French toast is a delicious breakfast dish that typically involves soaking bread slices in an egg-based mixture, then frying them to create a flavorful and sweet treat. While maple syrup is the most common topping for French toast, there are many delicious alternatives you can use instead of or in addition to syrup.
Quick Answer
Some quick alternatives to syrup for French toast include fruit compotes or jam, chocolate-hazelnut spread, lemon curd, honey, powdered sugar, whipped cream, caramel sauce, peanut butter, yogurt, and sliced fruit.
Fruit Toppings
Fruit makes a fresh, flavorful topping for French toast. Here are some fruit-based options:
- Fruit compote – Simmer chopped fruit like berries, peaches, apples in a sauce with sugar and spices. Spoon over French toast.
- Jam or preserves – Spread on or serve alongside French toast. Berry jams, orange marmalade, and strawberry preserves work well.
- Bananas – Sliced bananas are delicious on top of French toast.
- Berries – Fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or sliced strawberries.
- Peaches – Grilled or sauteed peach slices.
- Apples – Saute apples with cinnamon and sugar for an apple compote.
- Pears – Roasted pears with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Oranges – Sweet segments of orange make a bright topping.
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella, makes a delicious topping for French toast. The chocolatey, nutty flavor complements the cinnamon in the French toast. Simply spread it over your French toast slices and enjoy!
Lemon Curd
Tangy, sweet lemon curd is a refreshing alternative to syrup on French toast. Purchase lemon curd from the grocery store or make your own by cooking lemon juice, eggs, sugar, and butter together. Dollop or drizzle the bright curd over your French toast.
Honey
Honey is a naturally sweet topping for French toast. Opt for wildflower, clover, or orange blossom honey. The floral notes pair nicely with the cinnamon in the French toast. Drizzle honey over your slices or serve it on the side in a small pitcher.
Powdered Sugar
For an easy topping, simply dust your hot French toast with powdered sugar. The powdered sugar will lightly sweeten the dish while adding texture. Sprinkle over the French toast right when it comes out of the pan.
Whipped Cream
Whipped cream makes French toast feel like a dessert! Sweetened or unsweetened whipped cream can be dolloped over the French toast slices. For more flavor, you can add spices like cinnamon or vanilla to the cream.
Caramel Sauce
Buttery, rich caramel sauce takes French toast to the next level. Drizzle homemade or store-bought caramel sauce generously over your French toast slices and let it pool in the crevices. Salted caramel provides an extra punch of flavor.
Peanut Butter
For a nutty twist, top your French toast with creamy peanut butter. You can spread it on like jam, or dollop small spoonfuls over your French toast stack. The sweet peanut butter balances nicely with the egg custard flavor.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt or Greek yogurt provides a tangy, creamy alternative to syrup on French toast. Dollop it over your slices or serve it on the side for dipping. Flavored yogurts like vanilla or lemon make an even tastier topping.
Sliced Fruit
For quick and easy topping, slice up some fresh fruit like banana, strawberries, kiwi, or melon. Arrange the colorful sliced fruit over your French toast for a bright, fruity touch and extra fiber.
Spiced Butter
Compound butter seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla makes a nice alternative to syrup. Simply top your hot French toast with slices of the flavored butter so it melts over the top.
Chia Seed Jam
Make your own chia seed jam by combining chia seeds with fruit juice and sugar. The jam will thicken to a spreadable texture in the fridge overnight thanks to the chia seeds. Spoon this nutrient-rich jam over your French toast.
Ricotta Cheese
Light, creamy ricotta cheese makes an interesting topping for French toast. Dollop it over your slices and allow it to melt slightly over the hot toast. You can mix spices, honey, or fruit puree into the ricotta for extra flavor.
Coconut
For tropical flavor, top your French toast with coconut. Toasted coconut flakes or shredded coconut add texture and coconut essence. You can also make coconut whipped cream.
Dulce de Leche
Dulce de leche, which is caramelized sweetened condensed milk, makes an ultra-rich, caramel-like sauce for French toast. Drizzle it over your slices or serve it alongside for dipping.
Cinnamon Applesauce
Applesauce spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg makes a healthy, low-sugar topping for French toast. The sweet applesauce provides moisture without excessive stickiness.
Mascarpone Cheese
Dollop on some mascarpone cheese, which has a sweet, creamy, and rich flavor. The soft cheese pairs nicely with the eggy French toast. For extra flavor, you can mix in honey or spices.
More Creative Toppings
If you want to get really creative with your French toast toppings, here are some more unique ideas:
- Cookie butter – For dessert-like French toast, top it with this sweet spread.
- Dulce de leche – The caramelized sweetened condensed milk makes a decadent sauce.
