Classic French Toast
Golden, custardy French toast made with thick slices of brioche or challah soaked in a vanilla-cinnamon egg mixture. Ready in under 30 minutes.
By Tasty Nest Recipes Editorial TeamPublished
25 min total 8 slicesEasy
Photo: goodiesfirst · CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo; your results may look different.
About this recipe
Great French toast is crisp and buttery on the outside and soft and custardy in the middle, never soggy. The secret is a rich custard with the right ratio of eggs to milk, and sturdy, slightly stale bread that can soak it up without falling apart.
Brioche and challah are ideal because their rich crumb turns almost like bread pudding inside. Cook the slices over moderate heat so the centre has time to set before the outside gets too dark.
Equipment you'll need
- Large nonstick skillet or griddle
- Shallow dish for soaking
Tips for success
- Day-old bread soaks up more custard without turning mushy. If your bread is fresh, dry the slices in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 8 to 10 minutes first.
- Whisk the custard well; streaks of egg white cook into rubbery patches.
- Moderate heat is key. Too hot and the outside burns before the custard in the middle sets.
Substitutions and variations
- Use thick-cut sourdough or a good sandwich loaf if you do not have brioche or challah.
- Replace the milk with oat or almond milk for a dairy-free custard, and cook in oil instead of butter.
- Add the finely grated zest of an orange to the custard for a bright twist.
Storage and reheating
To store: Cool leftovers, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze in a single layer and then bag for up to 2 months.
To reheat: Reheat in a toaster or on a baking sheet in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 8 to 10 minutes (from frozen, 12 to 15 minutes) until hot and crisp.
Recipe
Classic French Toast
Golden, custardy French toast made with thick slices of brioche or challah soaked in a vanilla-cinnamon egg mixture. Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Yield
- 8 slices
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
Tick off ingredients as you gather them.
Custard
To cook and serve
Instructions
Step 1: Make the custard
In a shallow dish, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt until completely smooth, with no streaks of egg white.
Step 2: Heat the pan
Heat the skillet over medium heat and melt about 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Heat a low oven to 200°F (95°C) to keep the cooked slices warm.
Step 3: Soak the bread
Dip 2 slices of bread into the custard and soak for about 15 to 20 seconds per side, until saturated but not falling apart. Let the excess drip off.
Step 4: Cook
Cook the slices for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until deep golden brown and the centre springs back when pressed. Lower the heat if they brown too quickly.
Step 5: Keep warm and repeat
Transfer to a baking sheet in the warm oven and repeat with the remaining bread, adding butter to the pan as needed.
Step 6: Serve
Serve hot with maple syrup, berries and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Cuisine: American · Course: Breakfast
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480
- Protein
- 17 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Carbs
- 51 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
- Sugars
- 13 g
Approximate values estimated from typical nutrition data for the listed ingredients, excluding optional toppings and serving suggestions. Actual values vary with brands, portion sizes and substitutions. Not verified by a dietitian or laboratory analysis.
tastynestrecipes.com/recipes/french-toast
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