• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kenneth Temple logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Contact
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    May 8, 2019

    Chocolate French Toast

    This post may contain Affiliate Links. Please see my Disclaimer for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    My Chocolate French Toast recipe is loaded with mouthwatering chocolate deliciousness! The delightful combination of warm spices and chocolate sauce is a delightful treat for chocolate lovers.

    Here are a couple of variations for French Toast and some breakfast sides: Classic New Orleans Pain Perdu, Gingerbread French Toast with Cherry Syrup, Cheese Omelette, Creamy Cheddar Cheese Grits, and New Orleans Brandy Milk Punch.

    Chocolate French Toast on a plate

    Latest Recipe Video:

    Jump to:
    • Latest Recipe Video:
    • Chocolate French Toast Ingredients
    • How to Make Chocolate French Toast Recipe
    • Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
    • FAQ
    • More Breakfast Recipes
    • Before You Begin
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

    This recipe will show you how to add a new and fun twist to your Sunday morning breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

    Chocolate French Toast Ingredients

    Before you start whipping up this chocolate French toast recipe, look at this ingredient list to ensure you have everything you need.

    This recipe was inspired a few years back during the release of Black Panther. The only way I know how to add melanin to a dish is by using chocolate! I mean, cocoa does grow in Africa, so I know I'm on the right track.

    I couldn't help but add some extra chocolate to the dish, so I made a chocolate ganache too.

    Bread

    You will need a few slices of brioche for this recipe. Texas toast works great too!

    Dark Cocoa Powder

    I love dark chocolate because it's the purest and healthiest form of chocolate. Dark cocoa is pure cocoa powder, but you can use natural unsweetened cocoa powder.

    Semi-Sweet Chocolate

    Semi-sweet chocolate is perfect for ganache! You can use your favorite chocolate chips instead, too.

    Half and Half

    You want the creaminess and flavor the combination of milk and cream provides. You'll also need some heavy cream for the ganache.

    Eggs

    Two large eggs are needed for the egg custard to get just the right amount of creaminess.

    Sugar

    You only need granulated sugar.

    Warm Spices

    Most recipes only call for cinnamon, but I use a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, and salt. The sweetness and subtle heat the cayenne provides play well with chocolate. 

    Unsalted Butter

    When cooking, use unsalted butter instead of salted butter, which is better suited for spreading on toast or biscuits.

    Vanilla Extract

    Adding a small amount will greatly enhance the taste of the French toast, which may be noticeable if you omit it.

    Before you start whipping up this chocolate French toast recipe, look at this ingredient list to ensure you have everything you need.

    Bread

    You will need a few slices of brioche for this recipe. Texas toast works great too!

    Dark Cocoa Powder

    I love dark chocolate because it's the purest and healthiest form of chocolate. Dark cocoa is pure cocoa powder, but you can use natural unsweetened cocoa powder.

    Semi-Sweet Chocolate

    Semi-sweet chocolate is perfect for ganache! You can use your favorite chocolate chips instead, too.

    Half and Half

    You want the creaminess and flavor that half and half provides. You'll also need some heavy cream for the ganache.

    Eggs

    Two large eggs are needed for the egg custard to get just the right amount of creaminess.

    Sugar

    You only need granulated sugar.

    Warm Spices

    Most recipes only call for cinnamon, but I use a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, and salt. The sweetness and subtle heat the cayenne provides play well with chocolate. 

    Unsalted Butter

    When cooking, use unsalted butter instead of salted butter, which is better suited for spreading on toast or biscuits.

    Vanilla Extract

    Adding a small amount will greatly enhance the taste of the French toast, which may be noticeable if you omit it.

    Make sure that your bread is a few days old or toasted. This will help the bread absorb the custard better, which will yield an amazing French toast.

    Chocolate French Toast on a plate

    How to Make Chocolate French Toast Recipe

    Making chocolate French toast is not as complicated as you may think, but first, we must cover a crucial step to making French toast.

    Chocolate Ganache

    In a small pot, bring heavy cream, rum, butter, and sugar to a boil over medium heat. Add the chocolate chips to a bowl, pour cream over, and cover with a towel for 3-5 minutes. Stir until smooth.

    Chocolate French Toast with fork, knife and napkin

    Chocolate French Toast

    First, make sure that you're bread is dried out. Check the next section for tips on how to do this with fresh bread. 

    In a large bowl, whisk eggs, half and half, cocoa powder, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and vanilla extract; soak each bread slice in the egg mixture for about 10-20 seconds (depending on how stale/toasted), and drain off excess. 

    Heat a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter, and cook French toast for 2-3 minutes on each side or until dark brown on each side. Serve warm with 2 tablespoons of room-temperature butter, a drizzle of chocolate ganache, fresh berries, and maple syrup.

