This easy French Toast recipe is the perfect dish to wake up to.
Thick slices of bread are dipped in a vanilla custard mixture and cooked until golden. Top with maple syrup or fruit.
French Toast is not a French recipe; it’s claimed to be a Roman recipe made from bread soaked in milk and then fried. Known in France as “pain perdu” (lost bread), it’s a perfect weekend breakfast.
Ingredients for French Toast
This French Toast recipe starts with a custard (milk & eggs) and warm spices. Bread is dipped in the eggy batter and baked or fried to fluffy perfection.
The Best Bread for French Toast
French toast can be made with any type of bread. I prefer to use thicker slices of artisan bread – try brioche, French bread, or braided bread. If using a thinner bread (like sandwich bread) be sure not to oversoak it in the egg mixture.
Day-old bread (that is slightly dry) will soak up more of the custard mixture.
Other Ingredients
Eggs & Milk: Eggs and milk are used to create the custard. Change it up by replacing the milk with other liquids (like dairy-free milk such as oat or almond milk, or even eggnog).
Sugar: Sweeten the milk mixture with a bit of sugar or brown sugar.
Flavor: Vanilla & cinnamon flavor the custard mixture. Try other extracts or warm spices like ginger, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice.
How to Make French Toast
This French toast recipe is so easy to make; it’ll become a staple breakfast or even dinner when you’re in a rush. It’s great with fried eggs too!
- Whisk the wet ingredients in a shallow bowl according to the recipe below.
- Dip each slice of bread in the egg mixture, allowing the bread to soak in a bit of the custard.
- Cook in butter in a skillet or on a griddle until lightly browned on each side.
Prep Ahead
This French toast recipe can be made ahead. Dip the bread slices per the recipe below and place them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap overnight. Remove the baking sheet from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking.
Serve immediately with warm maple syrup or fresh berries.
Tips & Variations
- Try adding almond, orange extract, orange zest, or apple pie spice.
- Add a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream or Grand Marnier.
- Top with fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or sliced bananas
Leftovers
Leftover French toast can be stored in an airtight container for up to five days. Reheat it in the microwave or in a toaster until heated through for a quick weekday breakfast.
Freeze leftovers in a freezer bag or container. Reheat from frozen in the microwave.
Breakfast for the Family
Did you enjoy this Easy French Toast Recipe? Be sure to 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, vanilla, sugar, 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.
Course Bread, Breakfast
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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!