French toast that’s soft in the middle with golden brown, crispy edges is made even better with the addition caramelized apples spooned over top. This apple french toast is a quick and easy fall breakfast that’s perfect for weekday dining or holiday brunches.
My Favorite French Toast to Make in the Fall
Everywhere I look I’m seeing apples, squash and pumpkins. Fall’s earthly bounty is the equivalent of Christmas sugarplums dancing through food bloggers’ heads.
This apple french toast is the current breakfast obsession in our house. It’s a simplified version of my favorite custardy French toast recipe, with caramelized apples spooned over top.
The apples are cooked in a mixture of butter, brown sugar, and cream that turns into a sort of runny caramel sauce after a few minutes in the pan.
Who needs syrup when you’ve got apples swimming in caramel to spoon over your french toast?
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
- Slice your bread thickly. The bread should be sliced about an inch thick so it doesn’t fall apart after soaking in the egg custard.
- Preheat your skillet or griddle. You want it to be nice and hot so the french toast fries upon contact and becomes golden brown.
- Double the apple topping. The caramel apple topping can be refrigerated for up to 5 days, and I like to make a double batch to have on hand for weekday breakfasts. It’s delicious on waffles, pancakes, and yogurt too!
Here’s What You’ll Need
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Bread — Choose a sturdy loaf of bread. I typically use challah or french bread.
- Butter — You’ll need a full stick to make the caramel sauce that the apples cook in.
- Brown sugar — Enhances the rich caramel flavor of the topping.
- Heavy cream — Is added to both the caramel sauce and the custard mixture for dipping the bread.
- Apple — I used a Gala apple, but any variety may be used.
- Eggs — Act as the base for the custard batter.
- Vanilla and grated nutmeg — Add so much flavor to the french toast.
How to Make Apple French Toast
- Caramelize the apples. The butter is melted down before the cream and brown sugar are stirred in. Add the thinly sliced apples and pop a lid on the skillet to help them cook through evenly and quickly.
- Whisk together the custard mixture. A large bowl or shallow platter make for easier dredging later on.
- Get dipping. Dredge the thick sliced bread through the egg custard, making sure both sides are well coated.
- Fry it up. I suggest frying just two slices of french toast at a time to avoid crowding the pan. French toast needs just 2 to 3 minutes per side to cook through and become golden brown.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.
Apple French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Topping
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 Gala apple
- kosher salt
- 1 cup blueberries (optional)
French Toast
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 slices thick sliced bread (brioche or similar is perfect)
Instructions
- Make the apple topping: In a medium sauté pan, melt 1 stick butter and add brown sugar. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Add 2 tablespoons cream, stir and cook for an additional minute. Add apple and sprinkle of salt, cover with lid and cook for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and add blueberries and cover with lid again to keep warm and soften blueberries.
- Make the french toast: Heat a fry pan over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon butter to melt.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, 2 tablespoons cream, nutmeg and vanilla together until mixed well and frothy.
- Dredge bread in egg mixture on both sides and fry one or two pieces of bread at a time, flipping after 2-3 minutes each side. Top French toast slices with apple and blueberry mixture.
What to Serve with Apple French Toast
- Egg Muffins
- Quiche Lorraine
- Hot Chocolate or Hot Buttered Rum
- Bacon or Sausage Links
Toppings and Variations to Try
- Replace the vanilla with almond extract, bourbon, or amaretto.
- Mix up the spices! You can replace the nutmeg with cinnamon, or add more spices like ginger, allspice, cloves, etc. You could also use your favorite pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice blend.
- Sprinkle candied pecans on top for some crunch.
- Replace the apples with peaches, pears, or another favorite fruit.
More Easy French Toast Recipes You’ll Love
- Classic French Toast
- French Toast Casserole with Maple Bacon and Pecans
- Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Cups
- Coconut Baked French Toast
- Savory French Toast Cups
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Brian @ A Thought For Food
So, what do I have to do to get you to come over and make this for me? Maybe with a mimosa? :-)
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
LOVE finding new ways to make french toast! This is the perfect fall french toast :)
Lauren @ Part Time House Wife
Seriously beautiful pictures! I never thought I’d appreciate pictures of food until I realized how hard it is to take good pictures of food! Not to mention this sounds soooo delish! I’m all over it lady! I need this in ma bellllllllllly like yesterday!
Rachel Cooks
I love your Friday links! Have a great weekend!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
love your links as always – and the french toast is just so light and airily shot, just so easy-breezy stunning pretty!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Sooo pretty!
Suraj
Thank you for featuring Foxtrot! We really appreciate it!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I’m seriously craving your French toast. Pinned!
marla
Beautiful Heidi!!
Melissa
Thanks for sharing your secret kitchen tip Heidi! And I can’t wait to make that Apple French Toast–two of my very favorite things!
Susan
That certainly is a welcome sign of Fall for breakfast! I bet adding some pears with the apples would be delicious too. XOXO
Gina
WOW- that certainly looks amazing!
carrian
Hello Friday Faves, I missed you all week, but here you are again. I could just squish you!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
This looks great! I posted something similar this morning – so funny how we are all craving apples, pumpkins and spice. It’s not even cold here yet lol!
Kathryn
Love that downloadable party cheat sheet (and all your other friday links!). Also please can you fly over and make this for my breakfast tomorrow morning? Thanks.