French Toast

French toast has always been my favorite breakfast. If I have a choice between pancakes, waffles, or French toast, I always pick French toast. It is the BEST and today I am sharing all of my tips for making perfect French toast. Don't worry, it is SO simple, but SO good!

And the best part? You don't have to leave your house. Sure, I love going out for breakfast, but I would much rather stay in my pj's and eat a delicious breakfast at home. Homemade French toast is always better, trust me. After you make my recipe, you will be a fan for life.

I love this French toast recipe because it is SIMPLE and turns out perfectly every single time. The French toast is light, fluffy, and most important NOT soggy. It has the perfect amount of vanilla and cinnamon. We like to top warm slices with butter, maple syrup, and a dusting of confectioner's sugar. Add fresh fruit to make it extra special.

Ingredients

You only need FIVE (6 with salt) ingredients and I bet you have all of these in your kitchen right now:

• Bread– Brioche bread is the best!
• Eggs– use large eggs.
• Milk– I recommend whole milk for the richest flavor, but you can use your favorite milk.
• Vanilla extract– vanilla is a MUST! Always use pure vanilla extract.
• Cinnamon– adding a little cinnamon brings out the best flavor!
• Pinch of salt– just a little salt to enhance all of the flavors.

The Best Bread to Use

Brioche bread is hands down the best bread for French toast. It is rich, buttery, fluffy, and makes the most amazing French toast. It is definitely a very indulgent bread, but SO worth it! If you want the best French toast, you have to start with the best bread!

You can find brioche at most bakeries and some grocery stores carry brioche too. Trader Joe's sells sliced brioche bread and it is GOOD, our very favorite!

If you can't find brioche bread, you can use Texas toast, Challah, or French bread. They are all good options. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free bread.

Day old bread or stale bread is actually better because it will soak up the batter better. So if you know you are going to make French toast, buy your bread a day or two in advance. And did you know that the French don't even call French toast, French toast, it is “pain perdu,” which means lost bread because they use stale, aka “lost” bread.

Substituting Milk

We use whole milk because the higher fat content makes the French toast nice and creamy, but you can substitute heavy cream, almond milk, or even coconut milk. The flavors will change a little, but the end result will still be delicious!

• Heavy Cream-use heavy cream for an extra decadent French toast. You can also use half milk and half heavy cream.
• Almond Milk-unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes great French toast. I love the extra vanilla flavor.
• Coconut Milk –coconut milk works well too! I love the rich coconut flavor.

How to Make French Toast

• If using an electric griddle, preheat the griddle to 350 degrees F.
• In a shallow pan or pie plate, add the eggs, milk, vanilla, half of the cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
• Dip each side of the bread in the egg mixture. Note-add the other half of the cinnamon after you have dipped half of your bread slices and mix again. This will make sure all of the slices get a good amount of cinnamon.
• Melt a little butter on the hot griddle or in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the French toast until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
• Serve the French toast warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and berries, if desired.

Keep It Warm

You can keep French toast warm in a 200 degree F oven for up to 30 minutes.

Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet and place the French toast slices on the rack. Don't leave it in the oven for too long or it will dry out. It is best served fresh and hot!

Toppings

You can't go wrong with butter, pure maple syrup, and a dusting of powdered sugar. I also like to add fresh berries when they are in season. Sometimes, for a special treat, I will make my Brown Butter Buttermilk Syrup to pour over the top. It is so good you will want to drink it:)

If you want to go all out you can add:

• A dollop of whipped cream
• Sliced almonds
• Candied pecans
• A sprinkling of granola
• Your favorite nut butter! Peanut butter and almond butter are so good!
• Banana slices
• Jam
• Nutella

How to Store, Freeze, & Reheat

• Fridge: If you have leftovers, you can store leftover pieces in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Freeze: You can also freeze French toast. Arrange slices in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, and then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to two months. Thaw and reheat.
• Reheat: You can reheat on a hot griddle, hot skillet, or place French toast slices in the toaster and toast! You can reheat the French toast in the microwave, but I think it makes the bread a little soggy.

Serving Suggestions

This French toast is guaranteed to be the star of any breakfast and it is good on it's own, but if you want a full breakfast spread, you can serve the French toast with:

• Bacon or Sausage
• Crispy hash browns
• Baked eggs
• Egg casserole
• Breakfast potatoes
• Fruit salad

More French Toast Recipes

• Crunchy French Toast
• Ice Cream French Toast
• Pumpkin French Toast
• Cinnamon Raisin French Toast
• Baked French Toast Muffins
• Cinnamon Streusel Baked French Toast Sticks
• Cinnamon Baked French Toast
• Coconut Crusted French Toast