HOW TO MAKE OLD FASHIONED MILK TOAST
Milk toast is an old-fashioned recipe that has been around for years and years. It sometimes amazes me the foods we were given as children years ago and what we accepted as treats but that was all our parents had in many situations.
Milk Toast was thought to be helpful years ago if you had an upset stomach and could not or would not eat normal food. Parents made it for sick children because it would entice them with a sugary milk taste. My father thought chicken noodle soup along with some ice cream would cure anything! It was almost worth getting sick to get these sugary treats. There are many ways to make milk toast but the first one is my personal favorite. Milk toast makes a quick lunch or breakfast if you are in a hurry. Most children love it if they like milk.
Do you remember milk toast?
You will need:
Bread (Can use white bread, wheat bread, self-rising or whatever you like)
Butter
Milk
Brown Sugar
Ground Cinnamon
Ground Nutmeg
Toast the bread until crispy using the oven or toaster. I toast 2 slices for one person and use 1/2 to 1 cup milk. Butter the bread and sprinkle on brown sugar, a pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg. I use about 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg for 2 pieces of toast. Heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave and pull the toast apart in pieces and put in warm milk. Enjoy!
Some people use white granulated sugar instead of brown sugar. You can also make this by buttering the toast, heating the milk, adding salt and pepper to the milk and leaving off the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Vanilla extract can be added to the milk if you like. Another way is to butter the toast, float the slice of toast in the milk and add a fried or poached egg on top.
You don’t need a recipe for this. You can just make it to your individual taste.
If you have not tried this on your children or grandchildren, let them help you make it for a treat.
How many of you have tried or heard of milk toast and how did you or your parents make it??? Leave us comment if you try it, like it, hate it, love it or remember milk toast.
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I found your site because I was reading a novel that mentioned milk toast and I had never heard of it. I am so happy to have found your site, it seems amazing, and I look forward to exploring it. As far as milk toast goes, I think I will stick to cinnamon toast, as I doubt I could get past the texture.
My favorite treat as child was homemade bread slathered with cajeta, or Jerri callas, a type of custard made in Bain Marie that originated in Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico during the reign of Emperor Maximilian.
YAY!! So glad you found us!
I remember my mom making this for my sisters and myself whenever we were sick. I’m now 88 yrs. She toasted the bread then put butter, sugar & cinnamon on it, laid it in a plate & poured on hot milk. Very similar to yours & it was wonderful. I may have to try it again — it’s been many, many years.
Milk toast was a major comfort food when I was a kid that I had almost forgotten about. My mom would make it whenever I didn’t feel well. She would make it with buttered bread, warm milk, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Thank you for this lovely reminder!
I make milk toast when not feeling well with a little milk a little butter dash of salt and pepper to taste and drop in a slice of warm toast don’t leave in to long or it will come out in pieces
Heavily buttered toast place in bowl. Put an over easy egg on top and pour heated up milk over it . Sprinkle with cinnamon and a light sprinkle of nutmeg. When I managed country kitchen restaurant a few times cancer patients came in that were going through treatment and didn’t feel like eating whether it was due to nausea or just not well. This breakfast soothed them and wàs a welcome treat
Yes! My parents and grands made this! I still make it to this day. Kinda consider it “poor man’s comfort food” and it certainly hits the spot.
I make cinnamon toast in the air fryer, cut it into quarters and put it in the hot milk mixture. I also add extra vanilla and brown sugar 🙂
My mom used to make this for me when I was sick. Im 77 now and just had it myself for an upset stomach!
Tummy issues today so I made Milk Toast! When I was sick Daddy always made me milk toast. Daddy toasted two pieces of white bread (he never tore it up), butter back then I think he used (oleo), salt and pepper. Fond Memories…..Daddy I am thinking of you and keeping your tradition alive for me…..xo
I love milk toast. I remember my Mother giving it to me when I didn’t feel good, but she toasted 2 slices of bread (I prefer the heels they hold together better) heated milk and butter on the stove, adding a good bit of salt and pepper. Tear toast into pieces in a bowl and pour milk mixture over it. Enjoy.
Mom made milk toast when we were sick it was the buttery version with salt and pepper. I really don’t know why I don’t make it more often, I really like it especially if you’re cold it warms you up. Good memories of home and loved ones. Love warmed through.
I was raised on a dairy farm and milk toast for supper was always a treat. Brings back memories.
I went to bed last night with “the sniffles” and sore throat…knowing a cold was coming on. I woke up to a chilly fog outside and a full blown cold. I’m 78 years old but suddenly wished my mom was down the hall in the kitchen making milk toast (she called it “ghost toast” or “ghost toasties”) which she always made when I had a cold! (sometimes just the cinnamon/sugar/warm milk variety, but often with a soft boiled egg mixed in.) To those who don’t remember getting this as a child, I’m sorry for your loss. Give it a try….never too late! I can honestly say some of my most cherished childhood memories were those sick days, Oh, and we were always confined to our beds!!