    I like adding a few shakes of powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) or whipped cream at the table for a fun presentation. 

    Close-up of Chocolate French Toast on a plate

    Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

    Here are some tips to remember when making tasty chocolate French toast.

    • Sliced bread tends to stay fresh longer than French bread, which can become stale within 1-2 days of exposure to air. If you want to make stale bread at home, here are a few methods.
    • 1) To dry out both sides, place your bread slices directly on the oven racks the night before. Don't use a baking sheet.
    • 2) Place the bread in a 200°F oven for 5 minutes until it's toasted.
    • 3)Be cautious not to make toast; place it in the toaster on low heat for 20-30 seconds.
    • You can use French Baguette, Sour Dough, Challah, Italian bread, Ciabbata, or your preferred bread to make French toast. Slice the bread thickly, around ¾ inch thick.
    • Just to clarify, using gluten-free bread will also be suitable.
    • You can substitute any milk in your fridge for half and half.
    • Enjoy the autumn season using apple pie or pumpkin pie spice instead of just cinnamon and nutmeg.
    • Garnish with sliced bananas, strawberries, chocolate chips, mangoes, pecans, or whatever fruit you love! 
    • Ensure you incorporate enough air into the custard by beating it until large bubbles form. This indicates that you have finished.
    • To bake chocolate French toast, preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a baking dish with butter. Arrange the bread in a single layer in the pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
    • You can use milk, dark or bittersweet chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate in the ganache.
    • Feel free to use regular unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-processed instead of dark cocoa powder.
    • The alcohol will boil out of the rum, but you can omit it altogether.
    Chocolate French Toast with orange juice

    FAQ

    Here are the top questions readers have about making chocolate French toast at home.

    Can you make French toast with chocolate milk?

    Absolutely, you can make French toast with chocolate milk! All you need to do is swap out the milk in the recipe for chocolate milk.

    What makes French toast fluffy?

    Beating the egg-milk mixture until large bubbles form signals you've incorporated enough air into the custard base. This extra air will make French toast fluffy.

    How do you get French toast not to be soggy?

    For French toast that's not soggy, use stale bread that's one day old because its dry texture soaks up the egg-milk mixture without getting soggy. Also, dip the bread in the egg mixture for no more than 20 seconds and cook it on medium-high heat for a crispy outside.

    Chocolate French Toast with maple syrup and orange juice

    What's the difference between Texas toast and French toast?

    Texas toast is a thicker cut of sliced white bread that's perfect for French toast. French toast is day-old bread dipped in a custard base, then cooked over medium heat and served with maple syrup. You can use a variety of bread to make French toast.

    How to make hot chocolate French toast?

    The easiest way to make hot chocolate french toast is to swap out the milk in the recipe for an equal amount of hot chocolate. Here's an excellent homemade chocolate recipe to use.

    How to Store Chocolate French Toast?

    container for 3 days in the fridge. 
     
    Keep them in a freezer-safe container and freeze them for 3 months. 
     
    Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a toaster oven for 2 minutes. 
     
    Chocolate ganache can be made 3 days in advance. It hardens as it cools, so reheat as much as you need in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until melted. Keep in an airtight container on the counter for 7 days. 

    Southern Creole Banner Ad-1

    More Breakfast Recipes

    I believe you will enjoy these recipes if you share my love for breakfast.

    • Cajun Fish and Grits
    • Breakfast Potato Hash
    • Breakfast Bowl
    • Grillades and Grits
    • Peach Cobbler Pancakes
    • Chocolate Waffles
    Chocolate French Toast with berries

    Before You Begin

    Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized. 

    Step 1: Pull all the ingredients and tools on the counter.

    Step 2: Measure everything out into individual bowls.

    Step 3: Follow the Chocolate French Toast recipe and get ready for the perfect French toast.

    Making chocolate French toast at home is easy with my recipe. After you try it out, please let me know how it turns out in the comments, leave a recipe and star ratings, and tag me on social media! #LezEat

    Click here to subscribe to MY Weekly Recipes for easy and free recipes right into your inbox! 

    To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the Pin button on the recipe card, the sharing buttons above or below this post, or any of the photos above. 

    Tag me @kennethtemple_ and use #LezEat on Instagram to share your remakes with me, and don't forget to leave a star rating and comment below. 

