French Toast Recipe
This French Toast Recipe transforms humble bread into something truly spectacular. The custard soaked slices develop a beautifully golden, slightly crispy exterior with a soft, rich and custardy interior that is unlike anything you can buy or order. Moreover, this French Toast Recipe is ready in just 15 minutes. Furthermore, it uses ingredients you almost certainly already have at home right now.
Additionally, French toast is one of the most versatile breakfasts you can make. It works equally well as a sweet indulgence or a savory meal. For more fantastic breakfast ideas, explore our fluffy Pancakes Recipe, our classic Scrambled Eggs Recipe and our full Breakfast collection.
The Secret to the Best French Toast Recipe
The secret to a great French Toast Recipe is the custard mixture and the soaking time. The custard is made from eggs, cream, vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon. Together these ingredients create a rich, flavorful coating that soaks deep into the bread. Furthermore, allowing the bread to soak for at least 30 seconds per side — not just a quick dip — is what gives French toast its signature custardy, soft interior.
Moreover, cooking in a combination of butter and a neutral oil prevents the butter from burning. Consequently, you get all the rich buttery flavor without the bitter, acrid taste of burnt milk solids. On the other hand, using butter alone causes it to brown too quickly before the toast is cooked through properly.
The Best Bread for French Toast Recipe
Bread choice makes a significant difference to this French Toast Recipe. Therefore, it is worth choosing carefully. Here are the best options:
- Brioche — The gold standard for French toast. It is rich, buttery and slightly sweet. Furthermore, it absorbs the custard beautifully and develops a stunning golden color in the pan.
- Thick cut white bread — The most accessible option. Additionally, thick slices are essential — thin bread becomes soggy and falls apart during soaking.
- Challah — Similar to brioche but slightly less sweet. It has an excellent eggy, enriched crumb that soaks up the custard perfectly. Moreover, it is widely available at most supermarkets.
- Sourdough — A more rustic option with a chewy crust. Consequently, it produces a firmer, more textural result that works particularly well for a savory version.
- Day old bread — Slightly stale bread is actually better than fresh for French toast. On the other hand, very fresh soft bread can become too sodden and fall apart during cooking.
The Custard Mixture Explained
The custard is the heart of this French Toast Recipe. Each ingredient plays a specific role. Therefore, understanding them helps you make smart adjustments:
- Eggs — Provide structure and richness. They bind the custard and create the characteristic set, custardy texture inside each slice.
- Heavy cream or whole milk — Cream produces a richer, more indulgent result. Moreover, whole milk makes a lighter version that is still deeply satisfying.
- Vanilla extract — Adds warmth and a beautiful aromatic sweetness to the custard. Additionally, it makes the finished French toast smell absolutely irresistible.
- Cinnamon — Adds a warm, spiced depth. Furthermore, just a small pinch elevates the custard flavor without making the toast taste overtly spiced.
- Sugar — A small amount in the custard aids caramelization. Consequently, the exterior develops a deeper golden color and a very slightly sweet crust.
Sweet vs Savory French Toast Recipe
Most people think of French toast as a sweet dish. However, the savory version is equally delicious and sometimes even more satisfying. For a savory French Toast Recipe, simply omit the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon from the custard. Instead, add a pinch of salt, black pepper and a little grated Parmesan. Furthermore, serve with crispy bacon, sauteed mushrooms or a fried egg on top for a truly spectacular savory brunch.
How to Make This French Toast Recipe
The method is simple and fast. First, whisk the custard ingredients together. Then, soak each bread slice thoroughly on both sides. Finally, cook in a buttered pan over medium heat until golden on both sides. The full step by step method is in the recipe card below.
What to Serve with French Toast
This French Toast Recipe is delicious on its own. However, these toppings and sides make it truly exceptional:
- Fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar and real maple syrup — consequently the most classic and beloved French toast presentation of all
- Our crispy Bacon and Sausages Recipe alongside for a hearty sweet and savory full breakfast
- Sliced banana, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts for a naturally sweet and satisfying topping
- Our fluffy Pancakes Recipe alongside — furthermore, the two together make for the ultimate indulgent weekend brunch spread
- A dollop of Greek yogurt and fresh berries for a lighter, more nutritious serving option
How to Store and Reheat French Toast
French toast is best served immediately after cooking. However, leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Moreover, they can be frozen for up to 1 month. To reheat, warm in a dry pan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Additionally, a toaster oven at 180°C for 5 minutes restores much of the original crispiness. On the other hand, microwaving makes the toast soft and slightly rubbery.
Baked French Toast Casserole — Arrange custard soaked bread slices in a buttered baking dish. Pour remaining custard over the top and bake at 180°C for 25 minutes for a spectacular make ahead brunch centerpiece.
Cinnamon Roll French Toast — Add an extra teaspoon of cinnamon and a tablespoon of brown sugar to the custard. Furthermore, serve with a simple cream cheese glaze drizzled on top for a spectacular cinnamon roll inspired result.
Savory Herb Version — Omit the sweet ingredients from the custard. Additionally, add fresh thyme, grated Parmesan and black pepper. Top with a fried egg and crispy bacon.
Coconut French Toast — Replace the cream with coconut cream and add a teaspoon of desiccated coconut to the custard. Moreover, serve with sliced mango and a drizzle of honey for a tropical inspired brunch.
Make This French Toast Recipe Tomorrow Morning
In conclusion, this French Toast Recipe is one of the quickest and most satisfying breakfasts you can make at home. Therefore, whether it is a lazy weekend morning or a special occasion brunch, this recipe always impresses. Browse more of our delicious breakfast recipes and share your favorite topping combination in the comments below!