Not sure why, but my dad called it Grave Yard Toast. It was the exact same thing as this.
My aunt who was an invalid, and cared for me when I was young, made a version of this for my breakfast when she didn’t feel well. It was simply torn white bread in a bowl, covered with milk and sprinkled with sugar. I still love it.
I don’t know why I was thinking about milk toast but my mother used to make it for us when our stomach was upset. It felt like a treat, now I’m going to have to make some! My mother passed away this January and it makes me sad that I can’t call her up to ask how exactly she made it. But I’m pretty sure it had sugar and cinnamon, how could you go wrong with that?
My South Texas mama made this for breakfast often, this is exactly how she made it. She also made milk rice like this too with leftover rice. Love it!
My family has milk toast every Christmas, but we only make it with my great grandmother’s bread recipe. It creates the perfect consistency. With butter sugar and cinnamon it’s as good as a fresh cinnamon roll!
I remember the first time my mother served it to us I took one look and I cried. I thought she must be mad at us or just being mean. Somehow I was convinced to try it. I was expecting soggy toast but was surprised to find that the toast had a silky consistency. I have eaten it many times since, always white bread that is toasted and buttered while hot, then placed in a bowl with hot milk poured over. A dash of salt is sprinkled on top. I tried wheat bread once but it did not have the same silky texture and same taste. I seldom have it anymore as I don’t usually have white bread on hand but have now decided to keep a loaf in the freezer just for the occasionsal milk toast craving.
Great story Barbara! Enjoyed reading your comment. Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
I meant milk toast, not bread pudding. That’s a whole nuther ballgame!
You are welcome, Nancy. Glad you enjoy the recipes. I loved the good, old days. lol.
I have to show my husband this as he thinks I am weird when I make this! But we always had bread pudding when I was young and I never knew that other people ate it too. Always have mine with warmed milk and lots of butter, cinnamon and sugar. Thank you for remembering the good old days.
Wow my mom used to make this for me when I was sick. Brings back pleasant memories of being cared for and loved. Thanks, I think I will go make some now just to experience it again.
Wow!! Never tried milk toast!!! Salt and pepper I don’t know about that!! Might have to try it!!!
My mother made milk toast for my brother,sister and me. I believe it was from her mother who was of French heritage.
Basically it was 2 pieces of toast from a good quality bread of substance. Toasted til golden brown and then buttered. Placed in saucer type bowl, pour warm milk over to just cover toast. Add salt and pepper to taste. I guess it was typically when we were sick or had a tummy ache, but also when well cause we loved it.
My grandma makes an amazing milk toast. But hers is more like homemade vanilla pudding then add toasted bread. It is fantastic!
My mom gave us this before bed with sugar. I like it before bed now with salt and pepper. It helps my acid reflux and to sleep better.
I just had the salt and pepper variety for my breakfast. Terrific in cool weather or is you are not feeling well. I use wheat or white bread, both are good.
Oh gosh! I’m miserable with bronchitis and was looking for something to eat. My dad used to make this for me and the recipe brought me to tears. I’m going to make some right now. I KNOW this will make me feel better. Thanks so much for saving this recipe for me to find!
So sorry you’re sick! I hope this milk toast makes you feel much better. Get well soon.
enjoyed it as a child
I’m 80 years young & still love milk toast with butter, salt & lots of pepper & a poached egg on top!! Yumm
When I was a child we would have hot milk with sugar and chunks of Italian bread. Another snack was running cold water over a thick slice of day old Italian crusted bread and sprinkle sugar over it. This was in 1939. Liked it then ..wouldn’t eat it now.
It’s been years since I have thought about Milk Toast. ..my dad used to make for me when I was a kid …brings back such nice memories of my dad …Think I’ll make some right now ….Thanks
You’re very welcome.
I make milk toast a bit different..I use a dense bread such as egg bread,raisen,or cheese bread..Any flavour or dense bread will do..Soak it in a milk bath like you would French toast put on a well butter sheet pan or in to buttered skillet depending if you want to cook on top of stove or in oven..Cook on top of stove on medium low and in over 350* turning after about 10 or 15 minutes..I use convection oven..aBefore turning put a half of pat of butter on each toast..Also same when cooking in skillet..Cook until golden brown or as dry as you want it..It is not a diet meal but oh so good..Serve with syrup,fresh mashed fruit or enjoy plain..
Sounds good Dee! Thank you and have a great weekend.
This is till one of my favorite treats, especially when it is cold. I like it best with white bread andvery warm milk. Spices or butter have never been used, and white sugar is the tradition. I like to sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar atop each bite as I like the milk unsweetened.
Thank you for your comment Eldonna. Glad to hear someone else knows what milk toast is and likes it! Have a great weekend.
When I was growing up in South Texas this was a standard weekend breakfast. Thanks for the memories.
We had this when we were younger, especially if we had a upset stomach. It was something you could eat that was easy on the stomach