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Golden brown and cinnamon scented, this french toast recipe is an easy breakfast made with staple ingredients. It’s perfect any day of the week and a favorite for Sunday brunch.
Things to Know
I’ve made this French toast recipe more times than I can count! I love it because I always have the ingredients on hand, and it’s simply perfect.
- Technique: Soak the bread long enough that the custard mixture (egg and milk) soaks into the center of the bread.
- Ingredient tip: This is a great way to use leftover sandwich bread, French bread, or sliced dinner rolls.
- Freezing: Cooled slices can be frozen and popped in the toaster oven for a quick weekday brekkie!
French Toast Ingredient Tips
- Bread: I prefer thicker bread slices for this French toast recipe. You can use any variety of bread—favorites include brioche, challah, or cinnamon bread.
- Egg: Eggs provide richness and help set the batter.
- Milk: Any type of milk, including non-dairy, can be used. For a richer batter, use half-and-half or, for a fun, festive French toast, use eggnog instead of milk.
- Sweetener: White or brown sugar adds sweetness and also helps to caramelize the edges while it cooks.
Variations
- Spice it up with pumpkin pie spice, orange zest, or Grand Marnier
How to Make French Toast
- Whisk custard ingredients together (full recipe below).
- Dip bread into the custard mixture.
- Fry in butter on both sides until fluffy and browned.
How to Store Leftovers
- Keep leftover French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat slices in the microwave or pop them in a toaster until they’re heated through and crispy.
- Freeze slices between pieces of parchment paper placed in a zippered bag and reheat per the directions above.
More Breakfast Favorites
Did you enjoy this French Toast Recipe? Leave a rating and a comment below!
French Toast Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick sliced bread brioche or other breads
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons butter more as needed
Instructions
- In a shallow dish or bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
- Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan or on the griddle.
- Dip the bread into the egg mixture, allowing a few seconds for the egg to soak into the bread. Flip the bread over and repeat on the other side.
- Place the bread in the pan and cook over medium-low heat until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. (Add more butter as needed for the remaining slices of bread).
Notes
- You can use any type of bread for this French toast recipe, I prefer thicker artisan style bread. If using thinner sandwich style bread, don’t allow it to soak too long.
- Cooking time can vary based on the thickness and density of the bread and the amount of custard soaked into the bread. Cook over medium-low heat to allow the custard to cook through without burning the outside of the bread.
- To prepare ahead, dip the bread into the egg mixture and place it in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- To make a large batch, preheat the oven to 200°F and place a casserole dish or baking sheet in the oven. Add cooked French toast slices to the dish to keep warm.
- Sprinkle French toast with cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar after cooking if desired.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 5 days, or separate slices with wax paper and freeze in zip bags for 2-3 months. Reheat in the microwave or toaster oven.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Excellent! Never knew to add sugar for crispyness. Sooo good
So glad you loved it!
Love this recipe! I read in the description that it can be baked, that would be a great way to make it when I’m busy with my grand daughter in the morning! Do you have the instructions for making it in the oven?
Hi Jeanne, I would follow this French Toast recipe for the cooking instructions in the oven! I would love to hear how it turns out for you.
Delicious! Perfect ratio of eggs to milk!! All your recipes are great! I appreciate knowing anything from your site will be a win! Thank you!
That makes us so happy to hear! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Sara.
I can’t wait to make them for my family. Do you have lower calorie recipes?
Hi Victoria, we don’t have any specifically low calorie recipes but some naturally are.
Bonjour de Montréal!!!!!
Suggestion: Try your ”Easy French Toast” recipe, using Challah bread.
You just may remember the day . . . Bon appétit!!!!!!
Sounds delicious, Yvan! Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi!
I love your recipes! All so easy and delicious….Brioche is delicious for french toast….but have you tried thick slices of Portuguese Sweet bread ? Mmmmmmm…………so good!
Thank you again!
Deb, East Providence, RI
I have not, but that sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing, Deb!
A little tip for everyone… to make superb French toast you do not ‘dip’ the bread in the liquid mixture, you let it soak in there until the bread is saturated all the way through. If you are using very thick slices of bread, around 2 inches or so, that can take 20–30 minutes. An average one-inch slice of bread will need about 10 minutes. Less than an inch, just make regular toast with it.
One last thing… if you can use cream, not milk. This is not health food, it is not diet food. Use a ton of butter and a gallon of maple syrup and enjoy it!
Thanks for sharing your tips Robert :)
I doubled the recipe. I also added extra cinnamon. A friend advised to mix the cinnamon with the sugar and then after the eggs and vanilla are beaten together in a separate bowl, add the cinnamon mix. Then add the milk. It worked great. I also recommend stirring the mixture as you go as the cinnamon starts to settle. My guys loved it, and the recipe is now saved.
Nummy!
Almost exactly like my mom’s recipe that we still use except instead of cinnamon we use nutmeg for a little different taste. Is so yummy, quick and easy.
I LOVE IT!!!! yum
This Quick and Easy French Toast recipe is wonderful. It’s a keeper! So easy. Didn’t have brioche, used french bread, still great. Thanks for all your really good and easy recipes. *****
So happy you enjoyed this recipe, Gail!
me i use brown sugar
Sounds delicious, Randy! Thanks for sharing.
Great recipe! Can the French toast be frozen?
Yes, this can be frozen and reheated in the microwave or thawed and lightly toasted in the toaster.
Excellent and easy recipe!