Starting a day with classic French toast can lift the mood. The challenge is having tons of leftover batter sitting in a bowl. Either you’ve cracked an extra egg or poured another cup of milk, so now you’re asking: What to do with leftover French toast batter?
There are plenty of recipes for your leftover batter, so don’t throw it out just yet! With your batter, you can whip up a casserole, a Matzo Brei, or a Monte Cristo sandwich.
So, pop that delicious batter into your refrigerator and consider our recommended ways of how to use some leftover French toast batter.
Can You Save Leftover French Toast Batter?
If you could freeze a few leftover French toast slices, you can do the same with the batter. So, yes, you can save your remaining batter by storing it in an airtight container, then straight inside the refrigerator for a maximum of two days.
We don’t recommend freezing the batter considering it’s a liquid mixture. Therefore, the batter will take about 30 minutes of thawing before you can use it.
That’s double the time of preparing French toast normally!
Can You Make French Toast Batter the Night Before?
Mornings can be hectic if your work starts way too early, giving you limited time to prepare breakfast. Fortunately, you can prepare your meal the night before for a smoother morning routine.
An efficient way of doing this is to prepare your batter for the French toast, then store it in an airtight container. Pop it in the refrigerator, and you’re all set for the coming morning.
You’ll have less cooking time by only dipping the bread in the batter and grilling it as your sole task the next day.
Remember that your batter will only stay fresh for 1–2 days. Also, make sure you don’t leave your bread soaked overnight as it will get soggy and break apart.
6 Recipes You Could Cook with Leftover French Toast Batter
Did you know you’re hitting two birds with one stone by being resourceful and making a tummy happy by cooking another meal?
With the listed recipes below, you could turn leftover batter into something new and appetizing. So let’s dig into the recipes!
1 – Monte Cristo Sandwich
Monte Cristo, or “Croque Monsieur” for a fancier name, is an assembly of a sandwich decked with cheese and turkey. Depending on your preference, you can be creative with the spread and make it a double or triple-decker sandwich!
Ingredients
- 3 slices of bread (challah or brioche bread)
- 2 slices of cheese (mozzarella, swiss, or cheddar)
- 1 sliced cooked turkey
- Raspberry jam or cranberry sauce (optional)
- Mustard and mayonnaise
- Leftover French toast batter (this will serve as the milk and eggs)
Instructions
- Prepare your sandwich by spreading mayonnaise on one side and mustard on the other.
- Add the turkey and cheese in the first layer, then another slice of cheese and turkey in the second.
- Dip the sandwich onto the French toast batter, ensuring all sides are well-coated
- Grill your sandwich on a lightly greased skillet or griddle until both sides are golden brown.
- Serve the sandwich by drizzling cranberry sauce or sprinkling powdered sugar with a raspberry dip on the side.
2 – Matzo Brei
This is a classic Jewish breakfast meal eaten during the Passover holiday. This light meal of matzo, eggs, and a topping of your choice is a simple and perfect dish for your French toast batter.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet matzo
- 1 tbsp butter (you can use dairy-free oil as an alternative)
- Salt and pepper
- Leftover French toast batter
Savory or Sweet?
You can add more ingredients depending on your preference. If you want a Savory Matzo Brei, try sauteing a few diced vegetables in matzo and butter, then finish off by garnishing with chopped chives or parsley.
For a sweeter Matzo Brei, you can put in some applesauce, sugar, cinnamon powder, nuts, or even grated cheese. The fun part about a Matzo Brei is you can experiment and put in your favorite ingredients!
Instructions
- Run your matzo sheet under warm water until it softens, careful not to let it turn soggy.
- Set the matzo sheet aside while you prepare the pan or a skillet.
- Melt a tablespoon of butter in a non-stick frying pan on medium heat.
- Now break the matzo sheet into tiny pieces and saute it in the butter until it turns golden brown.
- Pour your leftover French toast batter into the pan and scramble the mixture using a spatula for 1–2 minutes.
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper while you’re mixing, or sugar and cinnamon powder if you want a sweeter taste.
- Serve the Matzo Brei with your chosen toppings.
- You can drizzle maple syrup and applesauce on top or sprinkle it with nuts or chives to enjoy a classic Ashkenazi dish!
3 – Creamy Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a quick and easy breakfast if you’re in a hurry!
