How long it takes: less than 20 minutes Equipment you’ll need: a shallow bowl, griddle or flat skillet Servings: 8 slices, but it’s easy to make more (or less!) Do you crave perfectly made French toast? Like the kind you get in the best restaurants? I’m going to show you how it’s done. I have lots of great tips for how to make French toast perfectly and deliciously every time.
A Classic Breakfast Recipe
Easy to make. You’ll only need 6 ingredients to make this Texas toast French toast, all of which you probably have in your pantry already. Homemade. This perfect French toast is crisp on the outside and custardy on the inside. Trust me, homemade French toast is so much better than anything you’ll find in the freezer aisle! Loaded with cinnamon sugar. There’s the perfect amount of sweetness and spice in every bite. Dusting your bread slices with cinnamon sugar before dipping them in the eggs creates an amazing caramelization on the outside of the French toast as it cooks. It’s completely irresistible and a total game-changer.
Ingredient Notes
I’ll go over the key ingredients needed to make perfect French toast from scratch. Refer to the printable recipe card near the end of the post with the full instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.
Bread: French toast is all about the bread. My go-to bread of choice for French toast is Texas toast. It’s fluffy, soft, and tender. You’ll find Texas toast bread in the packaged bread aisle of your grocery store. See below for more bread ideas. Eggs and Milk: This combo is what sets French toast apart from regular bread. Bread soaked in eggs and milk has a custardy texture that is just plain wonderful. Use a higher fat milk (whole milk or 2%) for the best results. Nondairy milk, such as almond milk, works too. Vanilla: Don’t use fake or imitation stuff. This is the time for pure vanilla extract. (For the record, there isn’t ever a time for the imitation vanilla flavor.) Cinnamon Sugar: Instead of adding cinnamon to the egg mixture where it has a tendency to clump up, we’ll use cinnamon sugar to coat the outside of the bread. It’s a simple tip that makes a big difference! Toppings: There are so many ways that you can top your French toast! Maple syrup is always a classic, or you can get creative with whipped cream and add-ons. I include some easy topping ideas further on in the post.
How to Make French Toast
Ready to make the perfect fluffy, rich, and caramelized French toast ever? This is my tried-and-true, never-fail method:
Combine the eggs and milk with vanilla and salt. Beat the mixture until there are no visible egg pieces. Add the eggs to a shallow dish that’s large enough to fit your bread for dipping. Next, coat the bread with cinnamon sugar. Give both sides a generous, even sprinkle. Soak. Soak the bread in the egg mixture until it’s soft and squishy but not falling apart, about 10 to 15 seconds per side. Let the excess drip off before lowering the toast onto your griddle. Cook. Cook each slice of French toast on a buttered griddle for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cooking your slices low and slow is key to perfectly golden French toast that doesn’t burn.
Tips for the Best French Toast
What’s the secret to good French toast? As you can probably tell, I have strong opinions on this. Here are my tips: Use day-old bread. Why is slightly stale bread better for French toast? Dry, stale bread soaks up more of the egg and milk mixture than moist fresh bread does. If your bread is fresh, just let it set out, unwrapped, for a couple of hours or even overnight. If a French toast craving hits when you don’t have stale bread, give fresh bread a quick bake at 300°F for 10 to15 minutes, or until dry, flipping once. Cool the bread completely before dipping it into the egg mixture. Mix the eggs and milk thoroughly. There shouldn’t be any separation of egg whites and egg yolks. Beat the eggs and milk until they are perfectly combined and uniform. Otherwise, you’ll end up with fried egg on the outside of your French toast, and no one wants that. Don’t forget the vanilla. Adding vanilla to your milk and egg mixture adds so much flavor. The more the better, in my opinion! Check the recipe card below for my recommended amount. Coat the bread with cinnamon sugar first. Dust the outside of each bread slice with cinnamon and sugar before dipping it into the egg mixture. This is a genius tip that I unfortunately can’t take credit for. I learned it from Lauren from The Curious Plate when I made her chai French toast skewers. It keeps the cinnamon from clumping up and sticking to the side of the bowl instead of the bread.
Can I Make French Toast Ahead?
If you are serving a large crowd, keep the French toast warm and crisp in a low oven (200°F). Put the cooked French toast in a single layer on a wire rack set on a baking sheet for good air circulation.
How to Serve French Toast
Toppings are totally personal, and up to you! I grew up eating a mixture of butter and brown sugar on French toast, and you really can’t go wrong with that. My latest obsession is a drizzle of Trader Joe’s vanilla bean maple syrup, plus a handful of fresh berries on my French toast. So good. Maybe you like a strawberry sauce (or homemade strawberry freezer jam), or whipped cream, or just a light dusting of powdered sugar. Go crazy or keep it simple, you’re the boss. I love serving classic French toast for brunch with a perfect mimosa. It pairs great with other breakfast favorites like baked bacon and boiled eggs (check out my list of brunch ideas).
Recipe Variations
Here are some easy ways that you can change up this recipe to suit your family’s tastes:
Try different kinds of bread. As I mentioned above, thick sliced cinnamon bread is really amazing! Make it nondairy (lactose free). Substitute almond milk or another type of nondairy milk. Flavored almond milk is fine, too, if you don’t mind the added sugar. Fry the French toast in coconut oil. Swap out vanilla for another flavor. Almond extract, honey, maple extract, or whiskey are all fun choices! Use your air fryer. Make ultra crispy French toast sticks in your air fryer. Freeze them for a quick breakfast later. Baked French toast: Try this delicious overnight French toast casserole. It’s always a hit and especially handy when you have guests. French toast muffins: For individual-sized French toast, try my French toast muffins. Kids love ’em and they’re perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast. Stuffed French toast: I love this strawberry cream cheese stuffed French toast for special occasions, or just when I’m feeling the need for a little extra treat. It’s surprisingly easy to make, too!
Storage & Reheating
Fridge: Store leftover French toast in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. minutes. A microwave is okay but the French toast tends to become soggy and a bit tough. Freezer: Cooked French toast can be frozen for up to two months in a freezer safe container or resealable freezer bag. Reheat: To reheat single slices, whether refrigerated or frozen, the easiest way is to use your toaster or toaster oven. The toast will crisp up again and be super tasty. An air fryer works great, too. Set it at 350°F and your French toast will be ready in just a few minutes.
