French Toast Bagels

Content… Why Make Them? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Incredible Breakfast Recipes to Try Watch How to Make It

Why Make French Toast Bagels?

I love pancakes, but they take time, while French toast is fool-proof and fast. Use bagels for the bread, and you have a two-for-one. I don’t know about you, but bagels stick with me a lot longer than plain bread. Then add an egg and a slice of bacon, and you have breakfast for the long haul.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Egg Dip – Eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt make the custardy base that perfectly coats your bagels.
2. Bagels – You can use any bagel you like. Plain, cinnamon-raisin, gluten-free, whatever!

How to Make the French Toast Bagel

• Mix – Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. (Photo 1)
• Melt Butter – In a large skillet, melt a tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat.
• Dip each half of a bagel in the egg mixture and allow to soak for 30–45 seconds per side. (Since bagels are thicker than regular sliced bread, they need more time to soak.) (Photo 2)
• Cook – Place the soaked bagel half in the heated skillet, adding as many as will comfortably fit in the pan without touching. Cook on each side until golden, buttery, and the edges are crispy, about 2–3 minutes per side. (Photo 3)
• Repeat – Move the toasted bagel halves from the skillet to a baking sheet and keep them warm in a 200℉/93℃ oven. Carefully wipe down the pan, melt another tablespoon of butter, and repeat with the remaining bagel halves. (Photo 4)
• Serve French toast bagels warm with your desired toppings, such as powdered sugar, whipped cream, maple syrup, or fresh fruit.

Recipe Variations

Would you like some French toast bagel recipe twists?

1. Stuff It: Cream cheese, Nutella, peanut butter, and almond butter all make great French toast stuffing. Slice your bagel in half, slather it with your chosen filling, put it back together, then soak it in the egg mixture and fry in butter. Try lowering the heat and cooking it a little longer so it cooks all the way through without burning.
2. Dessert: Pile fresh fruit salad on top, then scoop homemade whipped cream over the whole thing for a simple dessert. Toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, and walnuts) go great sprinkled on top. French toast bagel sundae or banana split?🤤
3. Savory Twist: Skip the cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar and dip your sliced Everything or herbed bagels in beaten eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Cook them in the butter and top them with your favorite bacon, cheese, or avocado (or all three).
4. Toppings! Eat them like pancakes topped with powdered sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, fruit, or a dollop of fruity yogurt.

Tips and Tricks

1. Day-old bagels work best for this recipe to prevent sogginess. If your bagels are dry, soak them in the egg mixture a little longer.
2. Make sure the skillet is hot enough before adding the bagel halves to achieve that golden crust.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Prepare the egg mixture and store it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, stir it, soak the bagels, and follow the cooking instructions.

Serving and Storage Instructions

These French toast bagels are best enjoyed fresh off the skillet, then drizzled with maple syrup. Store leftovers appropriately in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

If you want to freeze them for later, cool the bagels completely, wrap them individually, and freeze them for a couple of months. Toast your French toast bagels in an oven for 5–10 minutes at 300°F/150℃ until warm.

What Goes With French Toast Bagels

Hey, anything you love for breakfast goes great with French toast bagels—smoked bacon, eggs, cheesy grits, hashbrowns, sausage, sausage casserole, etc. Take your pick! 

More Incredible Breakfast Recipes to Try

1. Sweet Potato Pancakes
2. Banana Bread Muffins
3. Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
4. Breakfast Casserole

Watch How to Make It