This traditional French toast recipe is incredibly simple to prepare in just a few minutes, resulting in a delightful breakfast. The slices turn golden and crisp on the outside while remaining fluffy and tender on the inside, ensuring that the French toast is never soggy.
Discover how to create perfect homemade French toast (pain perdu), a brunch dish that appears sophisticated yet is remarkably easy to prepare. Just whip up a straightforward custard infused with vanilla and cinnamon to dip soft slices of bread into, then cook the bread until it is golden and crisp on the outside and soft in the center.
Accompany it with your preferred toppings, which can range from a light sprinkle of powdered sugar and a pat of butter to more elaborate options like toasted nuts, chocolate chips, and homemade jam (I have numerous ideas for you!). I enjoy presenting a selection of toppings so that my family can choose their favorites. For additional easy breakfast recipes, consider trying my simple chocolate chip muffins, blueberry scones, or Belgian waffles.
Ingredients
Eggs — the key ingredient in the rich, custard-like batter for the French toast that the bread is soaked in.
Milk — I utilize whole milk for this recipe, but you may substitute it with 2% milk if you prefer. I do not recommend using nonfat milk, as a bit of fat is necessary for the rich custard. If you require a dairy-free alternative, opt for a creamier plant-based milk such as full-fat oat milk or coconut milk. In my view, almond milk is too thin for this purpose.
Sugar — I use granulated sugar, but you can replace it with brown sugar if you desire caramel-like undertones in the custard. The sugar not only flavors the French toast but also creates a caramelized exterior.
Vanilla — a generous splash of vanilla is essential, so choose a high-quality vanilla extract if possible.
Cinnamon — cinnamon contributes warmth and depth of flavor to the batter.
Salt — a small pinch of salt enhances all the flavors in this recipe.
Bread — thick slices of bread are the ideal choice, as they can absorb the batter without disintegrating or becoming soggy.
What’s the Best Bread to Use?
I favor a thick and fluffy type of bread with a soft texture that can hold up well.
Brioche bread is ideal for this simple French toast recipe; however, various types of bread can also be utilized! Leftover Challah, French bread, or milk bread are excellent alternatives.
Sourdough bread is also quite tasty, but be aware that the crust may become somewhat tough during cooking.
How to Prepare French Toast
1. In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt.
2. Whisk thoroughly until a pale yellow custard is achieved. This mixture serves as the batter for the French toast.
A set of two images depicting butter melting in a skillet and bread soaking in the milk and egg mixture.
3. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted.
4. Individually immerse the bread slices into the egg mixture. Allow each side to soak for a few seconds, then let the excess drip off.
A set of two images showing the soaked bread being placed in the skillet and then flipped.
5. Add the soaked bread to the skillet and cook for approximately 2 minutes, or until the bread turns golden brown.
6. Gently flip the bread and cook the opposite side until it is golden as well. Serve warm with your choice of toppings (numerous suggestions can be found in the Toppings section below!).
Variations
Substitute cream for milk. For added richness, replace ¼ cup of whole milk with heavy cream or half and half.
Incorporate spices into the custard. Besides (or in place of) cinnamon, consider using ground ginger, nutmeg, or even pumpkin pie spice.
Add citrus zest. Incorporate lemon zest or orange zest into the batter for a refreshing citrus flavor.
Utilize flavored bread. My cinnamon swirl bread is a fantastic choice for this straightforward recipe!
You may also explore my other variations on French toast, such as French toast sticks or air fryer French toast!
The Finest Toppings
French toast serves as a delightful blank canvas for your creativity! Here are some of my preferred topping suggestions:
- Fresh fruits like berries and sliced bananas
- A sprinkle of powdered sugar
- Warm maple syrup or honey
- Butter or honey butter
- Lemon curd
- Toasted pecans or walnuts
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate chips
- Strawberry jam
How to Keep French Toast Warm
Store prepared French toast in a warm oven set to 200°F until you are ready to serve it (however, do not exceed 30 minutes for optimal texture). Arrange the French toast in a single layer on a wire rack, as stacking the slices will lead to sogginess.
How to Store
Refrigerating: After completely cooling, place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days.
