Sweet Eggy Bread

 

 

 

This sweet eggy bread is whipped up in minutes. Cheap, tasty and a great way to use up stale bread. Lightly spiced with cinnamon and a touch of brown sugar, it is finished off with drizzled caramel sauce.

Easily adapted to make it a little healthier, it is great with Greek yoghurt and berries. The perfect, delicious weekend brunch for the whole family.

 

 

 

My sweet eggy bread

The difference between eggy bread and French toast

Eggy bread through the ages

Sweet eggy bread

Can I make this eggy bread healthier?

More ideas for breakfast and brunch

 

 

 

 

 

My sweet eggy bread

Eggy bread is the absolute best way to use up any stale bread. Traditionally, it’s served as a savoury breakfast with nothing more than bread and beaten eggs. This time around, I made my kids’ day by turning it into a sweet brunch with cinnamon and a touch of brown sugar, finished off with a drizzle of caramel sauce.

My version is just the way my mum used to make it. Instead of dipping neat slices, I tear up stale bread, soak the pieces in eggs, and fry them until golden. As it cooks, the soaked bread moulds together into one large piece, with crisp edges and a softer, almost custardy centre. Cheap, quick, filling, and tasty, it’s a crowd-pleaser, for sure. What more could you want from a breakfast or brunch?

It is most often savoury and dished up either on its own or accompanied by sausage, bacon or beans. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The difference between eggy bread and French toast

Eggy bread and French toast are often used interchangeably in the UK, especially if we are referring to whole slices of bread. However, there are some subtle differences. Eggy bread is traditionally a simple, practical dish where stale bread is torn or sliced, soaked in beaten eggs, and fried.

Just to confuse the issue though, when we did whole slices into beaten eggs, that is also referred to as eggy bread. These days, it’s quite common to hear people call this French toast, especially younger generations or those who’ve picked up the term through travel, food media, or social media.

Traditional French toast, in contrast, tends to be sweeter and more refined. Cooks in many countries dip whole slices of bread in an egg–milk mixture, sometimes enriched with sugar, cinnamon, or vanilla, and fry or bake them. Though it can be savoury, French toast is usually served as a plated café-style dish rather than torn into chunks.

In short, eggy bread is French toast’s slightly scruffier cousin. A little rough around the edges, practical, and full of nostalgia. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eggy bread through the ages

The basic idea of soaking stale bread in beaten eggs and frying it dates back to ancient times. Records from Roman and medieval Europe show similar recipes used to avoid wasting bread, making it a simple, nourishing breakfast. In the UK, the dish became known as eggy bread, a name that reflects exactly what it is: bread cooked with eggs. Traditionally, it was served savoury, often on its own or with sausages, bacon, or beans. 

The name “French toast” appears in English-language cookbooks in the 17th century, though the dish itself predates the name by many centuries. Interestingly, the French don’t call it French toast at all. In France, it’s called pain perdu, meaning “lost bread,” highlighting its role in using up stale loaves. 

In Sweden, French toast is known as fattiga riddare, which directly translates to poor knight. A reference to them having little money, not a forlorn specimen. A charming nod to the idea of using inexpensive ingredients to make something satisfying. Strangely enough, this theme continues in some parts of the UK, where people refer to sweet eggy bread as Poor Knights of Windsor. Another example of this practical dish receiving whimsical names around the world.

Despite the different names and slight variations in preparation, at their heart, both eggy bread and French toast are solutions to the same problem: turning stale bread into something delicious and comforting. 

 

 

Sweet eggy bread

Eggy bread is meant to be simple. A quick, comforting way to transform stale bread into something delicious. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t jazz it up a little, if you fancy it. My eggy bread has a healthy drizzle of caramel sauce, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy it. 

Traditionally, French toast is served with a dusting of icing sugar, a drizzle of syrup, or a scattering of fresh fruit. A little honey or maple syrup along with a sprinkling of tart berries would be delicious. Why not chop some nuts and dark chocolate and scatter over the top?

Eggy bread doesn’t just mean breakfast, either. Create a dessert by topping it with whipped cream, vanilla ice-cream or drizzled chocolate.  

 

 

 

 

 

How can I make this eggy bread healthier?

Frying the eggy bread means you can’t completely avoid oil or butter. However, with just two tablespoons of brown sugar and optional caramel drizzle, it’s still surprisingly light.

For a lighter version, you could skip the caramel sauce altogether. Instead, you could stir in a touch of honey or maple syrup into the beaten egg before adding the bread. This will offer a little sweetness without going overboard. 

Adding fruit is another simple way to make the dish more balanced and nutritious. Fresh berries, sliced banana, or apple pieces not only add natural sweetness and fibre but also bring colour and freshness to the plate. You could also pair the bread with a light compote made from stewed berries or stone fruits for natural sweetness and moisture.If you want a creamy contrast, a spoonful of Greek yoghurt, ricotta, or mascarpone would work beautifully. 

Small tweaks like these make sweet eggy bread feel indulgent yet more nourishing, so you can enjoy it as a weekend brunch or even a relaxed breakfast any time without feeling guilty. It’s a dish that balances comfort and practicality, letting you transform leftover bread into something wholesome and satisfying.