Super Easy Baked High Protein French Toast Recipe
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French toast is the ultimate comfort breakfast – but did you know you can make protein French toast and have your fave brekkie also help you achieve your fitness goals?
This French toast batter contains extra protein from protein powder, meaning that 1 serving provides you with 26 grams of protein!
I LOVE French toast. Really, truly, deeply, I can’t resist a sweet, soft, crispy, golden brown slice of French toast drizzled with maple syrup. What a treat.
However, the classic French toast recipe that I ate as a kid used sliced white bread, margarine and refined sugar…not exactly a healthy start to the day.
So I thought, why not tweak the recipe. Lower the fat, up the protein, focus on healthy ingredients, and voila!
A french toast recipe that fits with my fitness regime, is the perfect post-workout meal and (this is the best part) still has all the lovely nostalgic flavors that I love so much.
A high protein breakfast is a good idea for many reasons. Protein is one of the most important macros, as it is the building block of all cells, and vital for your body’s healthy functioning.
If you want to build muscle, you need to eat plenty of protein, as this is pretty much what muscle is made out of!
You will also want to keep your protein levels high if you are trying to lose weight. This is partly because of the general importance of protein, but also because it is the most filling macro.
Protein-packed meals are going to keep you feeling full for the longest, meaning that you are more likely to stick to your meal plan and maintain a calorie deficit, because you won’t get as hungry between meals!
You might not be trying to build muscle or lose weight – protein is still super important for your overall well being.
A delicious breakfast with plenty of protein is a great way to get a large chunk of your daily protein needs first thing in the morning.
Check out our FREE 7-Day High Protein Meal Plan to learn more about getting enough protein as a vegetarian.
Ingredients
So, what goes into this protein french toast to make it both delicious, healthy and protein packed?
Let’s have a look now.
Sliced sourdough bread (preferably stale)
It is best to use whole wheat bread, because whole grain foods contain far more nutrients and less refined sugar than white bread/refined grain foods.
I like to use sourdough for similar reasons – it has higher levels of nutrients than most other types of bread.
The reason I recommend using stale bread is because when you let the bread soak in the egg mixture, fresh bread can become a bit too soggy.
Stale bread tends to hold its texture better. Plus its a great way to avoid food waste!
Eggs
Whole eggs are the basis of your batter. Usually these are the sole source of protein in a french toast recipe.
While eggs are a fantastic source of protein and other health benefits, not enough are used in French toast to really make an impact. That’s why I add protein powder!
Sugar
I try to keep sugar levels fairly low in this recipe, though a little bit is needed to bring out the flavors and give your toast that lovely sweet kick. There is only 1 tbsp of sugar between two servings.
Seasoning: cardamom, cinnamon powder, vanilla extract
This combination of flavors gives a delightful warmth and sweetness to your toast. If you don’t have these specific spices, you could also try grated nutmeg, cloves or even almond extract!
Lemon zest
For an added zing which also helps to balance the sweetness, a sprinkling of lemon zest is just what you need.
This can be replaced by a dash of lemon juice if you don’t have a lemon to zest, or left out altogether if you don’t have anything to hand.
Choose your favorite protein powder and whack it in! Vanilla protein powder or other ‘plain’ flavors are preferred. The best protein powders are always the natural ones.
The density of protein content in these powders is what makes this one of our high-protein breakfast recipes.
Milk of choice
It’s up to you what you choose when it comes to milk. Plant based and dairy milk all work!
Butter, ghee or vegetable oil
Whatever fat you have to hand works here.
Try to stick to unprocessed healthy fats, but don’t worry too much about it as you’re only using 1.5 tsp so you’re not exactly going to compromise your health and wellbeing if an unhealthy fat sneaks in there!
Berries or diced apple
You can get creative with this one. Any berries work – I am partial to raspberries and blueberries, but I could also imagine this working really nicely with chopped strawberries.
Diced apple is also a good choice (maybe toss it in cinnamon and a bit of sugar first?). I can even see a version of this French toast with cherries and sliced almonds…Bakewell French toast anybody?
How many calories are in protein French toast?
This protein French taost contains 430 calories per serving, and it contains 26g protein per serving.
Here’s a quick overview of 1 serving:
kcal 430kcal
Carbs 59g
Fat 11g
Protein 26g
Health benefits
You might be surprised to hear how healthy this French toast is!
French toast is not the first thing you tend to think of when looking for a healthy breakfast recipe. Let me talk you through all the choices I have made to ensure that this is the healthiest it can be.
I’ve already explained the benefits of upping the protein levels in this dish. At 26g protein per serving that is already coming up to half the RDA of protein for most people.
I have also made sure to control the sugar levels in this recipe, limiting it to 1.5 tbsp of sugar in total.
Consuming too much sugar has wide ranging health impacts, from diabetes to heart disease, so it is important to lower sugar levels wherever possible.
Furthermore, sugar causes spikes in insulin levels which can lead to sugar highs and crashes, affecting your energy levels throughout the day.
A healthy amount of daily sugar is between 2-3 tablespoons per day. One serving of this french toast is less than half your daily intake.
