Eggy bread vs French toast, is there a difference?
If you’re in the United States, the answer is yes, eggy bread and French toast aren’t the same thing. Although both are delicious light snacks that are made using toast, there are a couple of subtle distinctions between the two.
Read on to find out more about what sets eggy bread and French toast apart. You’ll also find a quick, easy, and mouth-watering recipe for each dish in this guide.
What’s the Difference?
Depending on where you live, eggy bread and French toast could either be the same thing or two separate dishes.
For example, in the UK, the terms eggy bread and French toast are interchangeable. However, this isn’t the case across the pond. In the United States, the main difference between eggy bread and French toast is a matter of whether the dish is served sweet or savory.
Nevertheless, dishes have virtually identical base ingredients and are prepared in a highly similar fashion.
However, eggy bread is a savory dish typically served with additions such as bacon, ham, or sausage. On the other hand, French toast is served sweet. Popular French toast toppings include fruit (especially berries), honey, and powdered sugar.
Another, more subtle difference between French toast and eggy bread is the thickness of the toast. The former is best made using thicker sliced bread, while the latter is often prepared using thinner slices.
Ham & Cheese Eggy Bread Recipe
Preparing this eggy bread recipe is a piece of cake (well, it’s a piece of bread). You can use it as a hearty breakfast or a quick supper. It’s also the perfect morning cure after a wild night out.
If you prefer to add another stuffing instead of ham, this recipe will work just fine either way.
Preparing the ingredients will only take 5 minutes of your time, but also make sure to account for the 12 minutes they need to cook. In terms of cooking utensils, all you’ll need is a spatula and a large, non-stick frying pan.
The ingredient quantities mentioned below serve 4 people, so make sure to adjust them accordingly depending on how many people will be enjoying this delicious eggy bread with you.
For example, if you only want to serve this dish for two people, you should only use half the amount of the following ingredients.
Ingredients
- 8 thin white bread slices
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 2 oz sliced cheddar cheese
- 5 large eggs
- 4 ham slices
- Salt and black pepper
- 3 tablespoons of frying oil
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Butter one side of each slice of bread. Then, prepare 4 ham and cheese sandwiches as you typically would.
- Crack open the eggs, add the salt and ground black pepper, and beat the eggs thoroughly.
- Take two of the sandwiches you made and dip them in the eggs, make sure to give them a chance to soak in.
- Take 1 ½ tablespoon of the oil and heat it in the frying pan then place the two egg-soaked sandwiches.
- Let them cook for 3–4 minutes until the side in contact with the oil becomes golden brown.
- Flip over each sandwich and repeat step 5 for the other side.
- Take the sandwiches out of the frying pan and onto a plate. Cover them to keep them warm.
- Repeat steps 3 through 7 for the other two sandwiches.
- Serve with mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, or any dressing of your liking.
Rhubarb & Custard French Toast Recipe
Looking for a quick and easy dessert? In just 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time, you can make this delicious rhubarb and custard French toast. After you’ve tried this recipe, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better dish to start your day off with.
Again, keep in mind that the ingredient quantities listed below are enough to make this French toast for two people. You can increase or decrease the amount of each ingredient according to your needs.
Ingredients
- 7 oz of rhubarb (cut it into 1.5-inch slices)
- 1 split vanilla pod
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- ½ a zested and juiced orange
- 1 large egg
- 1 ¼ cup of milk
- 4 slices of white toast (thickly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- ½ cup of warm custard
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Mix the rhubarb together with the vanilla pod, sugar, and the orange’s zest and juice in a small pot.
- Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. The rhubarb should be soft but still retain its shape.
- Break the egg and empty it into a bowl along with the milk.
- Dip the bread into the bowl and let it soak for 30 seconds on each side.
- Apply the butter to a non-stick frying pan at medium heat.
- Once the butter has melted, throw in the bread and fry it for a total of 8 minutes (4 minutes on each side).
- Once the bread has acquired that brownish-gold hue, take it out of the pan and into a plate.
- Spread the rhubarb and warm custard toppings.
If you’re not much of a rhubarb person, you can use whichever fruit you prefer as an alternative topping. You can also add some honey or maple syrup to give your French toast an extra boost of sweetness.
Final Thoughts
Eggy bread vs. French toast, what’s the difference?
Despite the fact that eggy bread and French toast are very closely related, they’re not the same thing.
Eggy bread is a savory dish usually served with things like bacon, ham, cheese, and salami. On the other hand, French toast is served sweet. Popular French toast toppings include fruits, sugar, custard, honey, and maple syrup.
What they do have in common is that they’re both scrumptious dishes that’ll have you wanting more. So, what are you waiting for? Put your cooking hat on, take that frying pan out, and get to cooking up!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.