French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

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Quick Summary

The BEST French Toast Recipe! It’s easy to make at home and the perfect breakfast for weekends or any day! Serve this light and fluffy french toast with butter, maple syrup, and powdered sugar.

French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (1)

French toast has always been my favorite breakfast. If I have a choice between pancakes, waffles, or French toast, I always pick French toast. It is the BEST and today I am sharing all of my tips for making perfect French toast. Don’t worry, it is SO simple, but SO good!

And the best part? You don’t have to leave your house. Sure, I love going out for breakfast, but I would much rather stay in my pj’s and eat a delicious breakfast at home. Homemade French toast is always better, trust me. After you make my recipe, you will be a fan for life.

I love this French toast recipe because it is SIMPLE and turns out perfectly every single time. The French toast is light, fluffy, and most important NOT soggy. It has the perfect amount of vanilla and cinnamon. We like to top warm slices with butter, maple syrup, and a dusting of confectioner’s sugar. Add fresh fruit to make it extra special.

Table of Contents

  1. Ingredients
  2. The Best Bread to Use
  3. Substituting Milk
  4. How to Make French Toast
  5. Recipe Tips
  6. Keep It Warm
  7. Toppings
  8. Serving Suggestions
  9. More French Toast Recipes
  10. French Toast Recipe
French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2)

Ingredients

You only need FIVE (6 with salt) ingredients and I bet you have all of these in your kitchen right now:

  • Bread– Brioche bread is the best!
  • Eggs– use large eggs.
  • Milk– I recommend whole milk for the richest flavor, but you can use your favorite milk.
  • Vanilla extract– vanilla is a MUST! Always use pure vanilla extract.
  • Cinnamon– adding a little cinnamon brings out the best flavor!
  • Pinch of salt– just a little salt to enhance all of the flavors.

The Best Bread to Use

Brioche bread is hands down the best bread for French toast. It is rich, buttery, fluffy, and makes the most amazing French toast. It is definitely a very indulgent bread, but SO worth it! If you want the best French toast, you have to start with the best bread!

You can find brioche at most bakeries and some grocery stores carry brioche too. Trader Joe’s sells sliced brioche bread and it is GOOD, our very favorite!

If you can’t find brioche bread, you can use Texas toast, Challah, or French bread. They are all good options. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free bread.

Day old bread or stale bread is actually better because it will soak up the batter better. So if you know you are going to make French toast, buy your bread a day or two in advance.And did you know that the French don’t even call French toast, French toast, it is “pain perdu,” which means lost bread because they use stale, aka “lost” bread.

Substituting Milk

We use whole milk because the higher fat content makes the French toast nice and creamy, but you can substitute heavy cream, almond milk, or even coconut milk. The flavors will change a little, but the end result will still be delicious!

  • Heavy Cream-use heavy cream for an extra decadent French toast. You can also use half milk and half heavy cream.
  • Almond Milk-unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes great French toast. I love the extra vanilla flavor.
  • Coconut Milk –coconut milk works well too! I love the rich coconut flavor.
French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (3)

How to Make French Toast

  • If using anelectric griddle, preheat the griddle to 350 degrees F.
  • In ashallow panor pie plate, add the eggs, milk, vanilla, half of the cinnamon, and salt.Whiskuntil well combined.
  • Dip each side of the bread in the egg mixture. Note-add the other half of the cinnamon after you have dipped half of your bread slices and mix again. This will make sure all of the slices get a good amount of cinnamon.
  • Melt a little butter on the hot griddle or in alarge skilletover medium heat. Cook the French toast until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
  • Serve the French toast warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and berries, if desired.

Recipe Tips

  • You can use an electric griddle or skillet on the stove. We like to use an electric griddle because we can cook several pieces at the same time. Make sure the griddle or skillet is hot before you start cooking.
  • Mix the batter in a shallow pan or pie pan. I mix the batter right in the pan so I don’t have to dirty another dish. You can use a whisk or fork to mix the batter together. Make sure the eggs and milk are thoroughly beaten together.
  • Do not skip the vanilla and cinnamon, these two ingredients are essential for making the best French toast. They add so much flavor to the bread.
  • Add half of the cinnamon and mix it in. When you have cooked half of your French toast, add the rest of the cinnamon. This will make sure all of the French toast pieces have a good amount of cinnamon and not just the first few pieces.
  • You can use a spatula, fork, or tongs to flip the bread in the French toast batter.
  • Make sure you soak each side of the bread in the French toast batter. You want both sides of the bread to soak up all of the egg mixture. Don’t leave the bread in the mixture too long or it will get soggy.
  • Cook the bread slices in butter. It will give the French toast extra flavor and create a nice golden brown crust. Place a little butter on the hot griddle or pan and let it melt. Place the soaked pieces of bread onto the hot, buttery pan.
  • Cook on both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Make sure the temperature isn’t too hot or the outsides will burn and the inside will be soggy.

