Hong Kong French Toast (Easy Cha Chaan Teng Recipe)
This post may contain affiliate links.Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and stuffed with creamy peanut butter, Hong Kong French toast is one of the most popular treats served in Hong Kong cafés. Topped with a thick slice of butter and a drizzle of condensed milk or golden syrup, it’s easy to see why this indulgent toast has become a favorite.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
🏷️ Recipe Name: Hong Kong French Toast
⏱️ Ready In: ~ 13 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 4 slices
🔥 Calories: 111 kcal per serving (estimate)
🧾 Main Ingredients: White bread, peanut butter, egg, palm sugar, salt, milk, butter, golden syrup, condensed milk.
🥗 Dietary Info: Halal
🧠 Difficulty: Very easy.
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Hong Kong French toast is one of those simple café treats that proves a few humble ingredients can create something truly delicious. Filled with peanut butter, fried until crispy and golden, and topped with butter and condensed milk, it’s a popular menu item at Hong Kong tea restaurants known as cha chaan teng.
If you enjoy Hong Kong-inspired desserts like mango pudding, mango sago dessert, mango pancakes or peach gum dessert, this indulgent toast is another recipe worth adding to your list. It’s easy to make at home and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. Pair it with a cup of milk tea for an authentic Hong Kong café experience at home.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
White bread – Thick-cut white sandwich bread works best for Hong Kong French toast. Slightly stale bread that is 1 to 2 days old is ideal because it absorbs the egg mixture better without becoming too soggy.
Peanut butter – I recommend using smooth peanut butter for easy spreading and a creamy filling. You can also use chunky peanut butter if you prefer a bit of texture.
Milk – Whole milk gives the toast a richer flavor and helps create a soft, custardy interior.
Palm sugar – A small amount of palm sugar adds a subtle caramel-like sweetness to the egg mixture. You can substitute it with brown sugar if needed.
Butter – A thick slice of butter on top is one of the signature features of Hong Kong French toast. The butter slowly melts into the hot toast, making it even more indulgent.
Condensed milk and golden syrup – Traditionally, Hong Kong French toast is served with either sweetened condensed milk, golden syrup, or both. Use whichever you prefer, or drizzle on both for an extra decadent treat. If you’d like to make them from scratch, check out my Homemade Condensed Milk and Golden Syrup recipe.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Hong Kong French Toast
STEP 1. Spread peanut butter evenly on two slices of bread and sandwich them together (Images 1, 2). Trim off the crusts with a sharp knife (Images 3, 4).
STEP 2. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, palm sugar, and salt until well combined (Image 5). Dip the bread sandwich into the egg mixture, coating all sides evenly (Image 6).
STEP 3: Heat a lightly greased non-stick pan over medium heat. Transfer the coated bread to the pan (Image 7) and cook until golden brown on all sides.
STEP 4: Transfer the toast to a serving plate. Drizzle with condensed milk, golden syrup, or both, and top with a thick slice of butter before serving (Image 8).
Pro Tips
- Use slightly stale bread – Bread that is 1 to 2 days old absorbs the egg mixture better and holds its shape during cooking. Fresh bread tends to become too soft and may fall apart.
- Don’t skip trimming the crusts – Removing the crusts helps the bread absorb the egg mixture more evenly and gives the toast its classic Hong Kong café appearance.
- Lightly grease the pan – A quick spray of cooking oil or a thin layer of butter helps prevent sticking and promotes even browning without making the toast greasy.
- Cook over medium heat – Avoid high heat, which can brown the outside too quickly before the center is heated through. Medium heat allows the toast to develop a golden crust while staying soft and fluffy inside.
- Serve immediately – Hong Kong French toast is best enjoyed fresh off the pan while the butter is still melting and the condensed milk or golden syrup is warm and glossy.
- Try the air fryer – While I haven’t personally tested this recipe in an air fryer, many readers have success making French toast in one. If you try it, lightly spray the bread with oil and cook until golden brown, flipping halfway through cooking.
