This classic French Toast is one of my all-time favorite breakfast items. Slices of bread are dredged in a thick egg batter and then pan-fried until golden brown. I love serving this with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and maple syrup for a classic weekend breakfast.
Need more breakfast ideas? Try my French toast casserole bake next!
About This Recipe
Growing up, I used to make breakfast with my dad every weekend! My dad was in charge of the eggs and bacon, but I handled everything related to the French toast. I remember we used to only have frozen bread at home, so I had to remember to take out the bread the night before.
I recently learned that frozen bread actually works great for French toast. When bread is frozen and then thawed, some of its moisture is removed. This makes the bread drier, which is perfect for French toast because it allows more of the batter to be soaked up. That's why French toast was traditionally made with stale bread. But if you don’t have stale bread (or frozen bread), regular bread works totally fine as well.
Key Ingredients
Bread: When it comes to the bread, there are many options you can take. Today, I'm using thick-cut brioche bread. If you like it extra rich, I suggest you use brioche or challah bread. Any thick-cut bread should work. Several days old, stale, or frozen and thawed will be the best.
Batter: For the batter, you'll need eggs, half and half, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. When I was a kid, I used to use milk instead of half and half, but somewhere down the line, I learned you can use half and half instead, and I've never looked back. The French toast comes out much more rich and tasty.
Toppings: You can't go wrong with whipped cream, fresh fruit/berries, and maple syrup.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, salt, sugar, and cinnamon.
STEP 2: Dip the bread slices into the batter, coating both sides evenly. Shake off the excess.
STEP 3: Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and the inside is cooked through. I like to transfer the cooked toasts to a baking sheet in a 200°F oven to keep them warm until serving.
📋 Recipe
Classic French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup half and half (or milk)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 slices bread
- oil or butter (for greasing the skillet)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Pour into a shallow dish that can fit at least one slice of bread.
- Dip the bread in the batter, coating both sides evenly, then place on a hot, greased skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and the inside is cooked through.
- To keep the French toasts warm, you can keep them on a baking sheet in a warm oven (200°F) until serving time. Serve with whipped cream, fresh fruit, and maple syrup. Feel free to dust them with some powdered sugar as well. Enjoy!
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