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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Party Food

Easy Melba Toast

Nov 23, 2024 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 12 Comments

83 shares
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Diet: Low Fat / Vegan
Jump to Recipe
Easy melba toast with a text title overlay.
Easy melba toast with a text title overlay.

Melba toast is the perfect addition to any party food table and is an easy base for an appetiser. The best thing is, this easy melba toast recipe is made with just ONE ingredient. An easy homemade alternative to crackers.

A serving board with toast triangles, blue cheese and a bowl of chutney.

These melba toasts look far more impressive than they actually are. They are made with just white bread, but once you load them up with some cheese and chutney or pate, they look very fancy and perfect for serving up to guests.

What we love about melba toast is there there is so many different ways to use it. Basically any way you would use a cracker, but we have lots of options below.

You can make this in advance and then store it in an air tight container where it will keep for up to a week.

If you are looking for some more party food recipes, why not try our delicious Cheese and Onion Rolls, quick Bagel Crisps, easy Cheese Biscuits or our impressive Antipasto Skewers?

Jump to:
  • What is Melba Toast?
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • How to Make Melba Toast - Step by Step
  • How to Use Melba Toast
  • Storage
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Bread Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

What is Melba Toast?

Melba toast is basically sliced white bread that has been toasted, sliced in half to make even thinner and then cut into triangles and toasted again. It's a great way to bring stale bread back to life and it's a must have addition to a buffet.

It is thought to have been created in around 1897 when a French chef who worked at the Savoy Hotel, Georges Augustus Escoffier, created it for an Australian opera singer named Nellie Melba. He made her dry toast because she was feeling unwell and apparently wanted to lose weight. Apparently she was the inspiration of a lot of recipes, as peach melba is named after her too.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Two slices of white bread on a wooden surface.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Bread - This is the only ingredient used to make this melba toast recipe, which is what makes this recipe so brilliantly easy. Use a thick slice of white bread. You could use sourdough, but this would give holey melba toast. You can use brown bread too but we wouldn't recommend seeded because it cracks and splits too easily.

More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.

How to Make Melba Toast - Step by Step

Two slices of white bread with their crusts removed.
  1. Step 1: Remove the crusts from the bread.
Two slices of toast on a chopping board.
  1. Step 2: Toast the bread on each side, about 3-4 minutes.
Two slices of toast, one sliced in half through the centre.
  1. Step 3: Carefully slice through the middle to create four halves.
The slices cut into triangles.
  1. Step 4: Cut the halves into triangles.
The triangles toasted.
  1. Step 5: Toast the cut side for 1-2 minutes.

How to Use Melba Toast

Our favourite way to serve melba toast is on a buffet table or platter with some cold cut meats, a selection of cheeses and chutney to pile on top. These make a great addition to our Vegetarian Charcuterie Board, Grazing Platter or Antipasto Platter.

For a more simple topping, why not try some homemade hummus or Salmon Pate. Our kids would happily have jam or nut butter on them too.

If you had quite a few leftover, then they are nice dipped into some homemade soup. It makes a nice change from just regular bread and butter. Why not try our Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup, Kale Soup or Tomato and Basil Soup?

Slices of Stilton cheese on top of a piece of melba toast.

Storage

Store: Leftover melba toast will store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to a week. We think it's best eaten after a couple of days though for maximum freshness.

Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing melba toast. It's so quick and easy to make from fresh though.

Extra Tips

  • You can really make any size or shape you want when it comes to melba toast. If you wanted something a little more festive, then you could use a star or Christmas tree cookie cutter.
  • To make it really easy to slice through the bread, do it when it is still warm.
  • Make sure to keep and eye on your melba toast when it goes back in the oven, because they can burn very quickly because of how thin they are.
  • Don't throw away the crusts. You can use them to make your own breadcrumbs.
A bowl of tomato soup with some toast triangles in front of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make melba toast in the air fryer?

Yes, you definitely can. It will just need a couple of minutes, but keep checking on it as every air fryer cooks differently.

Can I make gluten free melba toast?

Yes, if you use store bought white, sliced gluten free bread then this can be a gluten free recipe. Just make sure there is no cross contamination.

Do you have to take the crusts off?

You don't have to, but if you want a uniform shape and for them to look really presentable then you should.

More Bread Recipes

  • Air fryer egg toast on a wooden serving board.
    Air Fryer Egg Toast
  • Four slices of cottage cheese toast each with a different topping.
    Quick Cottage Cheese Toast
  • Four turkey grilled cheese sandwiches stacked up with the cheese oozing out.
    Turkey Grilled Cheese
  • Four air fryer tuna melt sandwiches stacked on top of each other.
    Air Fryer Tuna Melt

If you’ve tried this Melba Toast recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Melba toast on a wooden serving board.

Easy Melba Toast

By: Dannii Martin
Melba toast is the perfect addition to any party food table and is an easy base for an appetiser. An easy homemade alternative to crackers.
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
5 from 14 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Appetizer, Party Food, Side Dish
Cuisine: Australian, French
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 5 minutes mins
Total: 7 minutes mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 68kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten

Ingredients

  • 2 slice White bread - about 35g/1.25oz each

Instructions

  • Remove the crusts from the bread.
  • Toast the bread on each side, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Carefully slice through the middle to create four halves.
  • Cut the halves into triangles.
  • Toast the cut side for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe Tips

  • You can really make any size or shape you want when it comes to melba toast. If you wanted something a little more festive, then you could use a star or Christmas tree cookie cutter.
  • To make it really easy to slice through the bread, do it when it is still warm.
  • Make sure to keep and eye on your melba toast when it goes back in the oven, because they can burn very quickly because of how thin they are.
  • Don't throw away the crusts. You can use them to make your own breadcrumbs.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Toni says

    December 13, 2022 at 2:23 pm

    5 stars
    This is such an amazing appetizer! I really loved it! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  2. Gina Abernathy says

    December 13, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Served veggie soup tonight and this toast was just what I needed to complete the meal.

    Reply
  3. Stephanie says

    December 13, 2022 at 1:39 pm

    5 stars
    I can't believe I had no idea that melba toast was just white bread! I feel slightly foolish. On the plus side, I found a new recipe for dip I want to try, and this will be the perfect dipper!

    Reply
  4. Charles says

    December 13, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    5 stars
    Great for Super Bowl! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Katherine says

    December 13, 2022 at 11:33 am

    5 stars
    So easy! This melba toast is such a great homemade appetiser.

    Reply
  6. Tara says

    December 13, 2022 at 2:15 am

    5 stars
    Yum! I'll be making this easy toast for my Christmas brunch charcuterie board! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Jen says

    December 12, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good!! My kids really loved it! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Lulu says

      December 27, 2022 at 8:24 pm

      Recipe??? Am I losing my mind. IT'S JUST TOAST!!

      Reply
      • Dannii says

        December 28, 2022 at 8:29 am

        It isn't just toast though. If you have read through the whole post then you will see it isn't just as simple as putting a slice of bread in the toaster - there are additional steps to make it really thin like melba toast. Also, there are all the extra tips, and serving suggestions that make this in to a whole post. I am sorry that you are so offended by this free post that we are providing.

        Reply
  8. Beth says

    December 12, 2022 at 5:13 pm

    5 stars
    I have never made my own melba toast before! I eat it all the time, so I can't wait to try this.

    Reply
  9. Tayler says

    December 12, 2022 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    I made this toast to go on a charcuterie board this weekend and it was fantastic! Everyone loved it!

    Reply
  10. Mirlene says

    December 12, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    5 stars
    What a fun way to put a spin on toast!

    Reply
5 from 14 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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