- Pineapple salsa – Top with a mix of pineapple, red onion, cilantro, lime, and jalapeno for a savory touch.
- Waffle crumbles – Crush up waffles and sprinkle over the top for added crunch.
- Granola – Sprinkle on some crunchy granola or granola bark.
- Cookie crumbles – Crushed cookies like snickerdoodles or biscotti add fun texture.
- Cocoa nibs – These crunchy bits of roasted cocoa beans provide chocolate flavor.
Making Your Own Toppings
You can also make easy homemade versions of classic toppings like caramel sauce and fruit compotes. Here are a few recipes to try:
Easy Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions:
- Heat brown sugar and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves, 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in butter and sea salt until melted and smooth.
- Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes until thickened slightly.
- Remove from heat and cool slightly before serving over French toast.
Berry Compote
- 2 cups mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of cinnamon
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, until berries soften and juice is released.
- Mash berries slightly with a spoon or potato masher.
- Remove from heat and let cool before serving over French toast.
Orange Curd
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
Instructions:
- Whisk orange juice, sugar, and egg yolks together in a small saucepan.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted and incorporated.
- Transfer to a container, cover surface with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled before using.
Combining Toppings
You can take your French toast to the next level by combining multiple delicious toppings together. Here are a few ideas for stacked and mixed toppings:
- Berries + whipped cream + powdered sugar
- Caramel + bananas + pecans
- Peanut butter + jelly + banana slices
- Mascarpone + orange segments + pistachios
- Ricotta + lemon curd + blueberries
- Strawberries + yogurt + granola
Get creative and come up with your own trademark French toast topping combos!
Considerations When Choosing Toppings
Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting French toast toppings:
- Flavor – Choose toppings that complement the sweet, eggy flavor of French toast like fruit, nuts, chocolate, caramel, or spices.
- Texture – Toppings like whipped cream, jam, or compote add moisture while nuts, granola, or crumbles provide crunch.
- Sweetness – If your French toast is already sweet, balance it out with a tart fruit topping. Or if your base is more savory, choose a sweeter topping like caramel or chocolate spread.
- Purpose – Toppings like powdered sugar, honey, or jam are good if you simply want to sweeten the dish. Toppings like fruit or whipped cream turn it into more of a dessert.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some tips for serving French toast with various syrup alternatives:
- Serve sauces and drizzles like caramel, honey, or chocolate hazelnut spread on the side for dipping or drizzling over each bite.
- Top with fresh fruit right before serving so it doesn’t get soggy.
- Layer on creamy toppings like yogurt, ricotta, or mascarpone after plating.
- Sprinkle on dry toppings like coconut, granola, or nuts once the dish is plated.
- With jam, compote, or curd, you can spoon it on top or serve it on the side in a small bowl.
- Whipped cream can be piped or dolloped on top right before serving.
Serve your French toast hot right out of the pan so any melted toppings are still warm. Offer some different topping options and let guests customize their French toast.
French Toast Topping Ideas
Here is a summary of many delicious topping options for French toast besides traditional syrup:
| Fruit Toppings | Sweet Toppings | Creamy Toppings | Crunchy Toppings |
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FAQs
Is it okay to serve French toast without syrup?
Absolutely! While syrup is a common topping for French toast, there are plenty of other delicious alternatives you can use instead. Fruit, nuts, chocolate spreads, yogurt, caramel, honey, and powdered sugar all make great syrup substitutes.
What fruit pairs best with French toast?
Bright, fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are classic fruit pairings with French toast. Bananas, peaches, pears, and apples also complement the cinnamon flavor well. Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit add nice acidity.
Is peanut butter good on French toast?
Definitely! Peanut butter is a tasty, protein-packed topping for French toast. The nutty flavor balances out the sweetness. Spread it on thick or swirl it with maple syrup or fruit preserves.
Can you use jelly or jam instead of syrup?
Yes, fruit jams, jellies, and preserves make excellent alternatives to syrup on top of French toast. They provide sweetness and fruit flavor. Grape, strawberry, blackberry, and orange marmalade are particularly good options.
What sweet toppings can I use if I don’t want syrup?
If you want sweetness without using syrup, consider honey, caramel sauce, chocolate-hazelnut spread, lemon curd, fruit compote, coconut, dulce de leche, sweetened whipped cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Conclusion
French toast doesn’t need syrup to be delicious! From fruit compotes to chocolate-hazelnut spread, whipped cream to caramel sauce, there are endless options for topping your French toast with something other than syrup. Get creative with sweet and savory flavors, spices, textures, and sauces. The possibilities are nearly endless for crafting a topping that suits your personal taste.
