This simple recipe includes everything you need to know about making perfect French Toast! Ready in a jiffy, this easy and delicious breakfast recipe is perfect for enjoying with family over the weekend or for special occasions like Easter Brunch.
This basic French toast recipe tastes anything but basic! Thick slices of day-old bread (or older) are dunked in a delicious custard then cooked to golden brown perfection in a frying pan.
Topped with fresh berries, pure maple syrup, and butter, this classic French toast recipe is here to pepper joy all over weekend breakfasts and brunches without breaking the bank!
My favorite part about homemade French toast is that it is budget friendly and silly simple in spite of exuding fancy vibes. You can dress it up or down, you feel me?
If you love classic breakfast recipes, whip up my Belgian Waffle Recipe, Fluffy Gluten-Free Sourdough Pancakes, or my Gluten-Free Crepes (all of which can be made with regular flour too).
Let’s chat about the simple ingredients for this easy French toast recipe, as each ingredient serves an important role.
Ingredients for French Toast:
Stale Bread or 2-Day Old Bread: Oddly specific ingredient, no? The reason why the best French toast is made with stale bread is that the bread soaks up the egg mixture better than fresh bread. This results in the best texture!
You can use sliced sandwich bread or any type of bread to keep it simple, or get fancy by using sliced brioche bread or cinnamon raisin bread. I use gluten-free bread.
Large Eggs: The main ingredient for French toast other than the bread are eggs. We whisk several eggs together to use for dipping.
Eggs are what is responsible for the soft on the inside, crispy on the outside texture, and they also contribute a little protein to the meal.
Whole Milk: A splash of milk makes the egg mixture custardy, which adds to the soft and soggy essence.
Hot take: my family didn’t add milk to the beaten eggs when we made French toast for breakfast.
I recommend sticking with whole milk, half & half, or heavy cream for the most luxurious results, but a lower fat milk will work too.
You can also use any non-dairy milk such as almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk.
Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract brings a luxurious decadence to this classic breakfast. It’s a secret ingredient! If you don’t have it on hand, don’t worry. You can easily skip it.
Ground Cinnamon: Now here is where things get interesting. A generous amount of cinnamon adds warm flavor to every bite, which I find to be scintillating.
I also find cinnamon helps cover the eggy flavor, which is a plus in my book. Skip the ground cinnamon if you aren’t into it.
Pinch of Salt: For added flavor.
French Toast Toppings:
Get creative with your favorite toppings! For me, the best toppings for French toast are butter, fresh fruit, pure maple syrup, and homemade whipped cream.
For fruit, I prefer fresh berries and/or sliced bananas. You can get creative here and top it with The Best Fruit Salad and whipped cream if you’d like!
Growing up, my brother was obsessed with spreading peanut butter on his French toast. At the time, I thought this was ludicrous, but now I see the draw and support his decisions. I find Nuttzo and honey are a great combination.
For my fellow jam lovers, whip up a quick batch of my Strawberry Chia Seed Jam or my Raspberry Chia Jam For a healthy fruit spread.
Recipe Customizations:
- Need it to be dairy-free? Swap the cow’s milk out for your favorite non-dairy milk. I recommend using full-fat canned coconut milk for the best dairy-free option.
- Make gluten-free French toast out of gluten-free bread. Do note that thicker slices work best, so a homemade loaf of bread works best here given the fact that store bought GF bread is usually sliced thinly.
- Add a little lemon zest or orange zest to the French toast batter for some citrus flair.
- For more depth of flavor, add a little granulated sugar to the egg batter. Just be sure it has dissolved thoroughly before soaking bread.
Now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients, let’s make the best French toast!
How to Make French Toast:
Whisk eggs, milk, ground cinnamon, pure maple syrup, and pure vanilla extract in a shallow dish such as a large bowl or glass tupperware until well combined.
Note: use a bowl with a wide enough mouth to easily dip bread inside.
Soak both sides of a slice of bread in the egg mixture, allowing it to sit for a little bit to adequately soak up the liquid.
Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Allow the skillet to heat up for a few minutes.
Transfer two soaked bread slices to the hot skillet, allowing any excess liquid to drip off of the bread first.
Cook until the bread is golden brown on one side. Flip to the other side and continue cooking until both sides are golden brown (about 3 to 4 minutes per side).
Repeat for the remaining bread.
Serve French toast with butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, and fresh berries, or your favorite toppings.
If you’re making a big batch of French toast, store the finished slices in a single layer on a baking sheet or baking dish in a warm oven heated just below 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Store leftover French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
Tips and Tricks for The Best French Toast:
- Remember, the best bread for French toast is French bread that is 2 days old. Brioche and sourdough are amazing too. Just be sure that whatever you use is a little stale. Thick slices of bread work best!
- Allow the bread to soak for 30 seconds to a minute in the rich custard mixture. This results in the best texture and flavor.
- Get creative with your toppings! I feel like butter and pure maple syrup are a MUST for French toast, and anything in addition to that is an upgrade. Some folks like to sprinkle powdered sugar on top, where others love jam or nut butter.
The next time a delicious breakfast is on the menu, whip up this quick and simple yet delicious French toast recipe!
It is one of those feel-good classic yet easy breakfast recipes made in the comfort of your own kitchen!
If you’re looking for more breakfast or brunch inspiration, also try these reader favorites!
More Breakfast Recipes:
- Cottage Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Quiche Recipe
- Vegan Blueberry Scones
- Almond Flour Cranberry Orange Muffins
- Blueberry Lemon Breakfast Bread
Drop me a comment below letting me know your favorite toppings!
French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup milk of choice
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup optional
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract optional
- 8 thick slices bread*
For Serving:
- Butter
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Fresh Berries
Instructions
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, ground cinnamon, pure maple syrup, and pure vanilla extract in a bowl until well combined. Note: use a bowl with a wide enough mouth to easily dip bread inside.
- Soak both sides of a slice of bread in the egg mixture, allowing it to sit for a little bit to adequately soak up the liquid.
- Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Allow the skillet to heat up for a few minutes.
- Transfer two soaked bread slices to the hot skillet, allowing any excess liquid to drip off of the bread first.
- Cook until the bread is golden brown on one side. Flip to the other side and continue cooking until both sides are golden brown (about 3 to 4 minutes per side).
- Repeat for the remaining bread.
- Serve French toast with butter, pure maple syrup, and fresh berries, or your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
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