20 Popular French Breakfast Foods and Recipes
on Dec 10, 2021, Updated Nov 19, 2023
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
We’ve collected 20 Popular French Breakfast foods and recipes that will take you right to France! You’ll experience the smell of fresh, warm French toast casserole baked in the oven, the delicious taste of French onion soup, and be in awe with all the amazing pastries you created!
What’s a Typical Breakfast in France?
A traditional French breakfast consists of a hot drink such as a cafe au lait or hot chocolate along with a pastry such as a croissant or baguette served with butter or jam (often called a tartine). More recently, some French people have started incorporating cereal or other dishes into their breakfast meal.
What Are Some Healthy French Breakfast Ideas?
The traditional French breakfast is admittedly high in carbs and fat. Healthier alternatives might include an omelette or crepes, although these dishes are traditionally eaten only for lunch or dinner in France.
Classic French Breakfast Recipes
French Toast Breakfast Casserole (Overnight French Toast Bake)
Here is an adaptation of the famous dish pain perdu. It’s French toast baked in casserole form and filled with blueberries with a crispy custard topping.
Crusty French Baguette
Why settle for storebought when you can make your very own crusty baguette? This authentic recipe uses just 4 ingredients. Serve warm with butter and preserves for a delicious start to the day!
Pain Au Chocolat
This pastry is light, airy and filled with chocolate! Pair with a hot beverage like coffee, tea or hot chocolate for a classic French breakfast. Make the dough the night before so it’s easy to bake in the morning.
Easy French Bread
If you want something different than a baguette, try making this loaf recipe. It has a light and fluffy texture that’s perfect for slicing. Serve it with butter and jam just like the French!
Beignets
Is there a more irresistible French treat than beignet doughnuts? These ones are pillowy soft and fluffy, perfect as a breakfast pastry to accompany a hot beverage.
Authentic French Crepes / French Pancakes
While crepes are usually a lunch or dinner dish in France, pancake lovers will enjoy them for breakfast. Add bananas, Nutella or your favorite fillings!
French Breakfast Puffs
These breakfast puffs are like homemade brioche buns with a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top. Now how badly do you want to taste that? Serve them warm out of the oven for a grab-and-go breakfast.
French Cruller Doughnut Recipe
Skip the drive-thru lane and make your own French cruellers. With their sweet honey glaze, you can’t go wrong serving them for breakfast with your favorite hot beverage.
French Breakfast Recipes with Eggs
French Omelette
If you prefer a heartier breakfast, then why not make a French omelette just like in fancy hotel restaurants? This simple recipe uses only gruyere cheese and herbs for flavor.
Brioche French Toast
Here is a French toast recipe using rich brioche bread. With just 10 minutes of preparation, this dish is as good for busy weekday mornings as for a leisurely weekend brunch.
Creamy French Scrambled Eggs
As with many egg dishes, the French enjoy scrambled eggs for lunch or dinner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make them for breakfast! These ones are creamier and best served on toasted baguette.
Buttered French Breakfast Radish with Poached Eggs
Here is a savory dish combining buttered radishes with poached eggs on toast. This fresh-tasting dish makes for a healthy and modern breakfast idea.
Other French Brunch & Breakfast Foods
Café Au Lait (Coffee with Milk)
This is one of the most popular breakfast drinks in France. Cafe au lait is easy to make using drop coffee and steamed milk. Plus, you can customize to suit your taste!
Croissant
Want to bake croissants like a pro? These ones are flaky and buttery perfection straight out of the oven. They’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a snack!
Croque Madame Sandwich
This classic French dish consists of ham, gruyere cheese, parmesan and a béchamel sauce. It’s a quintessential brunch dish full of melty cheesy goodness, and you can now make your own at home!
French Pastries
Discover the dizzying array of French pastries including canelé, opéra, Kouign Amann and Mille-feuille. The possibilities are endless and you can make many of them yourself!
Cannoli French Toast Roll-Ups
Here’s a fusion of French toast and Italian cannoli in one indulgent dish everyone will love. Filled and topped with chocolate chips, powdered sugar and ricotta cheese, this breakfast is like no other!
French Toast Waffles
If you can’t decide between French toast and waffles, try this! This dish is kid-friendly and perfect for a weekend brunch. Top with cinnamon, powdered sugar or syrup!
Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
This recipe is made with thick slices of bread, dipped in egg and stuffed with cream cheese before being fried until golden! Is there anything more perfect to start your day?
French Onion Soup
Who says you can’t have soup for breakfast?! Even brunch?! From the warm broth to the layers of bread and cheese, this recipe is comfort food at its finest!
You May Also Like
French Breakfast Recipes: French Toast Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 large loaf bread, cubed, about 10 cups
- 2 ½ cups blueberries
- 5 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13X9 inch baking dish and set aside.
- On a cutting board, cut bread into 1-inch cubes.
- Add bread cubes into prepared baking dish and sprinkle blueberries evenly across the top.
- In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, cinnamon, vanilla, sugar and salt.
- Pour the mixture evenly over the cubed bread and blueberries.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- (If make ahead the night before) Bake for 40-50 minutes.
- Remove from the oven set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
- Dust with optional powdered sugar. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
