The magic of this dish is how it transforms humble pantry staples into something that feels completely indulgent. With crispy golden edges, a warm, sticky strawberry center, and a final dusting of sugar, these Jam Doughnut French Toast bites bring serious café vibes into your home kitchen.
Whether you’re hosting brunch or treating yourself to a weekday pick-me-up, this quick and mess-free twist on the classic doughnut hits all the right notes. Best of all, there’s no frying involved—just simple cooking in a skillet and that delicious sugary crust for the perfect finish.
Full Recipe:
6 slices white sandwich bread (preferably stale, 1.5cm thick)
3 tbsp strawberry jam
3 tbsp caster sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp butter
Directions:
Optional: Use a large round cutter or an empty, clean can to cut rounds from each bread slice. Save crusts for another use.
Spread 1 tablespoon of strawberry jam into the center of 3 bread rounds, leaving a 1 cm edge to prevent leaking.
Top with remaining bread rounds to form sandwiches.
In a small bowl, beat egg and milk together.
Spread the caster sugar on a flat plate.
Heat butter in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
Quickly dip each side and the edges of each sandwich in the egg mixture.
Cook sandwiches in the skillet for about 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
Immediately transfer hot sandwiches to the sugar plate, coating all sides generously.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes
Kcal: 233 kcal | Servings: 3 servings
A Sweet Twist on a Breakfast Classic
Jam Doughnut French Toast is the perfect collision between nostalgia and innovation. If you’re someone who loves the idea of starting the day with something that tastes like dessert but doesn’t feel overly indulgent, this recipe is about to become a staple in your weekend rotation. Inspired by the deep-fried jam-filled doughnuts we all grew up loving, this French toast twist brings the flavor and satisfaction of a doughnut without the need for deep frying. Best of all, it’s surprisingly light in calories and simple to make, which means you can enjoy it more often than you’d expect.
French toast has always been about taking humble, often stale bread and transforming it into something luxurious. This version keeps that spirit alive while giving it a sugar-dusted, jam-filled upgrade that will make it feel right at home on your brunch table or even as a playful dessert.
Where Comfort Meets Creativity
This recipe plays with texture and form in a way that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. By cutting the bread into rounds and stuffing them with strawberry jam, you recreate the shape and feel of classic jelly doughnuts. After a quick soak in an egg and milk mixture, each round is pan-fried until golden, then rolled in fine sugar for that iconic doughnut finish.
What makes this recipe stand out is the creativity and practicality behind it. You don’t need any fancy equipment or time-consuming steps. There’s no dough to knead, no deep frying to mess with, and no hours spent waiting for things to rise. Just simple, clever cooking that delivers big on flavor and presentation.
Perfect for Brunch or Dessert
One of the best things about Jam Doughnut French Toast is its versatility. Yes, it’s technically French toast, which makes it perfectly acceptable to enjoy for breakfast. But with its sweet filling, crisp edges, and sugar-coated exterior, it also feels like a treat worthy of dessert status. Serve it warm with a cup of coffee in the morning, or plate it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an elegant, easy dessert.
Because it’s made with ingredients most people already have in their pantry—like sandwich bread, jam, eggs, milk, and sugar—it’s a last-minute hero when you need to whip something up without a trip to the store. Whether it’s for an impromptu brunch, an afternoon snack, or an unexpected craving for something sweet, this dish delivers.
A Healthier Alternative to Doughnuts
Traditional jam doughnuts are delicious, but let’s be honest—they’re not something most people can eat regularly without feeling a little guilty. They’re deep-fried, often made with enriched doughs, and heavily sugared. Jam Doughnut French Toast gives you that same nostalgic flavor and texture, but in a form that’s lighter, faster, and easier to make.
Because the bread isn’t deep-fried and uses far less sugar and fat, each serving comes in at around 230 calories—considerably less than the average store-bought doughnut, which can easily reach 400+ calories. And unlike doughnuts, which require yeast and time to rise, this version comes together in under 15 minutes. That’s breakfast, dessert, or snack-time gratification with none of the wait or oil splatter.
Ingredient Flexibility and Creative Options
One of the beautiful things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. While strawberry jam is a classic and crowd-pleasing choice, you could easily substitute in raspberry, blueberry, or even apricot preserves. You could also experiment with fillings like Nutella, peanut butter and jelly, or even a small dollop of lemon curd for a tangy contrast.
The sugar coating is best done with caster sugar due to its fine texture, but powdered sugar can also be used once the toast cools down. You could also consider spicing the sugar with a hint of cinnamon for a warm, doughnut-shop touch.
As for the bread, slightly stale sandwich bread works best since it soaks up the egg mixture without turning soggy. If you don’t have stale bread on hand, simply toast fresh bread lightly to dry it out. You can even experiment with brioche or challah for a richer, more decadent texture.
Tips for Best Results
To get the best results from this recipe, there are a few tricks worth keeping in mind. First, be sure not to spread the jam all the way to the edge of the bread. Leaving a small border ensures that the jam doesn’t ooze out while cooking, which can get messy and make it harder to coat in sugar later.
Second, timing is key. After frying, immediately transfer the toast to your sugar plate while it’s still hot—this helps the sugar adhere beautifully and gives it that sparkly doughnut-like finish.
Also, while cutting the bread into rounds is optional, it really does elevate the presentation. It makes each serving look like a mini doughnut, which is great for entertaining or if you want to impress your brunch guests.
A Great Way to Reduce Waste
Another smart element of this recipe is its potential to reduce food waste. Since it’s best made with stale bread, it’s a clever way to use up leftovers you might otherwise throw away. And if you do cut the bread into rounds, you can repurpose the crusts and leftover scraps into croutons, breadcrumbs, or even cinnamon-sugar toast bites. This aligns with the philosophy of using everyday ingredients creatively—a guiding principle for many home cooks looking to stretch their pantry while still making satisfying food.
Fun for All Ages
Jam Doughnut French Toast isn’t just a hit with adults—it’s a kid-friendly dish that makes breakfast feel like a treat. Because it looks like a doughnut and tastes like one too, even picky eaters will be delighted. You can make it a fun weekend tradition, where kids help cut the bread, spread the jam, or roll their French toast in sugar.
And if you’re looking for a cooking activity that doesn’t involve too many steps or dishes, this is a great one to do together as a family. It’s just enough hands-on fun to be engaging without turning your kitchen upside down.
Make-Ahead and Serving Ideas
While this French toast is best served fresh, you can prepare the sandwiches a few hours in advance, cover them, and refrigerate until ready to cook. They’re best eaten warm, when the outside is crispy and the inside is still a bit gooey.
To serve, you can keep it simple with just the sugar coating, or add a drizzle of maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar. For a more indulgent presentation, serve with whipped cream, fresh berries, or a scoop of ice cream.
And if you’re feeling fancy, plate them like mini desserts with a berry compote and mint sprig for garnish—perfect for brunch gatherings, bridal showers, or afternoon teas.
Conclusion: A Recipe That Feels Like a Hug
Jam Doughnut French Toast is proof that food doesn’t have to be complicated to be memorable. With a few pantry staples, a little creativity, and a dash of nostalgia, you can whip up a dish that brings smiles to the table in under 15 minutes. It has all the joy and indulgence of a doughnut, with none of the fuss.
Whether you’re a French toast aficionado, a jam lover, or someone just looking for a new way to use up stale bread, this recipe is a winner. It’s a celebration of simplicity, cleverness, and the small joys of cooking at home. So next time you want to impress someone—or just treat yourself—remember that a warm, sugar-coated, jam-filled bite of French toast might be all you need.