Keep It Warm

You can keep French toast warm in a 200 degree F oven for up to 30 minutes.

Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet and place the French toast slices on the rack. Don’t leave it in the oven for too long or it will dry out. It is best served fresh and hot!

Toppings

You can’t go wrong with butter, pure maple syrup, and a dusting of powdered sugar. I also like to add fresh berries when they are in season. Sometimes, for a special treat, I will make myBrown Butter Buttermilk Syrupto pour over the top. It is so good you will want to drink it:)

If you want to go all out you can add:

  • A dollop of whipped cream
  • Sliced almonds
  • Candied pecans
  • A sprinkling of granola
  • Your favorite nut butter! Peanut butter and almond butter are so good!
  • Banana slices
  • Jam
  • Nutella

How to Store, Freeze, & Reheat

  • Fridge: If you have leftovers, you can store leftover pieces in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • Freeze: You can also freeze French toast.Arrange slices in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, and then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to two months. Thaw and reheat.
  • Reheat: You can reheat on a hot griddle, hot skillet, or place French toast slices in the toaster and toast! You can reheat the French toast in the microwave, but I think it makes the bread a little soggy.

Serving Suggestions

This French toast is guaranteed to be the star of any breakfast and it is good on it’s own, but if you want a full breakfast spread, you can serve the French toast with:

  • Bacon or Sausage
  • Crispy hash browns
  • Baked eggs
  • Egg casserole
  • Breakfast potatoes
  • Fruit salad
French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (4)

More French Toast Recipes

  • Crunchy French Toast
  • Ice Cream French Toast
  • Pumpkin French Toast
  • Cinnamon Raisin French Toast
  • Baked French Toast Muffins
  • Cinnamon Streusel Baked French Toast Sticks
  • Cinnamon Baked French Toast
  • Coconut Crusted French Toast

French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (5)

Breakfast/Brunch

French Toast

This easy, light and fluffy French toast recipe is a family favorite! Make it for breakfast today!

4.44 from 137 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • If using an electric griddle, preheat the griddle to 350 degrees F.

  • In a shallow pan or pie plate, add the eggs, milk, vanilla, half of the cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until well combined.

  • Dip each side of the bread in the egg mixture. Note-add the other half of the cinnamon after you have dipped half of your bread slices and mix again. This will make sure all of the slices get a good amount of cinnamon.

  • Melt a little butter on the hot griddle or in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the French toast until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.

  • Serve the French toast warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and berries, if desired.

  • Note-to keep the French toast warm, heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet and place the French toast on the rack. Keep warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes.

Video

Notes

You can keep the French Toast warm in a 200 degree F oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 4slices, Calories: 237kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 166mg, Sodium: 366mg, Potassium: 202mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 285IU, Calcium: 144mg, Iron: 2.8mg

Keywords bread, breakfast, french toast

Have you tried this recipe?

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French Toast Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to French toast? ›

How can you cook French toast so that it doesn't get soggy from the egg mixture but still gets soaked through in order to be soft inside? You need to slice your bread the day before and leave it out to dry overnight. That way, it soaks up the egg while maintaining its shape. Much better final texture.

Should French toast have more eggs or milk? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk. How's that for an easy recipe?

Is milk or heavy cream better for French toast? ›

We use whole milk because the higher fat content makes the French toast nice and creamy, but you can substitute heavy cream, almond milk, or even coconut milk. The flavors will change a little, but the end result will still be delicious!

How long should French toast soak? ›

Ideally it's best if you can soak the bread in the french toast batter overnight however, if this cannot be done I suggest leaving it soak for a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour. As we want that custard like middle, cut very thick slices of bread.

Should I use butter when making French toast? ›

Butter gives French toast a deep richness and comforting quality, which are what we crave on mornings we sizzle this breakfast staple. To prevent burning or smoking, use a combination of butter and oil in the pan to cook the toast.

Why is my French toast bad? ›

For French toast, the amount of ingredients can make all the difference in the finished product. Too much, says Bon Appetit, could turn your bread into a soggy mess. The same could happen if you measure out a bit too much dairy.

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

Why is my French toast not crisping? ›

How do I make French toast not soggy? You dip the bread in the egg batter instead of letting it sit then don't use too high a temperature when you fry it so it cooks more thoroughly through.

What's the best bread to use for French toast? ›

Use brioche or challah. These egg-based breads have a high butter content, meaning their crumb is tender and rich but light. In other words, they're an ideal foundation for super decadent yet airy French toast.

How long should you soak bread in French toast batter? ›

Ideally it's best if you can soak the bread in the french toast batter overnight however, if this cannot be done I suggest leaving it soak for a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour. As we want that custard like middle, cut very thick slices of bread.

Is it better to cook French toast fast or slow? ›

Cooking it low and slow lets the bread soak up even more flavor. Stuffed French Toast: Chocolate, fruit, cream cheese or savory ingredients can all be stuffed inside French toast for extra flavor.

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