For context, a 45g bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk contains 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Our protein toast is also lower in fat than a traditional recipe. This is thanks to the fact that it is baked and not fried.
This requires considerably less fat to be used, meaning that the overall fat content of this recipe is just 11g per serving. Most of this is from healthy unsaturated fat!
How to make the best protein French toast
Time needed: 35 minutes.
This healthy French toast is super easy to make. Prep it the night before, then pop it in the oven in the morning and enjoy a fresh hot breakfast in half an hour!
- Prep
The night before, arrange the slices of bread in a loaf tin. You might want to grease the tin with cooking spray first, if it’s not a non-stick pan.
- Batter prep
Whisk together eggs, milk, your protein powder of choice, spices, lemon zest and sugar. Pour over the bread and scatter fruit on top.
- Soak
Cover and leave to soak overnight in the fridge.
- Bake
The next morning, set the oven to 180 degrees and bake your french toast casserole for 25-30 minutes. You want it to be the bread to be puffed up and for the edges to have turned a lovely golden brown.
- Serve
Dish it up warm, with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, a dollop of greek yogurt and maybe some chopped nuts and fresh fruit!
FAQs
Hopefully I have answered any questions you might have about this recipe here.
If there’s anything I have missed, drop me a comment at the bottom of this page below the recipe card and I will get back to you!
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes and no. This needs to be made one night before, so the bread has time to soak up the egg mixture. However, I wouldn’t recommend baking it ahead of time, as the bread can become soggy.
I also wouldn’t recommend soaking the bread for more than one night, for the same reason.
How do I store and reheat french toast?
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat either in the oven for around 20 minutes at medium heat, or in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
However, this dish is best enjoyed fresh out the oven.
What to serve with protein french toast?
Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, chopped nuts, a dollop of peanut butter, some chocolate chips if you’re feeling naughty – all these things are delicious to serve with protein french toast.
A drizzle of honey or maple syrup also adds some sweetness. However, this recipe is tasty all by itself!
Does French toast count as protein?
French toast has eggs in it, so it could technically count as a protein source. However, most French toast recipes don’t require many eggs, so the protein content is negligible.
They also usually contain a lot of sugar, fat and processed carbs, so traditional french toast can’t really be counted as a healthy protein source.
If you cut down the sugar and fat, and add protein powder to your egg mixture, then it is very possible to make a healthy protein packed french toast recipe.
How much protein is in 2 pieces of French toast?
Around 10g. Most French toast recipes use roughly an egg per serving, plus you will get a bit of additional protein from the milk and butter.
If you want more protein in your french toast, then add a plain flavored protein powder to the mixture.
What’s the best protein for breakfast?
Eggs are a great protein source to eat at breakfast. An egg contains 6g protein and only around 70 calories.
You can use them in many different recipes, from scrambled eggs, to shakshuka, to french toast. Other good breakfast protein sources include: yogurt, scrambled tofu, beans and overnight oats.
Variations and alternatives
You might be surprised to hear that it is possible to make this recipe both vegan and gluten free.
For gluten free french toast, simply swap your normal bread for your favorite gluten-free bread. To make it vegan is a little bit more complicated.
Our vegan french toast batter uses an unusual combination of almond milk, buckwheat flour and sparkling water (it works trust us!).
You can also make vegan french toast batter from plant based milk, cornflour and flaxseeds, or using one of these egg alternatives you can get in supermarkets.
Follow the recipe as usual, just substitute the egg for whichever alternative you most like the sound of.
More french toast recipes and other protein breakfasts
If you like this french toast recipe, why not try our healthy french toast with stewed apples, or our delicious savory vegan french toast recipe.
If you are looking for more high protein breakfast recipes in general, I also have you covered.
Our scrambled eggs recipe contains 22g protein per serving, this protein powder oatmeal with wintery apples contains 24g per serving.
For a real protein bomb, this vegetable frittata contains a whopping 30g protein per serving!
Super Easy Baked High Protein French Toast Recipe
Looking for a french toast recipe that’s actually healthy and nutritious? Try our high protein french toast recipe now!
- 5 oz sourdough bread (preferably a stale loaf, sliced)
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon (or cardamom)
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp protein powder
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1 ½ tsp butter (or ghee, vegetable oil)
- 1 cup berries (or diced apple)
- The night before, arrange in a loaf pan the slices of bread.
5 oz sourdough bread
- In a bowl mix the egg, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon/cardamom, lemon zest, protein powder, milk of choice and melted butter (or fat of choice).
1 egg, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp protein powder, 1 cup milk of choice, 1 ½ tsp butter
- Pour the liquid evenly over the bread and scatter the fruit.
1 cup berries
- Cover and rest in the fridge overnight (optional).
- The next day, place the loaf pan on a 180 C / 355 F degree oven (no need to preheat) and cook for around 25-30 minutes or until the bread is puffed up and the edges are golden brown.
- Serve warm, optionally with a drizzle of maple syrup/honey, a spoonful of yogurt, fresh fruit or chopped nuts.
Nutrition Facts
Super Easy Baked High Protein French Toast Recipe
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
I hope you enjoyed this protein french toast recipe! Let me know what you think in the comments.
