Savory French Toast Bites with Bacon, Tomato & Cheese Recipe
Every year, I look forward to the Christmas cocktail party season with great anticipation. Of course, I enjoy donning a fancy outfit and being merry with my friends. However, I fully admit that I can not wait to sample all of the appetizers. Lots of little tastes and a multitude of flavor combinations all in one place is enough to make anyone turn their Scrooge face upside down. Some of our favorite hors d’oeuvres to serve and consume are Smoked Salmon & Horseradish Mascarpone in Wonton Cups; Prosciutto, Goat Cheese & Cherry Jam Rolls; and Artichoke & Hazelnut Pesto Dip/Spread. However, I am always on the look-out for new ideas for bites-sized savory treats.
This recipe was inspired by one that I found in my favorite hors d’oeuvres book, Martha Stewart’s Hors D’Oeuvres Handbook. The first half of the book is nothing but beautiful photographs of the hundreds of appetizer ideas. I used her brioche French toast idea and changed the flavors to suit my whims (and pantry selection). I used French bread because brioche was not easy to find, but challah bread would work very nicely, too. Miniature pillows of warm bread are topped with bacon, tomatoes, green onions, and two types of cheese. They are small enough to pop into your mouth in one bite, but this would work beautifully as a brunch dish if you prefer not to cut the French toast into rounds.
The French toast bites recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter the bottom and sides of a 13- by 9-inch baking dish.
Cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towel. Crumble and set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Stir the flour mixture into the add mixture, then stir in cheeses.
Dip thick pieces of dense white bread – I used French bread, but brioche would be even better – one at a time, into the egg mixture until saturated. Arrange the pieces of bread in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
Stir chopped tomato, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onion into the remaining egg mixture and pour evenly over top of the bread.
Bake the French toast until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let the French toast rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a 1 1/2 inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out rounds of the French toast.
Garnish with extra slices of green onion. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.
Other savory French toast or bread pudding recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Savory Bread Pudding with Sausage, Spinach & Three Cheeses
Closet Cooking’s Parmigiano Reggiano Savoury French Toast
Use Real Butter’s Savory Bread Pudding
Savour Fare’s Savory Baked French Toast Croque Monsieur
Inn Cuisine’s French Baguette Casserole (with Egg, Spinach, Mushroom, Onion & Gruyere)
Savory French Toast Bites with Bacon, Tomato & Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/3 cups 2% milk
- 3/4 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 oz. white bread (dense bread, such as French bread, challah or brioche), cut into six 1-inch thick slices
- 1 medium tomato cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter the bottom and sides of a 13- by 9-inch baking dish.
- Cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towel. Crumble and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Stir the flour mixture into the add mixture, then stir in cheeses.
- Dip thick pieces of dense white bread - I used French bread, but brioche would be even better - one at a time, into the egg mixture until saturated. Arrange the pieces of bread in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Stir chopped tomato, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onion into the remaining egg mixture and pour evenly over top of the bread.
- Bake the French toast until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let the French toast rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a 1 1/2 inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out rounds of the French toast. Garnish with extra slices of green onion. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
my hubby LOVES french toast, but i've never tried a savory version! i think this will be a nice surprise 🙂
Laurie @simplyscratch
WoW!These look amazing!
Pretend Chef
The flavor combination sounds and looks so yummy! I love the bite size portions although when I'm in attendance at a party I tend to consume more bite sizes than I would if they were larger. I know the guests will love these!
warmvanillasugar
These look absolutely delicious. Great recipe!
Kalyn
Yum, yum, and more yum. This is just the kind of savory appetizer I can't resist during the holidays!
(And I loved seeing that photo in your feed, so cool!)
Island Vittles
These look fun and really tasty! I love that you cut the rounds out after the oven — that save time and fiddling assembling them all seperately! Theresa
Maria
What a fun recipe! Another great one Dara!
doughmesstic
Yum! What a great idea! I love this combination – gonna steal it! 🙂
Jenny
those really are adorable!! Yummy!
Belinda @zomppa
Oh I love this!! A keeper for sure and will definitely be using this one.
Sommer J
definitely making these for christmas!!!! thanks for sharing-great eye.
Sprinkled with flour
These look delicious! I may have to make them just for myself:)
Tracy
Wow, these are amazing!! I've never thought of using breakfast food in an appetizer before. I would probably eat the entire tray of these!!
Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker
Oh gosh, these are right up my alley! Love them!
Pegasuslegend
these are just perfect for an office party! nice job!~
A Canadian Foodie
They truly would be delicious. I make a similar dish – well – somewhat similar – for Christmas morning breakfast. They are beautiful as you make them, but I am too frugal and would most likely get the small baguettes slices and use the entire piece per serving, or, as suggested, slice individual brioche bottoms sideways, and use the whole piece per serving. I am certain I could find a way to use the tops!!
🙂
🙂
I any case. I am completely charmed by this recipe and plan to make it!
Valerie
Rosemary
I could live on appetizers alone . . . especially these bacon ones. I need to take something to a party this weekend; I will look no further! Thanks, Dara!
marla {family fresh cooking}
French toast any which way & you can count me in. Love your savory take. The nice thing about appetizers is how many unique flavors we can enjoy in tiny little bites! xo
Monet
What a lovely appetizer for any time of the year! I can't wait to give these a try on Christmas day. Savory French Toast is a genius idea and I love surprising my family with new treats! Thank you so much for sharing with me today. I hope you have a joyful weekend!
How To: Simplify
French toast? Bacon? Yes, please! Wow, this looks delicious!
Lick My Spoon
these look simply delicious….and what a novel idea to make cut outs….love it!
penny aka jeroxie
What a great idea!! Thanks for sharing. 😉
lostpastremembered
Great little appetizer! I first used French toast with the famous hot brown sandwich but never took it anywhere else… why not??? I love this combination and will give it a [email protected]
Marie {Make and Takes}
Holy cow! That looks awesome. I've never thought of a savory french toast! YUM!
Jennifer (Savor)
1. Love the apps theme – just posted some on a party I had
2. Love your cool whisk
3. Hope to see you soon!
Barina Craft
These look great for holiday parties and the savory flavors would pair well with a number of cocktails from your brunch bar.
Aggie
oh my goodness!! These look awesome!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
Love this! Perfect little rounds of bread, bacon, tomato and cheese. Oh my, oh my.
Megan
I could make my dinner out of different appetizers. These look fun and tasty.
Barbara | Creative Culinary
Bacon, bacon, bacon!!! What more can I say…well, except these look like bite size perfect morsels.