French Toast Recipe
Golden custardy bread soaked in a rich egg and cream custard then pan fried in butter to perfection. The ultimate 15 minute breakfast.
Ingredients
- The Bread
- 4 to 6 slicesBrioche, challah or thick cut white breadSlices should be at least 2.5 cm thick. Day old bread absorbs custard without falling apart
- The Custard
- 3 largeEggs, room temperature
- 60 mlHeavy cream or whole milkHeavy cream produces a richer, more indulgent result. Whole milk is lighter but equally delicious
- 1 tspPure vanilla extract
- ½ tspGround cinnamon
- 1 tbspCaster sugarAids caramelization and adds a subtle sweetness to the finished crust
- PinchSaltBalances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the custard
- For Cooking
- 1 tbspUnsalted butterUsed together with oil to prevent burning while retaining rich buttery flavor
- 1 tspNeutral oil (sunflower or vegetable)Raises the smoke point of the butter so it does not burn before the toast is cooked through
- To Serve
- As desiredMaple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh berries or whipped creamChoose your favorite combination or serve all options for an impressive brunch spread
Equipment
Method for This French Toast Recipe
- 1 Make the custard: Crack the eggs into a wide shallow bowl. Add the cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar and salt. Whisk vigorously until completely smooth and uniform. The custard should have no streaks of white remaining. Use a wide shallow bowl rather than a deep narrow one. This makes it far easier to fully submerge and soak each slice of bread.
- 2 Soak the bread: Place one slice of bread into the custard. Allow it to soak for 30 to 45 seconds on the first side. Then flip and soak for a further 30 seconds on the second side. The bread should feel noticeably heavier and the custard should have penetrated deep into the crumb. Do not rush this step. A brief dip produces dry, eggy exterior with unsoaked bread in the center.
- 3 Heat the pan: Heat the butter and oil together in a large non stick skillet over medium heat. Wait until the butter has fully melted and is just beginning to foam. The foam is a sign that the butter is at the correct temperature. If it browns immediately, the heat is too high — reduce it slightly before adding the first slice.
- 4 Cook the French toast: Lift the soaked bread from the custard, allowing any excess to drip off briefly. Place in the hot buttered pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side without moving until deeply golden. Flip once and cook for a further 2 minutes on the second side. The finished slice should be deeply golden on both sides with a set, custardy interior.
- 5 Cook remaining slices: Remove the cooked slice to a warm plate or a low oven at 80°C. Add a small fresh amount of butter and oil to the pan and repeat with the remaining soaked bread slices. Cook in batches of 1 to 2 slices at a time rather than overcrowding the pan. Overcrowding drops the pan temperature and produces pale, greasy rather than golden, crispy French toast.
- 6 Serve immediately: Stack the slices on warm plates. Dust generously with powdered sugar. Add fresh berries and a generous drizzle of real maple syrup. Serve immediately while the exterior is still crispy and the interior is warm and custardy. This French Toast Recipe is at its absolute best eaten straight away.
Nutrition (Per Serving — 2 slices brioche, no toppings)
* Nutritional values are estimates per serving of 2 brioche slices without toppings. Adding maple syrup adds approximately 100 kcal per 2 tablespoons. Using whole milk instead of cream reduces fat by approximately 4g per serving.
Notes
- Always use thick bread for this French Toast Recipe. Thin slices become completely sodden and fall apart during soaking. Moreover, they have no structural integrity left by the time they reach the pan and produce a flat, greasy result.
- Day old bread is genuinely better than fresh for French toast. Fresh bread has too much moisture and softness. Consequently, it becomes oversaturated during soaking. Slightly stale bread has a firmer crumb that absorbs the custard perfectly without dissolving.
- Use a wide shallow bowl for the custard rather than a deep mug or jug. The bread needs to lie flat in the custard for even soaking on both sides. A shallow bowl makes the soaking process far easier and more effective.
- This French Toast Recipe serves 2 to 3 people with 4 to 6 slices total. To serve 4, simply double all the custard ingredients and use 8 slices of bread. The cooking method remains identical.
- Leftover French toast keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a dry pan for 1 to 2 minutes per side or in a toaster oven at 180°C for 5 minutes. Avoid the microwave as it makes the bread rubbery.
Tips for the Perfect French Toast Recipe Every Time
- Cook over medium heat throughout. High heat browns the exterior before the custard inside has time to set. On the other hand, low heat produces pale, greasy toast that takes far too long. Medium is the consistent sweet spot for perfect French toast.
- Use the butter and oil combination every time. Butter alone burns too quickly. Oil alone lacks flavor. Together they produce a richly flavored, beautifully golden result. Furthermore, use a small fresh knob of butter for every new batch to maintain consistent flavor and color.
- Soak the bread properly — at least 30 seconds per side. This is the step most people rush. Consequently, they end up with bread that is eggy and dry in the center. A proper soak produces that signature custardy, soft and rich interior that makes great French toast so special.
- Whisk the custard very thoroughly until completely smooth. Any unmixed egg white in the custard creates white streaky patches on the surface of the cooked toast. Moreover, a well whisked custard coats the bread more evenly for a better overall result.
- Warm the serving plates before plating. French toast cools down very quickly. Therefore, running the plates under hot water or placing them in a warm oven for a few minutes keeps each slice at the perfect temperature for longer.
- Serve with powdered sugar dusted generously over the top rather than just on one side. Additionally, always use real maple syrup rather than pancake syrup. The difference in flavor is enormous and makes a genuine impact on the overall quality of the finished dish.