    📖 Recipe

    Close-up of Chocolate French Toast on a plate

    Chocolate French Toast

    Kenneth Temple
    This Chocolate French Toast recipe combines classic flavors with a chocolate ganache sauce. Perfect for adding a twist to breakfast.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 persons
    Calories 1009 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Ganache:

    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 tablespoon rum
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 6 ounces 1 cup semisweet chocolate

    Chocolate French Toast:

    • ¾ cup half and half
    • ⅓ cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
    • pinch of salt
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 4 slices brioche or Texas toast
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ½ cup grade A Maple Syrup ¼ cup per serving

    Instructions
     

    Ganache:

    • In a small pot heat cream, rum, butter and sugar to a boil. Add chocolate chips to a medium bowl; pour hot cream over and cover with a towel for 3-5 minutes. Stir until smooth sit to the side and allow to cool.

    Chocolate French Toast:

    • In a large bowl, mix whisk together milk, cocoa powder, eggs, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and vanilla; soak bread in the egg mixture for about 10-20 seconds.
    • In a large skillet over medium high heat melt 4 tablespoons of butter, cook bread for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden brown on each side. Serve hot with a drizzle of ganache, 2 tablespoons butter, maple syrup.

    Notes

    Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

    Here are some tips to remember when making tasty chocolate French toast.
    • Sliced bread tends to stay fresh longer than French bread, which can become stale within 1-2 days of exposure to air. If you want to make stale bread at home, here are a few methods.
    • 1) To dry out both sides, place your bread slices directly on the oven racks the night before. Don't use a baking sheet.
    • 2) Place the bread in a 200°F oven for 5 minutes until it's toasted.
    • 3)Be cautious not to make toast; place it in the toaster on low heat for 20-30 seconds.
    • You can use French Baguette, Sour Dough, Challah, Italian bread, Ciabbata, or your preferred bread to make French toast. Slice the bread thickly, around ¾ inch thick.
    • Just to clarify, using gluten-free bread will also be suitable.
    • You can substitute any milk in your fridge for half and half.
    • Enjoy the autumn season using apple pie or pumpkin pie spice instead of just cinnamon and nutmeg.
    • Garnish with sliced bananas, strawberries, chocolate chips, mangoes, pecans, or whatever fruit you love! 
    • Ensure you incorporate enough air into the custard by beating it until large bubbles form. This indicates that you have finished.
    • To bake chocolate French toast, preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a baking dish with butter. Arrange the bread in a single layer in the pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
    • You can use milk, dark or bittersweet chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate in the ganache.
    • Feel free to use regular unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-processed instead of dark cocoa powder.
    • The alcohol will boil out of the rum, but you can omit it altogether.
    Storage:
    Chocolate French toast is best eaten immediately, but it will remain fresh in an airtight container for 3 days in the fridge.
    Keep them in a freezer-safe container and freeze them for 3 months.
    Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a toaster oven for 2 minutes.
    Chocolate ganache can be made 3 days in advance. It hardens as it cools, so reheat as much as you need in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until melted. Keep in an airtight container on the counter for 7 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0gCalories: 1009kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 13gFat: 63gSaturated Fat: 38gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 246mgSodium: 239mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 6gSugar: 71gVitamin A: 1703IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 189mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword chocolate french toast
    Cooked this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    « Southern Mojitos
    New Orleans BBQ Shrimp & Grits »

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Chef KENNETH Temple

    Let's Eat! I'm Kenneth!

    I am a "Food Networks Chopped Champion" from New Orleans, Louisiana, and I love cooking the best Southern Creole classics from scratch.

    Read More

    As Seen On

    Trending Recipes

    • Hot Honey Sauce in a bowl
      3-Ingredient Hot Honey Sauce
    • Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe in a plate.
      Homemade Creole Seasoning

    Buy My Cookbook!

    Winter Recipes

    • Turnip Greens in a bowl
      Southern Turnip Greens
    • Southern Smothered Cabbage in a pot
      Southern Smothered Cabbage
    • Close up of cooked hoppin john
      Hoppin' John
    • Root Beer Braised Short Ribs2
      Root Beer Braised Short Ribs

    Healthy Recipes

    • Lamb Meatballs with Roasted Veg
      Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs Bowl
    • Yassa Chicken Bowl
    • Glazed Lemon Pepper Salmon on a plate
      10-Minute Lemon Pepper Salmon
    • Fajita Bowl with Cilantro Rice2
      Steak Fajita Bowl With Onions, Peppers And Cilantro Rice

    Party Recipes

    • Cajun Deviled Egg in a hand.
      Cajun Deviled Eggs
    • Spinach dip with cheese pull
      Spinach Artichoke Dip without Cream Cheese
    • Garlic Parmesan Wings being held in hand
      Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
    • close up of bbq meatballs
      Oven BBQ Meatballs

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! to receive new recipe ideas

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Brunch Pro on the Feast Plugin

    Shop my kitchenware!

    Chef 8-inch Knife Oven Thermometer Glass Bowls XL Air-Fryer 8-Quart Instant Pot Measuring Cups and Spoons Cast Iron Skillet Digital Food Scale

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.