If you are making French toast but you’re all out of milk, or just want to make it dairy free, there are a number of simple substitutes you can use in any French toast recipe.
French toast is one of the most popular breakfast dishes out there, and we make it in my home multiple times a month. It’s a crowd pleaser and incredibly versatile.
You can simply top your French toast with maple syrup and butter, or get creative with fruit, whipped cream and powdered sugar.
The combinations are nearly endless. But if you’ve looked at a lot of French toast recipes, you will discover most of them call for milk.
In these recipes, milk is the base for the batter you soak your bread in before frying. And milk plays an important role.
It helps create that crisp texture while adding a rich, creamy flavor that is truly delicious. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make an incredibly tasty batch of French toast without milk.
In fact, there are a number of simple substitutes you can use no matter what French toast recipe you are following.
Ok, so what are the best substitutes for milk when making French toast?
The top milk alternatives when making homemade French toast are eggs, almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, and soy milk.
Make sure to read on to find out how to use each of these milk replacements in your recipe.
Milk Alternatives for Making French Toast
When making French toast, a thicker batter is the goal! Soaking your bread in a thin batter will produce a soggier texture, and nobody wants that.
Luckily, you can produce a flavor rich batter that is thick and perfect for producing a crispy French toast even without milk.
And that means you can make a dairy free French toast too! The key is using the right substitute in the proper ratio. Which is exactly what you will find below.
Eggs
Eggs are an incredibly important part of making French toast. And believe it or not, you can make French toast without milk just by increasing how much egg you use.
Egg contains everything you need to produce flavorful French toast with the perfect, crispy texture.
The first time I made French toast with only egg was a complete accident.
I simply forgot to add the milk, but the results were fantastic! The key to using only egg for making French toast is to use one egg for each slice of bread. Other than that, you don’t need to make any other changes to your recipe.
Related: Egg alternatives in pancakes
Equivalent
Use 1 egg for each slice of bread
Almond Milk
If you are looking for a great dairy free alternative, and you don’t want to use extra egg then almond milk is a great option.
Almond milk will provide a great base for your French toast with a subtle, nutty flavor that works with any type of topping.
Go with unflavored almond milk and use the ratio below for subbing in for dairy milk.
Related: Almond milk replacements
Equivalent
2/3 cup of almond milk equals 1 cup of milk
Coconut Milk
Another great non dairy milk alternative that works great for French toast is coconut milk. I really enjoy the subtle flavor it adds and it works particularly well in fruit and syrup topped French toast.
The texture of the batter is a little thin but the results are crispy and incredibly flavorful. You don’t need to make any other changes to your recipe either!
Related: Coconut milk alternatives
Equivalent
2/3 cup of coconut milk equals 1 cup of milk
Cashew Milk
While not as popular as almond milk, cashew milk is one of my favorite milk alternatives and it works particularly well when making French toast.
The subtle, nutty flavor provides a wonderful, earthy note that pairs so well with sweet toppings. As with almond milk, use unflavored cashew milk and use the substitution ratio below.
Equivalent
2/3 cup of cashew milk equals 1 cup of milk
Soy Milk
While I don’t cook with soy milk often, it is another great dairy free milk alternative you can use to make homemade French toast.
It will provide you with a good batter without adding any flavor. That means the other flavors and toppings will shine.
I do find French toast made with soy milk to lack in crispiness, but in recipes that use cinnamon it works quite well.
Equivalent
1 cup of soy milk equals 1 cup of milk
Milk Replacement in French Toast FAQ
Why do you put milk in French toast?
Milk is added to French toast to improve the texture and flavor. Milk produces a crispy texture and adds a creamy flavor that is quite delicious.
When replacing milk in French toast you will want to use an ingredient that provides a similar flavor and texture.
Can you use rice milk to make French toast?
Yes, rice milk can be used instead of regular milk. Rice milk has a subtle flavor that won’t get in the way of the rest of the ingredients in your recipe.
Use a 1:1 ratio when subbing rice milk for regular milk.
Can you use hemp milk to make French toast?
Yes hemp milk can be used to replace dairy milk. Use a 1:1 ratio and make no other changes to your recipe. Hemp milk’s flavor is subtle and should work with any French toast toppings.
Can I use water instead of milk?
I do not recommend using water in place of milk when making French toast. It will produce a soggy texture and the water adds nothing to the flavor. Instead, use extra egg, or almond milk instead of dairy milk.
Can you use half and half instead of milk in French toast?
You can use half and half instead of milk. Half and half is composed of equal parts milk and cream so it is thicker, and has a higher fat content, than regular milk.
Use 2/3 of a cup of half and half for each cup of milk your recipe calls for.
Related: Substitutions for half and half
Can you use sour cream instead of milk?
You can use sour cream instead of milk, but due to it’s thickness you will need to thin it to make French toast. You can thin your sour cream by adding one part non dairy milk to one part sour cream and mixing. Or you can add one additional egg to your batter.