter, allowing you to fry the bread without searing it.

French toast toppings

French toast is super flexible. Feel free to play with different toppings to make it the way you want it. Here are a few fun and delicious French toast topping ideas you can try:

• Powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar: Dusting French toast with powdered sugar or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar is simple, but it’s my favorite way to eat French toast.
• Syrup or honey: Maple syrup, pancake syrup, fruit syrups, caramel sauce, buttermilk syrup, or a drizzle of honey are a delight for French toast.
• Butter: There’s nothing better than a cube of butter melting on warm French toast.
• Berries or fruit: Fresh fruits and berries are a refreshing way to enjoy this dish. Try strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, or fruit compote
• Whipped cream + ice cream: You can’t go wrong with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream atop your stack.
• Chocolate: French toast with a drizzle of melted chocolate will be a hit at the breakfast table.
• Nutella, peanut butter, and nut butters: A spoon of creamy Nutella or peanut butter goes perfectly with French toast.
• Nuts: If you like some crunch, sprinkle the dish with a handful of chopped pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds.
• Sweetened condensed milk: A pour of condensed milk turns this delicious breakfast into the ultimate indulgence.

Serving suggestions

For a full breakfast, serve your oven-baked French toast with scrambled eggs, fruit salad, egg muffins, crispy bacon, sausage, strawberry yogurt, or blueberry cream cheese.

And if you crave something special for your weekend brunch, serve it with smoked salmon or eggs benedict-style with a poached egg and ham.

Storage Instructions

How to store leftover French toast with condensed milk

If you have leftovers, let them cool to room temperature first. Cover the serving platter or dish with foil and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

How to reheat French toast

French toast tastes best hot. Cold French toast tends to be hard and chewy. Luckily, you have several easy options to reheat it!

• Oven: Wrap each slice in foil, so it doesn’t burn. Then reheat in a 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until warm.
• Microwave: Place your condensed milk French toast on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Then gently reheat in 20-second bursts until warm.
• Toaster: Adjust your toaster to one of the lower settings and place a slice in the toaster tray. It might take a few rounds to get it warm.

Can you freeze French toast?

Yes, you can freeze French toast for a quick breakfast option during the week. Here’s what to do:

1. Prepare the French toast according to the recipe instructions.
2. Let it cool on the sheet pan.
3. Then play the entire sheet pan in the freeze for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Once frozen, stack the slices in a zip-lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
5. Reheat as instructed above.

Making condensed milk French toast ahead

Since this French toast recipe with condensed milk takes only 20 minutes, I recommend making it shortly before serving. However, you can prepare the components 1 day in advance:

• Bread: Slice the bread and store it on a loosely covered plate.
• Custard: Mix the egg mixture. Cover the bowl tightly with foil and refrigerate until ready to use.

Condensed Milk French Toast Recipe

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

French toast with condensed milk is such a great way to start the day! It's a delicious and quick breakfast and has all the yummy flavors of classic French toast. This 5-ingredient recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and baked in the oven to crisp perfection.

Ingredients

• 6 eggs (US, CAN, AUS, NZ: L / UK & Europe: M)
• 14-oz / 400 g / 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 loaf bread, cut into 1/2 in / cm slices, approx. 12 slices (e.g., brioche, challah bread, or Texas toast)

Optional ingredients

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• freshly grated zest from 1 orange or lemon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 375°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 with a rack adjusted in the middle of the oven. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets (trays) with parchment paper (baking paper) or non-stick baking mats.
2. Make egg mixture. Add the eggs, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and citrus zest (if using) to a large mixing bowl. Beat with a fork or whisk until well combined.
3. Soak bread. Carefully dip the bread, one slice at a time, into the condensed milk-egg mixture to coat. Fully submerge each piece and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes to soak up the liquid. Next, lift the slice out of the bowl and allow the excess to drip off. Repeat this process for every piece of bread.
4. Bake French toast. Arrange 6 bread slices on each baking sheet (tray.) Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the custard has cooked and the bread looks golden. Repeat with the second cookie sheet (tray.)
5. Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy warm with fresh fruit, butter or cream, maple syrup, honey, or a drizzle of condensed milk.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 214Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 396mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 9g

FAQ

What is the best bread for French toast?

You have countless options when it comes to bread for French toast. Technically any bread would work, but a day-old, thick-cut bread is ideal. You want to cut the loaf in 1/2 to 1 in / 1.5 to 2.5 cm thick slices.

Thick, stale bread is best for French toast. Older, dried-out bread soaks up the egg custard better than fresh bread. Making this dish is an excellent opportunity to use up older bread rather than letting it go to waste.

The bread you’re choosing needs to be somewhat sturdy and dense to withstand the soaking and frying without falling apart.

• White bread has all the hallmarks of great French toast. Just make sure to cut it into thick slices.
• Texas Toast: The double thickness makes Texas toast a good option for this recipe.
• Brioche: Thick-sliced brioche is perfect for French toast as it’s thick + sturdy and does a stellar job at soaking up the egg mixture.
• Challah: The enriched texture and braided look make challah bread a tasty ingredient for French toast.
• Artisan bread (e.g., sourdough bread) is pretty sturdy and offers complex flavor.
• French bread has a crunchy crust and thick crumb, which is great for soaking.

I don’t recommend regular toast because the slices are pretty thin and fall apart easily when you soak them in the custard mixture.

What about whole grain or gluten-free bread?

White bread soaks up the condensed milk mixture best. But in case you prefer whole grain or gluten-free bread, it will work as well. You may just give it more time to soak.

Can you make French toast with evaporated milk?

Yes, you can make my French toast recipe with evaporated milk, too. Since evaporated milk is thinner and less sweet than condensed milk, add 2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar to the egg mixture.

Why doesn’t my French toast get crispy?

With oven-baked French toast, there’s zero chance you end up with mushy, limp bread because it always bakes up perfectly crisp and golden brown. Double-check the oven temperature, and you’re all set.

What can I use instead of syrup for French toast?

You have plenty of options for French toast without syrup. Thick, golden honey is the perfect companion for crispy French toast. Pie filling and compote, such as apple, cherry, or strawberry, is absolutely delicious, too. And if you enjoy a light toffee note, enjoy it with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk.