French Toast

French toast is a classic breakfast treat you can make with a few ingredients you probably have on hand already. When done right it should be moist and fluffy inside sealed in a paper-thin golden outside. Drizzle with some maple syrup and serve with berries for a perfect morning!

How to Make French Toast

1. If you’re starting with a loaf slice the bread and set aside. Heat a skillet up over medium heat with a pat of butter for lubrication.

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, vanilla and any additional desired spices. 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.

 

Pro Tips for this recipe

• Use the right bread. For this recipe you’ll want a rich, white bread. I use brioche but anything very milk in flavor like white or even potato bread will work well.
• Use a nice vanilla for this recipe. You’re basically making a delicious custard to soak your bread in so make it as fragrant as possible.
• 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.
• Give your bread a nice soak, NO ONE likes dry French toast.
• BUTTER! You need to keep your pan nice and lubricated 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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Should you use stale or fresh bread?

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 brioche like I do it doesn’t make much of a difference.

How much should you soak the bread?

You want your toast 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.

How do you get it perfectly golden?

Use a 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 more surface area to heat the crevices of your French Toast giving it a nice overall golden color.

Can you make it without milk?

Sure! Make a non-dairy French toast by subbing the cow’s milk out for a nut milk or light unsweetened coconut milk. Coconut milk is pretty rich and will have a slight coconut flavor so only use it if you’re a coconut fan. I love it but it’s not for everyone.

What can you serve it with?

Maple syrup is the classic choice to pair with french toast but you can try all sorts of delicious pairings. 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. Berries and a simple whipped cream are also delicious, as is a bit of jam or honey.

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!