Plus, oats are incredibly nutritious, so you’ll have a healthy meal ready in less than ten minutes with the help of your leftover French toast batter.
Ingredients
- ½ cup of milk (whole milk or plant-based milk)
- French toast batter
- 1 cup of oats
- 2 cups of water
- Favorite toppings (cinnamon powder, nuts, or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Boil half a cup of milk on low heat, then pour your French toast batter slowly while stirring the pot for 3–5 minutes.
- Set the mixture aside in a separate bowl while you boil the oats.
- Over medium heat, cook 1 cup of oats in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes with occasional stirring.
- Now, pour the French toast mixture back into the pot and stir to mix.
- Serve it hot in a bowl after sprinkling cinnamon powder and nuts on the top, then drizzle some maple syrup.
4 – Banana French Toast
If you want to make another batch of French toast but crave a fresh taste, then a banana French toast is for you!
Bananas are rich in potassium and vitamins—a healthy breakfast to start the morning.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of stale bread or brioche bread
- 4 bananas
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp butter (or dairy-free alternative of your choice)
- Leftover French toast batter
- Toppings of your choice
Instructions
- Cut the bananas into bite-size pieces, setting aside a few for toppings.
- Add the cut-up bananas to a mixer with 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and your leftover French toast batter.
- Blend the ingredients into a nice creamy mixture.
- Alternatively, you can crush the bananas using a fork (ensuring no large chunks are visible), and mix them with honey, sugar, and leftover batter.
- Over low heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a non-stick frying pan while you prepare the bread.
- Dip the brioche bread into the banana mixture, coating both sides evenly.
- Transfer the soaked bread immediately to the pan for grilling.
- Spread half a teaspoon of butter over the bread for a creamier taste, then wait for 2 minutes.
- Flip the bread and repeat spreading half a teaspoon of butter on top.
- Grill until the underside is golden and crispy.
- Serve the bread with the remaining bananas on top, drizzled with maple syrup or your favorite topping.
5 – French Toast Casserole or Bread Pudding
This recipe is great for a family gathering as it’s a sure crowd-pleaser. You can use your leftover batter to make delicious servings for breakfast and brunch.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of diced challah bread, white bread, or baguette
- Raisins or nuts (optional)
- French toast batter
- Choice of fruit (it can be apples or bananas)
- 1 tbsp of butter
- ⅓ cup of brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F while you cut your bread and fruits into bite-size pieces.
- Transfer the cut-up ingredients into your baking dish and sprinkle them with nuts and raisins.
- Pour your French toast mixture all over the bread, making sure no one gets left behind.
- You can sprinkle a bit more cinnamon powder or brown sugar on top, then cover it with foil.
This part is optional, but if you want a tastier casserole, you can prepare the toppings as you let the bread soak in the French toast batter in the refrigerator.
To make the toppings, mix your butter with brown sugar and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a small dish by using a fork or a whisk.
Now let’s return to your bread pudding and take the final three steps.
- Take your bread out of the fridge and scatter the toppings across the bread pudding.
- Cover it again with foil and bake for 20–30 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Once ready, serve hot and soft with a drizzle of your favorite syrup.
6 – Pancakes
Who doesn’t love a classic pancake for breakfast? Another quick-and-easy method of using your leftover batter is to make pancakes with the trademark taste of French toast!
Simply, pour the leftover French toast batter into a frying pan and cook it as you would a pancake. You’ll have your breakfast in a jiffy!
To spice things up, try spreading Nutella and whipped cream between two pancakes. This simple breakfast is perfect for a sweet tooth and you can eat it as a regular sandwich if you’re in a hurry.
Final Thoughts
There are many things to do with leftover French toast batter—storing it in the fridge, cooking new recipes, or maybe making more French toast for breakfast!
The key is to be resourceful and find ways to save food instead of wasting it.
Besides, having some French toast batter ready in the refrigerator is always a welcoming aroma!
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.
Julie
Saturday 23rd of September 2023
Thank you for the oatmeal idea!!! I make pumpkin French toast, it is a family favorite meal. But I always end up with leftover custard after using up the loaf of brioche. So this morning I am enjoying a perfect bowl of pumpkin oatmeal with walnuts, dried cranberries, and hemp hearts added in. I will be doing this every time from now on!