Better than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe: Homestyle 

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Better Than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe is the perfect dish for breakfast and dessert. This recipe is kid approved and my best at a copycat Cracker Barrel recipe. French toast is great for a holiday brunch, a complete holiday meal, or your average morning breakfast! We love the Cracker Barrel Restaurant. We can spend hours in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. But you just cannot beat home cooking. Cracker Barrel offers a delicious homestyle menu. But it is style without the home. This homestyle recipe is loaded with flavor and made right in your kitchen.

Jump to Better Than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe

Pure Goodness Right Out of Your Own Kitchen!

What Type of bread should I use?

Mama, don’t let that bread go to waste. This is an excellent recipe to use up bread. Stale bread works perfectly.

Do not get caught up on the type of bread to use. Most any bread will work. If the bread is sturdy and tastes good, it will do fine. When I was learning to make sourdough bread I used a lot of my loaves that weren’t perfect and each time the French toast was delicious.

My go-to bread for French toast is my homemade sandwich bread. I make bigger slices for the French toast, about 1 inch thick.

King Arthur Baking is a great resource for finding bread recipes. I have linked the recipes to each type of bread, all from King Arthur.

The Best Bread to Use for French Toast

• Sandwich Bread
• Sourdough
• French Bread
• Brioche
• Challah
• Texas toast

You can use any bread. Stale bread. Crusty bread. Thick bread. Any bread that is yummy and will not fall apart.

What is the trick for making good French Toast?

Tips for Making French Toast

• Use quality ingredients. It is hard to replace the taste of a loaf of homemade bread.
• Coat the bread heavily and completely with the egg mixture.
• Add lots of flavor with spices.

Toppings for French Toast

• chopped pecans
• maple syrup
• honey
• butter
• cream cheese
• confection or powdered sugar
• brown sugar
• nut butter such as peanut butter or almond butter
• fresh fruit
• shredded coconut flakes
• bacon or ham
• peaches and whipped cream (see our homemade whipped cream recipe)
• glaze: cream cheese, caramel, chocolate
• cranberry relish

How to get Kids Involved in the Kitchen?

This Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe is a great first recipe to teach your kids.

Kid’s Jobs for making this French toast recipe:

• Assist with deciding the combination of spices, toppings, and sides
• Read and follow a recipe
• Crack an egg (dig out eggshells)
• Pour the milk (clean up spills)
• Whisk the egg batter
• Dip bread slices
• Place bread on the skillet*
• Flip bread with a spatula*
• Remove toast from the skillet without dropping it*
• Serve their family members and guest
• Clean up the kitchen

* Supervise and consider age appropriateness for this task.

Kids can do it all with a little bit of supervision and assistance. Of course, consider age appropriateness for each task.

French Toast Breakfast and Dessert Combinations

Breakfast Combinations for French Toast

• Maple syrup and fruit
• Honey and fruit
• Nut butter and fruit
• French toast and fried chicken
• French toast and country fried ham or sugar-cured ham
• French toast and applewood smoked bacon

Dessert Combinations for French Toast

• Marshmallow cream and mini-chocolate chips
• Caramel glaze and chopped pecans
• Cream cheese and berries
• Baked cinnamon apples and homemade whipped cream
• Baked peaches, chopped pecans, and homemade whipped cream

If you want to get creative with your French toast presentation, create stuffed French toast by adding toppings in between the layers of each slice.

I have my hands full but when I can, I will come back and share pictures of our yummy French Toast Combinations. But, the most common way we enjoy this Better than Cracker Barrel French Toast is simply fresh off the griddle without any toppings because it’s just that good.

Holiday Season Spices

Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend

• 1/2 tbsp of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp of ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp of ground cloves

Apple Pie Spice Blend

• 1/2 tbsp of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp of ground ginger
• 1/8 ground of ground cardamon (optional)

These measurements are adjusted for this Better Than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe. I don’t keep allspice on hand but add it to the recipe if you have it.

How to make the Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe?

Better Than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe

Equipment:

• Large bowl for egg mixture (I use a pie pan)
• Bread knife
• Whisk
• Griddle or Skillet

Ingredient List:

• 4 large eggs
• 8 slices of bread sliced into 1/2 -1 inch thick slices
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon (+ 1 tsp)
• 1/8 tsp salt (or a pinch)
• 4-6 tbsp butter
• Toppings: Fresh fruit and maple syrup (optional)

In the post above, I provide multiple fun and possibly unique French Toast toppings and various spices based on the season.

Step by Step Instructions for Better Than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe

1. First, using a bread knife slice the loaf of bread into 1/2 to 1-inch slices. Then, cut each slice in half to make French toast dippers. This part is optional, but it’s easier for little hands to hold and dip.
2. Second, combine eggs, milk, vanilla extract, 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a pie pan or deep dish (add any additional seasonings). Whisk together until smooth.
3. Next, heat the griddle or skillet to low to medium heat. Once hot, melt a portion of butter (1 tbsp) to grease the griddle.
4. Now, dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture making sure the slice is good and heavily coated. Do not soak. Place immediately onto the hot griddle. Let cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. The toast will be golden brown. Add butter as needed to keep your griddle greased to prevent sticking. After you have cooked half your French toast, I recommend adding at least 1 tsp of cinnamon to the egg mixture.
5. Finally, serve with your favorite toppings and ENJOY!

Tips for Better Than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe

• Add spices. To keep your French toast tasting consistent, add at least one teaspoon of cinnamon to the egg mixture after dipping half of the slices of bread. If you are using a combination of seasonings, add a bit more of those seasonings too. If you do not, you will have egg toast. That’s okay, too, because egg toast is delicious.
• Do not soak. Bread is excellent at absorbing. Make sure each slice of bread is heavily covered.  But soaking the bread will cause it to be soggy and fall apart.
• Make dippers. Cut the bread slices in half to make little dippers. This makes it easier for little hands to hold and dip into the maple syrup. It also makes for fun shareable bites.
• No whole milk. You can substitute with heavy whipping cream or buttermilk (buttermilk will add a slight tang). I have not yet tried dairy-free options. If you do, please let me know in the comment section.

All this talking of Cracker Barrel has me thinking of their menu items and country sides, like country green beans and macaroni n’ cheese, and their desserts, like pecan pie and apple streusel pie. Yum!

Thanks for Stopping By!

Finally, I want to thank you for stopping by! Please say Hi in the comment section. What’s your favorite toppings or sides to enjoy alongside French Toast? If you make my Better than Cracker Barrel French Toast Recipe please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Also, I am so interested in the assortment of flavors that you add to your French toast.

– With Great Joy, Katie

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