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French Toast is the cozy weekend breakfast that turns a few slices of bread into something golden, custardy, and crisp at the edges. I whip this up *most Saturday mornings* while Lizzie sets the table and calls dibs on the syrup. If you love an easy morning treat, our lemon blueberry coffee cake is another favorite around here.
With a handful of pantry staples and one skillet, you can have a golden stack on the table in about twenty minutes.
French Toast Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 slices
- ⚡ Calories: 348kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, custardy, and golden with warm cinnamon and vanilla
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our baked chocolate chip cake donuts
Quick Answer
Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Dip thick slices of bread into the custard until coated, then cook them in a buttered skillet over medium heat for about five minutes per side until golden. Serve hot with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Thick-cut bread holds up. Sturdy, slightly stale slices soak up the custard without falling apart, giving you a creamy center and crisp edges.
- The custard is balanced. Just enough milk to egg keeps the inside soft and custardy instead of wet or eggy.
- Cinnamon and vanilla do the heavy lifting. These two warm flavors make even plain sandwich bread taste like a special-occasion breakfast.
- Butter, not oil. Cooking in butter gives the toast a rich, golden crust and that classic diner flavor.
- Medium heat is key. A moderate skillet lets the custard set through before the outside burns, so every slice cooks evenly.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It turns basic bread into a warm, golden breakfast that everyone fights over.
- You only need one bowl, one skillet, and about twenty minutes start to finish.
- It is endlessly toppable, just like our easy banana nut muffins at brunch.
Key Ingredients
A handful of staples you already have turn into the best breakfast. Here is what matters most:
- Thick-cut bread: Brioche, challah, or Texas toast all work. Slightly stale bread soaks up the custard best.
- Eggs and milk: The base of the custard. Together they give French toast its rich, soft center.
- Cinnamon and vanilla: The warm flavors that make this taste like a treat. Do not skip them.
- Granulated sugar: Just a couple tablespoons sweetens the custard and helps the edges caramelize.
- Butter: For cooking. It gives the toast its golden crust, the same trick we use for our baked chocolate chip cake donuts.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Make this French toast your own with a few easy swaps:
- Go stuffed: Spread cream cheese or our strawberry cheesecake dip between two slices before dipping.
- Add citrus: A little orange zest in the custard brightens the whole stack.
- Make it dairy-free: Swap the milk for almond or oat milk and cook in a neutral oil.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin spice for a fall-flavored version.
How to Make French Toast
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk until fully combined.
- Whisk in the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
- Set out your thick-cut bread slices. Slightly stale bread soaks up the custard best.
- Dip each slice into the custard, coating both sides fully without letting it get soggy.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the bread about 5 minutes until golden.
- Flip and cook the other side until golden and crisp, then serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use day-old bread so it soaks up the custard without turning to mush.
- Do not soak too long, a quick dip on each side is all you need.
- Keep the heat at medium so the inside cooks before the outside browns.
- Wipe the skillet between batches and add fresh butter for the crispest edges.
- Keep it warm in a 200 degree oven while you cook the rest of the batch.
- Round out brunch with something sweet like our layered lemon blueberry trifle.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve French toast hot off the skillet while the edges are still crisp. A drizzle of warm maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a handful of fresh berries is the classic finish.
Make it a full brunch spread with savory sides and something sweet. It pairs beautifully with our creamy buttery grits or a sweet bite like our lemon lime angel food cupcakes.
Feeding a crowd? Set out a toppings bar with syrup, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and berries, then add a scoop of no churn cookie dough ice cream for the kids. Everyone builds their own perfect plate.
French Toast FAQs
Thick, sturdy breads like brioche, challah, or Texas toast are best because they soak up the custard without falling apart. Slightly stale bread works even better since it absorbs more of the egg mixture.
Soggy French toast usually means the bread soaked too long or the skillet was not hot enough. Use a quick dip on each side and cook over steady medium heat so the custard sets through.
Yes. Cook it fully, cool, then store in the fridge for up to three days or freeze for two months. Reheat in a toaster or 350 degree oven to crisp it back up.
Absolutely. The cinnamon adds warmth, but you can leave it out or swap in nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or a little extra vanilla for a different flavor.
Maple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh berries, and whipped cream are classic. For a full breakfast, add bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, or fresh fruit on the side.
Let it cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in a toaster or oven rather than the microwave to keep the edges crisp.
Hungry for more? Our lemon blueberry coffee cake is the next easy breakfast to bake up.
Round out brunch with a jar of our creamy peanut butter overnight oats.
French Toast
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 4 slices thick-cut bread
- 4 tablespoons Butter for cooking
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until well combined.2 large eggs, 1 cup milk, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, pinch salt
- Dip the slices of bread into the egg and milk mixture, making sure they are fully coated on both sides.4 slices thick-cut bread
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter in the pan.4 tablespoons Butter for cooking
- Place the soaked bread slices in the hot skillet and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Do not crowd the pan, you will need to cook in batches.
- Once cooked on both sides, remove the French toast from the skillet and serve it hot with your favorite toppings, such as maple syrup, honey, powdered sugar, and berries.
Notes
- Use the Right Bread: Choosing a hearty bread, like brioche bread or stale bread, is the secret ingredient to getting the perfect french toast recipe.
- Don’t Soak Too Long: Dip bread in the milk mixture just enough to coat both sides.
- Medium Heat is Key: Cook the bread over medium heat. Pan fry it in a large skillet with a pat of butter to get that golden brown crust without burning it.
- Adjust Sweetness: If you want sweeter French toast, try adding a bit of brown sugar to the egg batter.
- Try Different Toppings: Don’t be afraid to get creative! Fresh fruit, powdered sugar, maple syrup, or even peanut butter can turn a classic recipe into something new and exciting.
- Make Ahead: If you want to save time, make a big batch and freeze some.
Nutrition
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