This jammy donut French toast is a quick jelly-filled breakfast made with soft sandwich bread, strawberry jam, egg, milk, butter, and sugar. It tastes like a shortcut jelly doughnut without yeast dough or deep frying.
It is a fun way to turn basic sandwich bread into a warm, golden breakfast treat with a soft strawberry jam center.
Each round is filled with strawberry jam, cooked in butter until golden, then rolled in sugar while still warm. It is simple enough for a quick weekend breakfast but special enough for brunch.
For a sweet-and-savory brunch, serve this Jammy Donut French Toast alongside a soft French Omelette with fresh fruit and coffee.
Table of contents
- Why You’ll Love This Jammy Donut French Toast
- What Is Jammy Donut French Toast?
- Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- How to Make Jammy Donut French Toast
- Expert Tips for Perfect Jammy Donut French Toast
- Storage and Freezing
- Variations
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Easy Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Jammy Donut French Toast
- Ready in about 15 minutes.
- Made with only six simple ingredients.
- No yeast dough or deep frying needed.
- Crisp outside with a soft strawberry jam center.
- A great way to use slightly stale sandwich bread.
What Is Jammy Donut French Toast?
Jammy donut French toast is a shortcut breakfast treat made by filling sandwich bread with jam, dipping it in egg and milk, pan-frying it in butter, and coating it in sugar. It has the flavor of a jelly doughnut without making dough or deep frying.
Ingredients
- 6 slices white sandwich bread, about 1/2 inch thick (about 150 g)
- 3 tablespoons strawberry jam (60 g)
- 3 tablespoons superfine sugar (38 g)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk (30 ml)
- 2 tablespoons butter (28 g)
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Use slightly stale bread because it holds its shape better after dipping in the egg mixture. Fresh bread can be used, but lightly toast it first so it does not become too soft. For more helpful bread tips, see King Arthur Baking’s French toast guide.
Strawberry jam gives the classic flavor shown in the photos. Raspberry jam, cherry jam, apricot jam, or mixed berry jam also work well. If you have extra strawberry jam, use it in these Shortbread Cookies with Strawberry Jam for another easy homemade treat.
Use superfine sugar for coating because the smaller crystals stick more easily to the warm French toast. Regular granulated sugar can be used, but the texture will be crunchier.
Whole milk gives the best flavor, though any dairy milk will work.
How to Make Jammy Donut French Toast
- Use a large round cookie cutter or glass to cut six circles from the bread slices. Save the bread scraps for breadcrumbs, croutons, or another recipe. For a savory breakfast using simple bread and eggs, try this Bread Omelette Recipe with cheese, vegetables, and crisp golden toast.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of strawberry jam over three bread circles. Leave a small border around the edges so the jam does not leak while cooking.
- Place the remaining bread circles on top and press the edges together gently to make three jam-filled sandwiches.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a shallow bowl. Place the superfine sugar on a separate plate.
- Dip one jam sandwich briefly into the egg mixture, coating both sides and the edges. Because sandwich bread is thin and filled with jam, dip it only long enough to coat it without letting it become too soft. See Food52’s French toast guide for more tips on getting the right soak.
- Melt the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, until deep golden brown and warmed through.
- Transfer the hot French toast straight onto the sugar plate. Coat both sides and the edges with sugar while it is still warm so the fine sugar sticks evenly to the buttery crust. For another warm sugar-coating method, see King Arthur Baking’s French toast sticks recipe.
- Serve warm with extra strawberry jam if desired. For a more filling weekend breakfast, pair it with this High-Protein Greek Yogurt Bowl topped with fresh fruit and granola.
Expert Tips for Perfect Jammy Donut French Toast
- Use thick bread slices so the rounds stay sturdy.
- Keep the jam away from the edges to prevent leaking.
- Do not overfill the bread with jam.
- Dip the sandwiches quickly so the bread does not become soggy.
- Cook over medium heat so the outside browns without burning.
- Add more butter to the skillet if it becomes dry.
- Coat the French toast in sugar immediately after cooking.
- Serve warm for the best crisp, buttery texture.
Storage and Freezing
Jammy Donut French Toast is best served fresh while the sugar coating is crisp.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Reheat in a skillet or air fryer until warm and crisp again. The sugar coating may melt slightly after storage.
Freezing the cooked French toast is not recommended because the bread can become soft. You can freeze the unsoaked jam sandwiches for up to 1 month, then thaw in the refrigerator before dipping and cooking.
Variations
Raspberry Jam French Toast
Use raspberry jam instead of strawberry jam for a slightly tangier filling.
Cinnamon Sugar French Toast
Mix 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon into the sugar before coating the warm French toast.
Chocolate Hazelnut French Toast
Replace the jam with chocolate hazelnut spread for a chocolate-filled version.
Cream Cheese and Jam French Toast
Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese with the strawberry jam.
Lemon Curd French Toast
Use lemon curd for a bright, citrusy breakfast treat.
Jam Jelly Doughnut French Toast
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut six large circles from the bread using a round cookie cutter or a drinking glass.
- Spread 1 tablespoon strawberry jam over three bread circles, leaving a small border around the edge.
- Top with the remaining bread circles and press gently around the edges to seal.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a shallow bowl. Add the sugar to a separate plate.
- Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Dip each jam sandwich briefly in the egg mixture, coating both sides and the edges.
- Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side until golden brown and hot through.
- Transfer directly to the sugar plate and coat both sides and edges while warm.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use slightly stale bread for the best texture. If your bread is fresh, lightly toast it before cutting the circles.
- Do not spread jam all the way to the edges because it can leak into the pan.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using bread that is too soft.
- Adding too much jam.
- Spreading the jam too close to the edges.
- Soaking the bread for too long.
- Cooking over high heat.
- Waiting too long before coating with sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but stale bread works better because it absorbs less egg mixture. Lightly toast fresh bread before using it.
The jam may be too close to the edge or the sandwich may be overfilled. Leave a small border around the bread before sealing it.
No. You can make square jam-filled French toast sandwiches instead.
Yes. Raspberry, blueberry, cherry, apricot, and mixed berry jam all work well.
You can assemble the jam sandwiches a few hours ahead and refrigerate them. Dip and cook them just before serving.
Yes, but wait until the French toast cools slightly before dusting. Powdered sugar can melt quickly on very hot French toast.
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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
