Easy French Toast Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Ratings 5 from 1 votes

Cooking Method: Baking

Cuisine: American, French

Courses: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Difficulty: Beginner

Servings: 4

Calories: 150

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

8 slices of thick-cut bread (1-inch thick is ideal), preferably 1-2 day old stale bread

For the Custard Base

4 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 cup of whole milk or half-and-half

Sweeteners & Flavorings

4 tablespoons of granulated sugar
1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
pinch of kosher salt

For Cooking

3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
2 teaspoons of high-heat neutral oil (e.g., canola, sunflower, avocado)

For the Toppings

1/2 cup of fresh raspberries
1/2 cup of fresh blueberries
1/2 cup of fresh blackberries
warm maple syrup
powdered sugar

How To Make French Toast (Step-By-Step Instructions)

1
Prep the Bread
- Cut the brioche or challah into thick slices (about 1 inch thick).
2
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.
3
If Using Day-Old or Stale Bread
- You can skip the oven and give the bread a quick toast on the lowest setting.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.
8
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.
9
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.