There’s nothing quite like biting into a perfectly cooked homemade French toast—that golden brown exterior giving way to a soft, custard-like interior. If you’re looking to perfect the best crispy French toast recipe for special occasions or a quick weekend breakfast with the family, I've got you covered — and cooking it up on the griddle is my favorite way to do it. And while many consider traditional French toast among their favorite breakfast recipes, adding caramelized apples takes it to another level.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the basic ingredients needed for this crunchy French toast recipe, as well as how to sauté fresh fruit—specifically apples—for a sweet topping.
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Why Cook This on the Griddle?
North Georgia is full of apple orchards in the fall, and last year, on our way back from a family trip to the mountains, we stopped at one of those orchards and got our fair share to bring home. We tried this recipe out for the first time using those apples, and it quickly became a family favorite. The blend of softened fruit, maple syrup, and the crunch of the toast nails that sweet-and-savory flavor profile.
Now, Cooking French toast on a griddle with medium-low heat or medium heat (depending on how hot your griddle runs) is a great approach: it ensures that each slice of bread browns evenly without scorching. If your goal is truly crispy French toast, controlling the heat is key. A mild caramelization on the bread’s surface keeps it crunchy while the inside remains moist and tender. Be aware of the type of griddle that you are cooking on and how hot it runs. I've found that my electric griddle controls a steady temperature significantly better than my propane-fueled griddle does. Adjust your temperature accordingly.
The other reason I love making French toast on the griddle instead of in a hot skillet is that it drastically cuts down the amount of time you're cooking, especially if you're making French toast for a crowd (or a family, in my case). Rather than spending a lot of time cooking French toast in batches, making it on the griddle allows you to prepare all the French toast at once.
Why to Add Caramelized Apples
Topping your French toast with caramelized apples brings out the fruit’s natural sweetness and transforms it into a soft, syrupy layer that balances the crisp edges of the toast. As apples simmer with maple syrup, sugar, and cinnamon, their juices concentrate, and the heat softens their texture. It’s almost like enjoying dessert at breakfast—and I am here for it!
Ingredients
- White Bread: Slices of bread that soak up egg mixture easily.
- Egg Mixture: Milk, heavy cream, eggs, vanilla extract, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt—these basic elements combine to create the dredging mixture that gives French toast its pudding-like coating.
- Butter or Cooking Spray: If your griddle runs hotter (most cooking sprays, such as vegetable and avocado oil, have a higher smoke point than butter). Butter, however, encourages the creation of the signature golden brown crust.
- Apples + Maple Syrup: Combining apples with a dash of sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup yields a mellow sweetness that pairs well with the toast.
- Fresh Berries (optional): If you'd like to add more fresh fruit on top, they can make great toppings. I added them because my kids love them, and anything that helps them eat more of their food is something we'll continue to use.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1: Caramelize the Apples
Preheat your griddle to around 350°F (medium to medium-low heat). Melt about half your butter on the hot surface, then add thinly sliced apples. Sprinkle a bit of sugar and cinnamon to begin. Stir until the apples are softened, then add the maple syrup and pour in the lightly caramelized topping. Transfer apples to a warm dish and wipe the griddle clean. That syrup will burn in a hurry, so make sure not to skip this step.
Step 2: Prepare the Egg Mixture
In a shallow bowl (or shallow dish), whisk together milk, heavy cream, eggs, brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon vanilla extract. I also like to add a pinch of cinnamon.
Step 3: Soak the Bread
Dip each slice of bread into the egg batter on both sides, allowing it to absorb but not oversaturate (basically, give them a good dip, but don't let them rest in the mixture like you might a piece of chicken because that bread will break down into a soggy mess). Place them on a sheet pan or plate in a single layer so they’re ready to cook.
Step 4: Griddle the Toast
Add the remaining butter to the griddle. Set the bread slices down carefully. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side (adjust if you need more crispness) until a nice, golden brown exterior forms. Be sure to keep an eye on the first few in particular — you'll start to get a good sense of how long each piece will take from there.
