The BEST French Toast Recipe (2024)

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Start your weekend off right with a big plate of crispy, golden french toast! This quick and easy french toast recipe has the perfect ratio of milk to eggs with a pinch of sugar and cinnamon for added sweetness and flavor.

French Toast will also be one of the top contenders for the best breakfast, along with Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Homemade Baked Donuts. No need to leave your house – enjoy a leisurely, delicious breakfast at home with this incredible french toast recipe!

The Best French Toast Recipe

This is my ideal breakfast right here. A big stack of perfectly cooked French toast, doused in butter and syrup. Adding some fresh berries or indulge a little with a few slices of bacon and some scrambled eggs to complete the meal.

When it comes to easy breakfasts, this french toast recipe totally fits the bill. After lots of testing I have found the perfect ratio of eggs to milk for that glorious custard to soak the bread in. The result is a perfectly golden and crispy exterior and super tender and fluffy insides.

French Toast Ingredients

You only need a handful of pantry staple ingredients to make this recipe, so it’s a convenient breakfast any day of the week!

Thickly-sliced bread – day-old bread, with its dense texture is ideal for french toast because it is able to soak up the custard without getting soggy.
Eggs – together with the milk the eggs make up the custard and they form a crust around the bread.
Milk – whole milk is preferred, but what you have on hand is ok. Even lactose-free or non-dairy alternatives are fine.
Cinnamon – adds just a hint of warmth and spice.
Sugar – optional, but nice if you like your toast a bit sweeter.
Vanilla extract – rounds out the flavor profile.
Salt – just a pinch to enhance the flavors.

How To Make French Toast

Prepare the custard. Whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl or directly in a shallow baking dish.

Soak the bread. Pour the egg mixture into a shallow dish and soak the bread for 20-30 seconds on each side. Be careful not to over-soak the bread, and let the excess drip off.

Preheat. Meanwhile, preheat an electric griddle (I swear by this one) or large non-stick skillet to medium heat (350℉). When you’re ready to cook, melt some butter (or spritz with a bit of cooking spray) on the griddle/pan.

Cook. Place the bread slices on the preheated griddle/ in the pan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, then flip the slices and repeat until they are golden brown. You may need to adjust the heat (especially in a skillet) to avoid burning the toast.

Choosing the Best Bread for French Toast

There are two factors you should think about when choosing the bread:

Is it thickly sliced?
Will I be using it when it’s at least one day old?

That’s right – day-old, thick sliced bread is the ideal candidate for the best French toast of your life! The thickness and slight staleness of this combo make it the perfect consistency for soaking up all the eggy-milk mixture that turns ordinary bread into breakfast.

As for bread type, opt for a Texas toast-style loaf, sweet brioche, or challah (egg) bread. If you buy a pre-sliced loaf, leave the slices you plan to cook exposed to the open air overnight to help them dry out.

Expert Tip and FAQs

Take it easy with the milk. Adding too much dairy can create a soggy end result. You need just the right ratio of egg to milk so that the egg will be able to cook, forming a crust around the sliced bread instead of the milk just soaking into it. Be sure to measure the milk so you don’t end up with too much.
Watch the heat.If your griddle is too hot it will burn the toast instead of giving it the lovely golden brown exterior. Keep it at 350 degrees, or if using the stovetop, don’t heat above medium.
Use the right bread. You want a thick, hearty slice of bread in order to soak up the custard without falling apart. Thin slices, like typical sandwich bread, will fall apart and become mushy.
Soak it. A thick slice of bread will take 15-30 seconds to adequately soak in the custard mixture all the way to the center. Some light pressure may be needed to aid in this process.

How do you store leftover french toast?

Let the bread cool completely, then wrap tightly and store in the fridge. You can reheat in the microwave, but it might get soggy. To get a crispy exterior, reheat in the oven, in a skillet on the stove, or in your air fryer.

Can you freeze french toast?

Yes! Stack leftovers with parchment paper between the layers and store in freezer bags for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, just po pindividual slices in the toaster, or for a large batch, spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350℉.

Toppings and Serving Suggestions

Serve hot with butter, maple syrup, or honey. You can also sprinkle the slices with powdered, granulated, or cinnamon-sugar, or go all out and add whipped cream and fresh berries or fruit compote. But if you’re looking for something to round it out for a nice, hearty breakfast, try these additions:

Breakfast Potatoes or Hash Browns
Scrambled Eggs
Baked Egg Muffins
Bacon, sausage, or sliced ham
Fresh Fruit or a mixed Fruit Salad
Don’t forget the co*cktails! Add a Classic Mimosas or a beautiful Pineapple Strawberry Mimosa to your menu!

More French Toast Recipes

Baked Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Recipe

How To Make French Toast

4.72 from 7 votes

Kristin Maxwell

Everyone should know how to make perfect French Toast! This quick and easy breakfast recipe is gorgeously browned on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and is easily customized!

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 4

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Ingredients

8 slices thickly sliced bread brioche, Texas toast, or challah bread
2 large eggs
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon granulated sugar optional
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt

Instructions

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat (325-350˚F).
In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar (if using), vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Transfer to a shallow baking dish.
Place each slice of bread into the egg mixture, soaking each side for 20-30 seconds. Allow excess liquid to drip off into the dish.
Lightly butter or spray the griddle/pan with cooking oil.
Place bread slices on griddle/pan and cook 3-4 minutes on both sides until golden brown, adjusting heat as necessary to avoid burning.
Serve hot with toppings of choice.

Notes

Storing and Reheating Leftovers:

To freeze, stack leftovers with parchment paper between the layers and store in freezer bags for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, just po pindividual slices in the toaster, or for a large batch, spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350℉.

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 10gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 468mgPotassium: 94mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 202IUCalcium: 67mgIron: 12mg

Keyword how to make french toast

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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.

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What is one common mistake when preparing French toast? ›

If the pan isn't hot enough when you put your first slice in, the custard spreads out, forming a "foot" on the bottom of the French toast. When the pan is hot enough, the batter won't have time to seep; the custard will start cooking as soon as it hits the pan. Give the pan a light coating of neutral oil and butter.

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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?

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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!

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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.

Is it better to make French toast with oil or butter? ›

There are times to only reach for a cooking oil like grapeseed, but this isn't one of them. Butter gives French toast a deep richness and comforting quality, which are what we crave on mornings we sizzle this breakfast staple.

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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.

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Should bread be soaked for French toast? ›

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.

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Should you toast your bread before making French toast? ›

Use stale bread or toast the bread until it's golden-brown. It needs to be sturdy to hold up to the egg mixture. If the bread is fresh from the bag or you toast it too lightly, the finished dish will be soggy. Soak the toasted or untoasted bread for about 10 seconds per side to achieve the optimal texture.

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How often should you flip French toast? ›

Forks tend to rip the bread so they are not a good choice. Continue until the pan is full with a single layer of toast. Cook until golden brown and all of the batter looks cooked, then flip with a turner and cook the second side until golden brown. If needed, adjust the temperature, so it doesn't burn or stay soggy.

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