When you’re looking for a lazy weekend treat without the effort French Toast is always a winner. It’s easy, it’s quick and it’s utterly delicious and decadent. What I love most about it is that it’s so easy to customize and there is an endless amount of toppings so it never gets boring. My easy French toast recipe uses a rich egg custard that’s soaked up into the bread, flavored with vanilla and cinnamon then pan-fried in plenty of butter so it’s soft and fluffy on the inside but perfectly golden and crisp on the outside.
My recipe below will show you how to make the perfect brunchtime French toast from scratch including tips on the best bread to use, how to get that perfect golden outside, and loads of delicious topping ideas! Don’t forget to check out my French Toast Casserole if you’re feeding a crowd made with cream cheese and strawberries, yum.
What you need to make this recipe
Bread – Use the right bread. For this recipe, you’ll want a rich, white bread. Brioche is my favorite but you can also use Challah, white sandwich bread, crusty bread, and even sourdough.
Milk & cream – I like to use a mix of milk and heavy cream for extra richness. You can replace both with half and half instead or you can use just milk if you prefer.
Eggs – mixed with the milk and cream they create a rich custard that makes the best French toast.
Vanilla & cinnamon – these are my favorite flavors when it comes to French toast. Make sure to use real vanilla extract for best results and you can adjust the amount of cinnamon to taste.
Sugar – I add a little sugar to the eggs for extra sweetness.
How to make French Toast
1. Cut your bread into thick slices.
2. In a large bowl add the sugar and eggs, then whisk together.
3. Add the milk and cream to the egg mixture and beat together.
4. Add the cinnamon and vanilla and whisk together until well distributed.
5. Dip your bread into the custard and let it soak up the liquid, then flip it over so your bread is fully wet.
6. Carefully place the bread onto your hot skillet and fry until golden brown. Flip over and continue cooking. Add more butter as needed for each additional slice. Serve with your desired toppings.
Pro tips for making this recipe
- Cut your bread into thick slices if they are too thin you won’t get that same soft and fluffy middle and your bread is likely to fall apart.
- Make sure to soak your bread for long enough so it’s soaked right through, no one likes it dry.
- No Vanilla? Try adding in some bourbon or brandy for extra depth of flavor.
- You can use half and half if preferred instead of the milk and cream.
- You can add in different spices instead of cinnamon such as pumpkin spice during Fall.
- Make sure to whisk the batter thoroughly before dipping.
- You need to make sure there is plenty of butter in your pan as you fry up the bread slices. That first one always looks great but if you don’t add more butter you get that paler toast with small black lines. Add more butter as needed for each slice.
- To get it perfectly golden on the outside use medium heat, you don’t want to burn your toast and the pan often gets hotter as you cook additional slices. Don’t shy away from that butter. The fat creates a nice overall golden color.
- To make it dairy free you can replace the milk and cream for a non-dairy milk such as oat milk or use unsweetened coconut milk which will give a richer taste and coconut flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my bread need to be stale?
Many recipes will tell you to use stale bread or even dry the bread out in the oven first. This can help denser breads to absorb more custard while still maintaining some structural integrity. If you’re using a soft bread like brioche or Challah it doesn’t make much difference so you can use fresh.
How long should you soak the bread?
You want your bread almost fully saturated with the custard. If you soak it for too long the bread might fall apart but if it’s only getting a surface coating the end product will be sad and dry.
What can I serve it with?
French toast can be served in so many ways, here are some of my favorite toppings to try;
- Maple syrup and a little butter (simple, classic, and delicious)
- Dust in powdered sugar
- Whipped cream and fresh berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries
- Jam or honey spread on top
- Add orange or lemon zest to the custard
- Crispy bacon and maple syrup, always a winner!
- While hot toss your french toast in granulated sugar so it coats it almost donut-like.
- Why not whip up an easy brandy sauce to pour over. Melt three tablespoons of butter in a small pot, add three tablespoons of flour and whisk for a minute over medium-high heat. Pour in two cups of warm milk, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, and 1/4 cup of brandy or bourbon and whisk regularly until thickened.
Can I prepare it in advance?
You can’t soak the bread in advance or it’ll be too soggy and will fall apart but you can make the custard mixture in advance and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days before using.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, you can freeze prepared French toast in sandwich bags or wrapped in plastic wrap and foil for up to 3 months. Reheat the bread from frozen in your toaster until cooked through or bake in a hot oven on a baking sheet covered with foil.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this easy French Toast recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar (50g)
- 3/4 cup milk (177mL) Sub in some cream or use half and half for extra richness.
- 8 slices bread
Instructions
- If you're using a loaf, cut your bread into roughly half inch slices. Add a pat of butter onto your pan and place over medium heat.
- In a large bowl whisk together the sugar and eggs. Add in the milk and cream, vanilla and cinnamon and whisk until completely combined.
- Soak the first slice or two of bread in the custard and once it's absorbed a good amount flip over to soak the other side.
- Carefully transfer the bread to your hot pan and cook until golden brown. Flip over and cook other side until golden. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Cut your bread into thick slices if they are too thin you won't get that same soft and fluffy middle and your bread is likely to fall apart.
- Make sure to soak your bread for long enough so it's soaked right through, no one likes dry French toast.
- No Vanilla? Try adding in some bourbon or brandy for extra depth of flavor.
- You can use half and half if preferred instead of the milk and cream.
- You can add in different spices instead of cinnamon such as pumpkin spice during Fall.
- Make sure to whisk the batter thoroughly before dipping.
- You need to make sure there is plenty of butter in your pan as you fry up the French toast slices. That first one always looks great but if you don't add more butter you get that paler toast with small black lines. Add more butter as needed for each slice.
- To get it perfectly golden on the outside use medium heat, you don't want to burn your toast and the pan often gets hotter as you cook additional slices. Don't shy away from that butter. The fat creates a nice overall golden color.
- To make your French toast dairy free you can replace the milk and cream for a non-dairy milk such as oat milk or use unsweetened coconut milk which will give a richer taste and coconut flavor.
- The custard mixture can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
- Storage - leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in a toaster or bake on a tray in a hot oven covered with foil.
