How to Make the Best French Toast
Few things are as comforting as a plate of warm, homemade French toast for breakfast. Whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning or a busy weekday, this classic dish is sure to brighten up your mood. In this guide, I’ll show you how to make classic French toast with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Plus, I’ll share some tips for creating the perfect breakfast .
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Classic French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract optional
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon optional
- 1 tbsp brown sugar optional
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 slices bread
Instructions
- Beat the eggs in a shallow dish. Whisk together with vanilla, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Add the milk and mix it all together.
- Dip a slice of bread into the egg mixture and let it soak for about 15 seconds. Then, flip to do both sides.
- In a pan, over medium heat, cook for about 1 minute on each side or until both sides start to golden brown.
- Serve with maple syrup or try other creative ways to serve it.
Tips and Tricks
How to make French toast?
Start with a shallow bowl to beat your eggs and mix in the other ingredients. Soak bread slices in the egg mixture and cook them in a skillet or in the oven. Serve the French toast with toppings like syrup, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or whipped cream for a delicious breakfast or late-night treat.
Key ingredients
Egg: Use a shallow bowl to beat your eggs.
Sugar: Granulated sugar or brown sugar are perfect to sweeten your batter. If you prefer natural sugar, you can replace it with coconut sugar or a dash of honey or maple syrup.
Flavor: Mix in cinnamon and vanilla extract to flavor your egg mixture. You can omit one of the flavors or add your own favorites such as nutmeg, or maple syrup.
Milk: If you want to make French toast without milk, there are many possibilities.
- To give your breakfast a richer taste, replace the milk with the same amount of heavy cream or Greek yogurt.
- You can also go dairy-free by using almond milk, light coconut milk, soy milk or oat milk.
- You can also skip the dairy entirely by adding two more eggs. In this case, make sure to season your mix with cinnamon, vanilla or even nutmeg to avoid a pronounced egg taste.
The best type of bread for French toast
To make the perfect French toast, start with dense, stale bread to prevent sogginess. Cut a whole loaf into thick slices and soak them well in the egg mixture before cooking. Our top choices are brioche bread for its unique sweetness, challah bread for its rich flavor (perfect for a dairy-free option), and thick-sliced French or hard baguette bread for white bread options. You can also use sandwich bread or opt for a healthier option like multigrain or whole grain bread. Experiment with different types of bread to find your favorite French toast combination!
How to cook French toasts?
Skillet or non-stick griddle
Coat a non-stick griddle with melted butter or oil, and fry the soaked slices of bread over medium heat for 1 minute on each side. Transfer to the oven to keep warm.
Oven Method
If you have a busy morning, you can cook the slices all at once in the oven. Preheat to 300°F before lining your sheet pan with a baking sheet and greasing the sheet. Place your slices in a single layer on the baking tray and cook for 10 minutes. Turn the slices and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy.
Best ways to serve French toast
French toast is a classic breakfast dish that never gets old. And with so many delicious ways to serve it, it’s no wonder why it’s a beloved staple. To make the perfect French toast, you can get creative with your toppings, mix up the flavors in the batter, or even try a stuffed variation. Here is a little inspiration.
French Toast Toppings
- Serve with butter and pure maple syrup.
- Sprinkle icing sugar or cinnamon sugar.
- Top with whipped cream or heavy cream.
- Add fresh fruits such as fresh berries or banana slices.
- Spread Nutella, peanut butter, jelly, or jam.
- Drizzle fruit syrup.
Stuffed French toast
- Boston Cream: Spread vanilla Boston egg custard between two slices of bread. Top your plate with melted chocolate ganache for a decadent Boston Cream French Toast.
- Philadelphia Stuffed French Toast: Make a cream cheese sandwich before soaking your pieces of bread in the egg mixture. You can add fruits between the two slices along with the cream cheese. Top with a drizzle of pure maple syrup.
Add extra flavor
- Nutmeg: If you like its rich spicy taste, try adding 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg to your batter.
- Orange zest: Add orange zest to the egg and milk mixture to give your breakfast a savory citrus flavor.
How long does French toast last?
The best way to enjoy French toast is to eat it on the same day it’s made. However, you can store the batter in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
If you have any leftover cooked slices, wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for up to a day, making sure to separate them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. For longer storage, freeze the cooked slices by placing them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
How to reheat French toasts?
To reheat French toast, there are a few options available. For a quick and easy method, you can warm up one slice at a time in the microwave for about one minute each. Alternatively, you can set the slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and cook in the oven at 350 °F for about 5 minutes. Another option is to use a toaster, which can make the slice warm and crispy in one go.
French Toast Casserole
Looking for a delicious way to use up leftover bread? Try this easy bread pudding recipe, which is similar to French toast but even more decadent. To fit a 9×13-inch cooking dish, you should double the recipe and use a whole loaf of bread.
- Start by cutting the bread into small cubes and layering them in the dish.
- Whisk together the egg mixture in a medium bowl and pour it over the bread cubes.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes covered, and then an additional 20 minutes uncovered.
- For an extra indulgent touch, serve the bread pudding warm with maple syrup, caramel sauce, or heavy cream.
You can also add some additional flavor and texture by sprinkling dried fruits, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips on top of the bread cubes before pouring the egg mixture over them. It’s a comforting and satisfying dessert that will please everyone at the table.