French toast originated as a way to use day-old or stale bread (some breads, French bread especially, become stale after one day).Whereas a stale, crunchy bread might seem unappetizing, soaking the bread in eggs and frying it solved that problem. The precise origins of the recipe are unknown, although a version appears in the 1st century AD Roman cookbook, Apicius. Another sweet: Bread grated Sigilines (a kind of wheat bread), and make larger bites. Soak in milk, fry in oil, douse in honey and serve. This was also known as Pan Dulcis. Similar dishes have existed in many countries and under many names.