French toast is a treat that people all around the globe enjoy. In its most basic form, this dish involves taking bread and dipping it into a mixture of milk and eggs, then frying it in a pan until golden brown. Once cooked, they are usually topped with either pancake syrup or sugar. It’s a breakfast food that’s especially enjoyed in the U.S., which is probably why November 28th of every year is celebrated as National French Toast Day.

The History of French Toast

French toast as a dish dates back almost 2,000 years. It was first created by the Romans who made a dish they called “Aliter Dulcia” or “another sweet dessert.” The recipe was featured in an ancient Roman cookbook called the Apicius.

This dish was made from white bread that had the crusts removed, cut into large chunks, and then soaked in a mixture of milk and beaten eggs. It was then fried in oil and covered in honey. That sounds like French toast to us.

There was also a French toast dish made with bread that was dipped into a mixture of milk and beaten eggs and then topped with cake crumbs (very much like the topping for crumb cake). It was then topped with sugar. This dish was not only popular in Germany but also in the United Kingdom. This dish was called Arme Ritter in German or Poor Knight in English.

Fun Facts About French Toast

We’ve learned a lot about French toast while researching this holiday, so we thought we’d share some of this fun information with everyone reading about this holiday.

• A type of French Toast can also be traced to a French recipe called “pain perdu” or “lost bread.”
• The name French Toast first appeared in the Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink in 1871.
• In Great Britain, French Toast is sometimes served with ketchup.
• In Scotland, two pieces of French Toast are sometimes made into a sausage sandwich.
• The ancient Romans served French Toast with honey.
• In 1887, a recipe in the White House Cookbook called American Toast was made in the same way as French Toast.

Observing National French Toast Day

Anyone looking to observe this holiday can do so by getting up early and making themselves and their family some French toast for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And while you’re serving up your favorite French toast recipe, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalFrenchToastDay to promote the holiday on your social media accounts.