Freezing: Once the slices have cooled to room temperature, lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating: When reheating frozen French toast, allow it to thaw at room temperature first. Subsequently, place refrigerated or thawed slices in the oven or air fryer at 325ºF until heated through, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Pro Tips for Making this Recipe
Opt for unsliced bread if possible. If you slice the bread yourself, you can determine the thickness of each slice. Thicker slices will yield fluffy, soft French toast with a custardy center, while thinner slices may become overly soggy and disintegrate.
Ensure sufficient butter is used. You will likely need to add more butter to the hot skillet between cooking each slice or every couple of slices. This enhances flavor and creates crispy edges for the ideal French toast recipe.
Combine vegetable oil with butter if the butter is becoming too hot. Butter has a low smoke point, making it prone to burning. If your toast is burning instead of achieving a nice golden brown, incorporate a bit of vegetable oil with the butter. Vegetable oil has a higher smoke point to prevent burning, while still providing the delightful buttery flavor from the melted butter.
Avoid using excessively high heat. If the skillet is too hot, you will end up with burnt toast that is soggy and undercooked in the center. Medium heat allows the bread to cook evenly, resulting in toast with a crisp, golden exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. You can lower the heat further if you notice your French toast is cooking too quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could I incorporate this into a casserole?
Consider making my French toast casserole instead!
Should I opt for stale bread?
Although many recipes suggest using stale bread, I believe it is not essential, particularly if you are utilizing a soft variety such as brioche. Nevertheless, this recipe serves as an excellent method to utilize an older loaf and prevent waste! Bread that is slightly stale will absorb more of the batter.
How long should each slice be soaked prior to cooking?
You only need to immerse the bread in the batter for a few seconds. For soft bread, soaking for 5 seconds on each side is sufficient. For denser bread, you may need to increase the soaking time by a few seconds on each side.
If you enjoy this recipe, consider trying these!
A stack of waffles adorned with strawberries and syrup drizzled on top.
Waffle Recipe
A tall stack of pancakes crowned with a pat of butter and syrup cascading over.
Fluffy Pancakes
A plate featuring a single blueberry muffin, with additional muffins in the background on a platter, surrounded by fresh blueberries and a cup of tea.
Blueberry Muffins
A loaf of banana bread with three slices displayed in front, accompanied by bananas in the background.
Banana Bread
A plate showcasing a Belgian waffle topped with berries, with coffee, butter, and more waffles in the background.
Belgian Waffles
Notes
Utilize unsliced bread whenever possible. If you slice the bread yourself, you can determine the thickness of each slice. Thicker slices will yield fluffy, soft French toast with a custardy center, while thinner slices may become overly soggy and disintegrate.
Ensure adequate butter usage. You will likely need to add more butter to the hot skillet between cooking each slice or after every couple of slices. This enhances flavor and creates crispy edges for the ultimate French toast recipe.
Consider using a blend of vegetable oil and butter if the butter becomes excessively hot. Butter has a low smoke point, making it prone to burning. If your toast is burning instead of achieving a lovely golden brown, incorporate a small amount of vegetable oil into the butter. Vegetable oil has a higher smoke point, which helps prevent burning while still providing the delicious flavor.
Don’t use too high a heat. If the skillet is too hot, you will end up with burned toast that is soggy and undercooked in the middle. Medium heat allows the bread to cook evenly, yielding toast with a crisp, golden outside and a soft, fluffy inside. You can adjust it lower if you find your French toast is getting too dark on the outside.
Try this nice French Toast recipe !
FRENCH TOAST RECIPE Ingredients:
* 4 eggs
* 1 teaspoon sugar, optional
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup milk
* 10 to 12 slices white bread
* butter
* maple syrup or other syrup
FRENCH TOAST RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
Break eggs into a wide, shallow bowl or pie plate; beat lightly with a fork. Stir in sugar, salt, and milk.
Over medium-low heat, heat griddle or skillet coated with a thin layer of butter or margarine.
Place the bread slices, one at a time, into the bowl or plate, letting slices soak up egg mixture for a few seconds, then carefully turn to coat the other side. Soak/coat only as many slices as you will be cooking at one time.
Transfer bread slices to griddle or skillet, heating slowly until bottom is golden brown. Turn and brown the other side. Serve French toast hot with butter and syrup.
The French toast recipe serves 4 great persons...enjoy it !
FRENCH TOAST RECIPE VIDEO:
