This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I trust. Thank you for your support.
French toast is a dish made from slices of bread that have been soaked in a mixture of eggs and milk (or cream), then pan-fried or baked until they achieve a golden-brown hue.
French toast, originally known as pain perdu or “lost bread” in France, was a clever way to use up stale bread, preventing food waste by transforming it into something delicious, rich, and nourishing.
This easy French toast recipe serves four and features thick-cut brioche, eggs, whole milk, warm cinnamon, vanilla, and is topped with berries, perfect for a cozy breakfast or brunch.
We use thick-cut brioche bread for this French toast recipe because it’s rich, slightly eggy, and soaks up the custard for a soft, luxurious texture when baked.
Despite its gourmet appearance, this French toast is very easy and quick to make, making it a perfect choice for families, small gatherings, or even a solo treat without any fuss.
Ready in just 30 minutes, this baked French toast skips the stovetop hassle. Simply bake for perfectly puffed, golden slices with minimal cleanup.
✅ Take a moment to read through the whole post for the ingredient list, expert tips, and equipment suggestions. The full recipe is right below!
Ingredients You’ll Need for This Easy French Toast Recipe
Here are some of the key ingredients for this baked French toast recipe:
1. Bread
- The ideal choice is a thick-cut, slightly stale bread, about 1-inch thick.
- Stale bread is crucial because its drier texture allows it to absorb the rich custard mixture deeply without becoming soggy or falling apart during cooking.
- Brioche or challah are ideal choices for French toast thanks to their rich, eggy flavor and sturdy yet tender crumb, which soaks up the custard beautifully and creates a luxuriously soft interior.
2. Eggs
- The eggs are the heart of the custard, providing the essential structure and richness.
- They bind the ingredients together and, when cooked, create that desirable custardy texture within the bread.
- The addition of extra egg yolks, as in this recipe, further enhances the richness and contributes to a more decadent, tender interior.
3. Milk (or Cream)
- This liquid component thins the egg mixture, allowing for better absorption into the bread, and contributes to the overall moisture and tenderness of the French toast.
- While whole milk is a great choice, using half-and-half or heavy cream will result in an even richer, more indulgent flavor and a creamier texture.
4. Granulated Sugar
- Beyond adding sweetness, sugar plays a crucial role in the browning and caramelization of the French toast’s exterior, contributing to that beautiful golden crust.
5. Vanilla Extract
- This aromatic powerhouse infuses the French toast with a warm, comforting, and universally loved flavor.
- Pure vanilla extract is recommended for the best results.
6. Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg
- These classic spices provide the signature warm, inviting aroma and flavor that is synonymous with French toast.
- They add depth and complexity to the sweet profile.
7. Kosher Salt
- A small pinch of salt balances the sweetness, enhances all the other flavors, and prevents the French toast from tasting flat.
8. Unsalted Butter & High-Heat Neutral Oil
- Butter provides an unparalleled rich flavor and contributes to a beautiful golden-brown crust.
- Pairing it with a high-heat neutral oil (like canola, sunflower, or avocado oil) prevents the butter from burning too quickly, allowing for even browning and a crispier finish without scorching.
Tools Needed for This French Toast Recipe
Check out our shop for top rated, high quality and expert-recommended kitchen equipment:
- Wide, Shallow Dish: A pie plate, a 9×13-inch or 10×15-inch baking dish, or a large, shallow bowl is ideal for whisking the custard mixture and allowing the bread slices to soak evenly.
- Whisk or Fork: Essential for thoroughly combining and aerating the custard ingredients, ensuring a smooth and consistent batter.
- Large Nonstick Skillet or Cast Iron Pan: Crucial for achieving even heat distribution and preventing the French toast from sticking during the pan-frying process.
- Slotted Spatula: Facilitates easy and gentle flipping of the bread in the custard and transferring it to the hot pan, allowing excess liquid to drain.
- Rimmed Baking Sheet with Wire Rack: Useful for multiple purposes: drying bread before soaking (if needed), keeping cooked French toast warm in the oven, and for the final oven finishing step.
- Oven: The oven is used for achieving that perfect custardy interior and for cooking larger batches. It’s used for pre-drying bread, keeping cooked French toast warm, and for the final baking step to ensure uniform doneness.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate measurement of all ingredients, contributing to consistent results.
- Serving Platter: To beautifully present the finished French toast, enhancing its visual appeal before serving.
Why You’ll Love This Baked French Toast
French toast, particularly when made with thoughtful ingredient choices, can offer several benefits that contribute to a balanced diet:
- High Protein: Eggs and milk, primary ingredients in French toast, are an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle repair, growth, and overall body function, helping you feel full and satisfied.
- Steady Energy: Bread provides carbohydrates for energy, and using whole wheat boosts fiber content for steadier energy and better digestion.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Eggs offer key vitamins like A and D, plus minerals such as iron and potassium, while milk adds calcium and extra vitamin D for strong bones and overall health.
- Rich in Antioxidants: Fruits like blueberries, strawberries, and bananas add a natural boost of antioxidants. These compounds help combat oxidative stress and support overall well-being.
- High in Fiber: Bread and berries add valuable fiber to your French toast, supporting digestion, stabilizing blood sugar, and helping you feel fuller longer, which is great for overall health and weight management.
- Less Hands-On Time: Once the French toast is in the oven, your active cooking time is significantly reduced, which allows for a more relaxed cooking experience, especially during busy mornings.
What to Serve with French Toast
These accompaniments enhance the sweet, custardy nature of French toast, making every bite even more satisfying:
1. Sweet Toppings
- Fresh Mixed Berries: A vibrant medley of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, as beautifully depicted, provides a burst of freshness, natural sweetness, and a lovely tart contrast to the rich toast.
- Warm Maple Syrup: The quintessential French toast topping, offering a rich, caramelized sweetness that seeps into every crevice of the toast.
- Powdered Sugar: A delicate dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of elegance and a subtle sweetness that melts beautifully on the warm toast.
- Whipped Cream or Greek Yogurt: For a creamy indulgence, a dollop of freshly whipped cream is divine. For a lighter, tangier option, fat-free Greek yogurt provides a lovely contrast and a protein boost.
- Fruit Compotes or Sauces: Homemade berry compotes, apple cinnamon sauce, or even a warm peach or cherry topping can elevate the dish.
- Nut Butters: A spread of peanut butter, almond butter, or hazelnut spread adds protein and a nutty flavor.
- Chocolate Chips or Chocolate Sauce: For the ultimate sweet tooth, a sprinkle of chocolate chips or a drizzle of chocolate sauce can turn French toast into a decadent dessert.
- Caramelized Bananas or Apples: Sautéing fruit in butter and a touch of brown sugar creates a warm, sweet, and slightly sticky topping.
2. Savory Sides
- Crispy Bacon or Sausage: The salty, savory crunch of bacon or the hearty flavor of breakfast sausage provides a perfect counterpoint to the sweetness of the French toast, creating a classic breakfast pairing.
- Scrambled or Fried Eggs: Adding a side of eggs ensures a more protein-rich and well-rounded meal.
- Breakfast Potatoes or Hash Browns: Crispy potatoes offer a satisfying texture and a savory element to the plate.
- Fresh Fruit Salad: Beyond just berries on the toast, a larger side of mixed fruit salad can add freshness and a variety of textures and nutrients.
Pro Tips to Make the Best French Toast
The best French toast comes down to a few simple techniques: choosing the right bread, making a rich custard, and cooking it just right.
1. Embrace Stale, Thick Slices
- The single most impactful tip is to use slightly stale or day-old bread, cut into thick slices, ideally at least 1 inch thick.
- Stale bread acts like a sponge, allowing the custard to be absorbed deeply and evenly without disintegrating, which is crucial for preventing a soggy middle.
- Thick slices are essential for developing that incredible custardy interior, providing a substantial texture that stands up to the soaking.
2. Use Brioche and Challah Bread
- These breads are inherently rich, eggy, and possess a sturdy yet tender crumb, making them exceptional choices for soaking and yielding a luxurious, custard-like texture.
- Japanese milk bread (Shokupan) is another excellent, dense option that soaks up custard beautifully.
3. Pre-Dry Fresh Bread
- If only fresh bread is available, gently dry it out by lightly toasting it on the lowest setting in a toaster or baking it at a low temperature (285°F/140°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- This removes surface moisture, mimicking the effect of stale bread and ensuring optimal custard absorption.
4. Balance Your Eggs and Dairy
- While ratios vary, a good starting point is approximately 4 to 6 eggs per cup of liquid.
- The addition of extra egg yolks significantly enhances the richness and contributes to a more custardy, luxurious texture.
- For ultimate decadence, consider using half-and-half or heavy cream instead of milk.
5. Let the Bread Soak
- This is not a quick dip! Allow the bread to soak for 2 to 4 minutes per side, depending on its thickness.
- This ensures the custard penetrates deeply into the core of the bread, which is vital for a moist, fully cooked interior.
6. Use a Butter and Oil Combo
- Utilize a combination of butter for its rich flavor and a high-heat neutral oil (such as avocado or sunflower oil) for frying.
- This blend is effective because the oil’s higher smoke point prevents the butter from burning prematurely, allowing it to brown beautifully and contribute to a desirable golden-brown, crispy crust.