Serving Suggestions
Hong Kong French toast is best enjoyed warm while the butter is still melting and the condensed milk or golden syrup is wonderfully gooey. Since this toast is rich and indulgent, I love pairing it with a cup of milk tea for a classic Hong Kong café experience.
For a traditional pairing, try it with my Assam Milk Tea or Oolong Milk Tea. If you prefer something floral, Rose Milk Tea makes a lovely accompaniment. Earl Grey Milk Tea adds bright citrusy notes that balance the richness of the toast, while Butterfly Pea Latte offers a caffeine-free option with its beautiful blue color.
If you’re serving this for brunch or afternoon tea, complete the spread with a few bakery-style treats. Hong Kong Egg Tarts are a natural choice with their flaky pastry and silky custard filling. Portuguese Egg Tarts offer a caramelized twist on the classic egg tart, while Hokkaido Cheese Tarts provide a creamy, tangy contrast to the sweet and buttery toast.
Hong Kong French Toast FAQs
Hong Kong French toast is a popular café-style snack served in Hong Kong tea restaurants, known as cha chaan teng. Unlike classic French toast, it is typically filled with peanut butter, dipped in an egg mixture, fried until golden brown, and served with butter and condensed milk or golden syrup.
Absolutely. While peanut butter is the classic filling, you can also use kaya, chocolate spread, cookie butter, or your favorite nut butter.
Either works well. Some Hong Kong cafés serve it with condensed milk, while others use golden syrup. You can even drizzle both on top for an extra indulgent treat.
Hong Kong French toast is best enjoyed immediately after cooking while the exterior is crisp and the butter is melting. If needed, you can prepare the peanut butter sandwich ahead of time and cook it just before serving.
Storage
Hong Kong French toast is best enjoyed fresh while it’s still warm and crispy. I generally don’t recommend storing leftovers because the texture softens over time.
If you’d like to pack it for a lunch box, picnic, or road trip snack, leave off the butter and any toppings until serving. I’ve done this on a road trip before, and it still made a delicious snack on the go.
Hong Kong French Toast
Ingredients
- 3 slices white bread
- 1 tbsp peanut butter creamy
- 1 egg
- 50 ml milk
- ½ tbsp palm sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ tbsp condensed milk
- ¼ tbsp golden syrup
Instructions
- Spread peanut butter evenly on two slices of bread and sandwich them together. Trim off the crusts with a sharp knife.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, palm sugar, and salt until well combined). Dip the bread sandwich into the egg mixture, coating all sides evenly.
- Heat a lightly greased non-stick pan over medium heat. Transfer the coated bread to the pan and cook until golden brown on all sides.
- Transfer the toast to a serving plate. Drizzle with condensed milk, golden syrup, or both, and top with a thick slice of butter before serving.
Notes
- Use slightly stale bread – Bread that is 1 to 2 days old absorbs the egg mixture better and holds its shape during cooking. Fresh bread tends to become too soft and may fall apart.
- Don’t skip trimming the crusts – Removing the crusts helps the bread absorb the egg mixture more evenly and gives the toast its classic Hong Kong café appearance.
- Lightly grease the pan – A quick spray of cooking oil or a thin layer of butter helps prevent sticking and promotes even browning without making the toast greasy.
- Cook over medium heat – Avoid high heat, which can brown the outside too quickly before the center is heated through. Medium heat allows the toast to develop a golden crust while staying soft and fluffy inside.
- Serve immediately – Hong Kong French toast is best enjoyed fresh off the pan while the butter is still melting and the condensed milk or golden syrup is warm and glossy.
- Try the air fryer – While I haven’t personally tested this recipe in an air fryer, many readers have success making French toast in one. If you try it, lightly spray the bread with oil and cook until golden brown, flipping halfway through cooking.
This Hong Kong French Toast is crispy, buttery, and so easy to make at home. If you give it a try, I’d really appreciate a rating and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!