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Breakfast

Campfire French Toast (Make the Dip Ahead)

Breakfasteasyserves 4 servings· Prep 10 min· Cook 10 min
Campfire French Toast (Make the Dip Ahead)

Campfire french toast is the breakfast that uses up the bread and makes camp feel like a treat. Two things make it foolproof outdoors: use thick, day-old bread, which soaks up the custard without falling apart, and mix the dip in a jar or zip bag — at home if you like — so it's just soak-and-griddle at camp.

Ingredients

  • 8 slices thick bread (Texas toast or day-old)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • maple syrup, to serve

Steps

  1. Mix the dip: whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in a jar or zip bag. You can do this at home and keep it cold in the cooler.
  2. Heat a buttered skillet or griddle over the camp stove or coals, medium heat.
  3. Dip each slice in the custard on both sides, letting it soak a few seconds — don't drown it.
  4. Cook 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and set in the middle.
  5. Serve hot with maple syrup (cinnamon sugar or fruit if you've got it).

Tips & variations

Day-old bread is better

Fresh, soft bread turns to mush in the custard. Thick, slightly stale bread — Texas toast, a day-old loaf — soaks up the egg and milk and still holds together on the griddle. It's also a great way to use up bread that's past its best.

Mix the dip ahead

Whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla into a jar or a zip bag before you leave and keep it in the cooler. At camp it's just dip-and-cook — no measuring, no bowl, no whisking over a fire. Don't soak the bread too long; a few seconds a side is plenty.

Cooking it

A buttered skillet or griddle over medium heat is all you need — coals or a camp stove both work. Golden and set in the middle, two or three minutes a side. Keep finished slices near the edge of the fire to stay warm while you cook the rest.

Common questions

How do you make french toast while camping?
Mix an egg-milk-cinnamon-vanilla dip in a jar (do it at home if you like), dip thick day-old bread, and cook it on a buttered skillet or griddle over a camp stove or coals, 2 to 3 minutes a side until golden.
What bread is best for camping french toast?
Thick, day-old bread like Texas toast. Fresh soft bread falls apart in the custard, while slightly stale bread soaks it up and holds together — and it uses up bread you'd otherwise toss.
Can you make the french toast batter ahead of time?
Yes. Whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla into a sealed jar or zip bag before you leave and keep it cold in the cooler, so camp breakfast is just soak and griddle.

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