7. Finish in the Oven
- After pan-frying each slice to a beautiful golden crisp, transfer the French toast to a wire rack on a baking sheet and finish it in a moderate oven (350 to 400°F or 175 to 200°C) for 6 to 10 minutes.
- This pro technique ensures the interior custard cooks perfectly without over-browning or burning the exterior, resulting in that ideal fluffy inside and crispy outside texture.
Final Remarks
This easy French toast recipe delivers the perfect balance of crisp edges, soft custardy centers, and just the right hint of sweetness in every bite.
You can keep it classic with maple syrup and powdered sugar or with fresh berries, or customize it by adding a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of caramelized sugar for extra crunch.
If you make this recipe, we’d love to hear how it turned out. Share your version or drop your thoughts in the comment section.
Full recipe and step-by-step instructions are just below.
Easy French Toast Recipe
Description
This easy French toast recipe serves four and is made with thick-cut brioche, eggs, whole milk, warm cinnamon, vanilla, and topped with berries.
Ingredients
For the Bread
For the Custard Base
Sweeteners & Flavorings
For Cooking
For the Toppings
How To Make French Toast (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Prep the Bread
- Cut the brioche or challah into thick slices (about 1 inch thick).
If Using Fresh Bread
- Dry the bread first.
- Place slices on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
- Bake in a low oven at 285°F (140°C) for 12 to 15 minutes.
- You're not toasting it but rather just drying it out so it soaks up the custard better.
If Using Day-Old or Stale Bread
- You can skip the oven and give the bread a quick toast on the lowest setting.
Make the Custard
- Use a wide, shallow dish (like a pie plate) so the bread can soak easily.
- Then whisk together eggs, yolks, milk, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ground, and a small pinch of kosher salt.
- Whisk together vigorously until the mixture is frothy and completely uniform, ensuring no visible streaks of egg white remain.
Soak the Bread
- Place 1 to 2 slices of bread into the custard at a time.
- Soak each side for 2 to 3 minutes (for standard thick slices).
- For extra-thick slices (like 1½-inch challah or brioche), soak 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Use a slotted spatula to flip gently without tearing.
- Note that under-soaked bread stays dry inside; over-soaked bread gets mushy.
Heat the Pan
- While the bread soaks, heat a nonstick or cast-iron pan over medium-low to medium heat.
- Add 1½ tbsp butter plus 1 tsp neutral oil (like avocado or sunflower) to prevent burning.
- Let the butter melt and the oil shimmer; this means it's hot enough.
- Do a quick sizzle test: drop in a bit of custard and it should sizzle right away.
- A properly heated pan means crispy crust without greasy toast.
Toast in the Pan
- Once the pan is hot, gently lift a soaked slice and let the excess custard drip off.
- Place it in the pan and cook 1½ to 2 minutes per side, until golden and caramelized.
- Adjust the heat if needed to avoid burning and get even browning.
- The outside should be crisp, the inside custardy.
Bake the Slices
- After pan-frying each batch of French toast, place the slices on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
- Keep the tray in a warm oven set to 200 to 300°F (95 to 150°C) to stay warm while you cook the rest.
- For thicker slices or extra custardy centers, bake at 350 to 400°F (175 to 200°C) for 6 to 10 minutes after pan-frying.
Serve
- Serve the French toast while it's still hot for the best texture and flavor.
- Stack the slices on a serving plate.
- Dust generously with powdered sugar.
- Drizzle with warm maple syrup.
- Top with fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries.
- You can also add a dollop of whipped cream or a spoonful of Greek yogurt if you’d like.
- Enjoy French toast right away while the outside is crispy and the inside is warm and custardy.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Serving Size 2 slices (approximately 65g per slice)
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 150kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7g11%
- Saturated Fat 2g10%
- Cholesterol 75mg25%
- Sodium 315mg14%
- Potassium 87mg3%
- Total Carbohydrate 22g8%
- Dietary Fiber 3g12%
- Sugars 8g
- Protein 4g8%
- Vitamin A 81 IU
- Vitamin C 30 mg
- Calcium 60 mg
- Iron 1.1 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
- Utilize a combination of butter for its rich flavor and a high-heat neutral oil (such as avocado or sunflower oil) for frying.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan by cooking the French toast in batches so each slice browns evenly without steaming.
- For extra crunch and sweetness, sprinkle sugar on one side after browning, then flip to caramelize for a crème brûlée-like crust.
- After pan-frying, bake the slices at 350 to 400°F (175 to 200°C) for 6 to 10 minutes to set the custard without over-browning.
french toast recipe, french toast, easy french toast recipe, baked french toast, french toast bake, how to make french toast, overnight baked french toast, brioche french toast, best french toast recipe, vegan french toast, healthy french toast, french toast breakfast