Step 5: Finish & Serve
Plate the French toast, ladle the caramelized apples on top, and garnish with fresh berries. For a final touch, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle extra maple syrup, and you'll have some truly authentic French toast that tastes amazing!
Substitutions
Need to swap a few ingredients? Here are a few alternatives to consider:
- Different Bread: Swap in brioche or whole wheat. Thicker bread slices absorb more of the egg mixture which can actually improve the texture.
- Lighter Milk: If heavy cream is too rich or you don't have it on hand, you can easily substitute it with another milk-based product. I've swapped in 2% and whole milk on several occasions, and they've done a great job.
- Non-Dairy Version: In my experience, using almond or soy milk combined with a vegan egg replacer creates a surprisingly rich custard that pairs well with your bread slices. The key is achieving a similar consistency to dairy-based custards—sometimes, adding a tiny spoonful of flour or cornstarch helps mimic that thicker texture. If you’re aiming for an entirely plant-based approach, consider adding flavor elements like a hint of cinnamon or vanilla to make it stand out a little more.
Variations
Want to make the recipe your own? You can easily change up this recipe with these tweaks—don’t be afraid to experiment!
- Air-Fryer French Toast: Dip the bread, then place it in an air fryer at medium-low heat for about 8 minutes in total. Great if you want to do fewer dishes, you're not as comfortable (or don't have) a griddle, or if you're cooking smaller amounts.
- Caramelized Peaches: Replace apples with fresh peaches when they're in season -- we love this one, especially during the summer, with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Make it Savory: Omit sugar from the egg mixture, add herbs or cheese, and top with bacon or grilled tomatoes. By no means is it orthodox, but it is freaking good too.
Equipment
To make the cooking process as easy as possible, gather the following tools before you begin making your French Toast.
- Griddle: I prefer using an electric griddle for this. Maintains even heat—perfect for cooking multiple slices at once. That being said, use what you have available.
- Shallow Dish: For soaking your bread thoroughly in the egg mixture.
- Spatula: Helps you flip and remove slices easily
- Measuring Spoons: for measuring all of your ingredients.
Storage
Storing French toast can be tricky — especially if you want to maintain a similar textural component — but it can be done. If you have leftover slices, let them cool at room temperature and stack them in an airtight container. They’ll keep for a day or two in the fridge, and you can pop them back on a medium-heat griddle or in a toaster oven for leftovers. If you need to freeze leftover French toast, separate each slice with parchment paper to avoid sticking, then reheat in the oven or toaster whenever you're ready to eat.
The caramelized apples can also be refrigerated in a covered bowl—warm them gently on the stove before serving again. You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't put those on some vanilla ice cream for dessert later!
Like this recipe? Make sure to leave a comment below! Don't forget to explore my other recipes as well!
Recipe
Griddled French Toast with Caramelized Apples
Equipment
- Griddle
- Shallow bowl/pan
- Spatula
- Measuring spoons
- prep bowls
Ingredients
- 5 slices bread
- ¾ C milk
- 2 T heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- 3 T brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 T butter
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- ¼ C maple syrup
- Raspberries to garnish
- Whipped cream & powdered sugar to garnish
Instructions
Procedure:
- Preheat the griddle to 350 degrees. Once the griddle is hot, add half of the butter. Add the apples and season with half the cinnamon and two tablespoons of brown sugar. Once the apples become tender, pour the maple syrup with half of the vanilla extract. Let that cook until the liquids begin to evaporate, stirring as needed. Once the apples are completely soft and the maple syrup has caramelized, remove the apples and clean the griddle.
- Add the remaining cinnamon, vanilla extract, and brown sugar to a bowl with milk, heavy cream, eggs, and a pinch of salt. Take a slice of bread and dip it into the mixture until well coated, then place the bread on a baking sheet to transfer to the griddle. Repeat this process with the remaining pieces of bread.
- Add the remaining butter to the griddle. Once melted, place the coated slices of bread on the griddle and cook just long enough for them to brown on each side. Remove the French toast from the griddle.
To Finish:
- Garnish the French toast with caramelized apples, raspberries, maple syrup, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. Serve & enjoy!
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