Description
This easy French toast recipe creates perfectly golden, crispy-on-the-outside and custardy-on-the-inside slices in just 15 minutes. With simple pantry ingredients and foolproof instructions, you’ll make restaurant-quality French toast right at home. Perfect for weekend breakfasts, holiday brunches, or special family mornings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices thick-cut bread (Texas toast, brioche, or challah work best)
- 4 large eggs
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2–3 tablespoons butter (for cooking)
For Serving:
- Pure maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Custard Mixture: In a large shallow bowl or pie dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, and salt until well combined and smooth. Make sure there are no streaks of egg white remaining. The mixture should be uniform in color and slightly frothy.
- Heat Your Pan: Place a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt completely, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan. The butter should sizzle gently but not smoke or turn brown.
- Dip the Bread: Working with one slice at a time, place the bread in the egg mixture. Let it soak for about 20-30 seconds on each side, allowing the bread to absorb the custard without becoming too soggy. The bread should be well-coated but still hold its shape. If using thicker bread like brioche, you may need a few extra seconds.
- Cook the First Side: Carefully transfer the soaked bread to the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side, or until the bottom is golden brown with crispy edges. You should see the edges turning golden and the surface beginning to set.
- Flip and Cook: Using a wide spatula, gently flip the French toast. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes on the second side until golden brown and cooked through. The French toast should feel slightly firm when pressed gently with the spatula.
- Keep Warm and Repeat: Transfer cooked French toast to a plate or baking sheet in a 200°F oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining slices. Add more butter to the pan as needed between batches, usually about 1/2 tablespoon per batch.
- Serve Immediately: Plate your golden French toast slices and serve hot with your favorite toppings. Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with warm maple syrup, and add fresh berries or whipped cream if desired.
Notes
- Bread Choice Matters: Day-old bread works better than fresh because it’s drier and absorbs the custard without falling apart. If using fresh bread, let slices sit out for 30 minutes before using.
- Don’t Over-Soak: While you want the bread well-coated, soaking too long makes it soggy and difficult to flip. Thicker bread can handle longer soaking than thin slices.
- Temperature Control: Medium heat is key. Too hot and the outside burns before the inside cooks; too low and you won’t get that crispy golden crust.
- Make It Dairy-Free: Substitute the milk with almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, and use coconut oil instead of butter for cooking.
- Batch Cooking: This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for feeding a crowd. Keep finished slices warm in a 200°F oven on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to maintain crispness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 slices
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 465mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 195mg