Easy French Toast Recipe
This is the only French Toast recipe you’ll need and you can use whatever bread you prefer. Serve with maple syrup and your favorite toppings for the perfect weekend breakfast.
Watch the video tutorial and learn our tips for making the best French Toast that is perfectly cooked and never soggy. You’ll love step 5 which is perfect for feeding a crowd!
Did you know French Toast isn’t really French? It originated in Rome and was invented as a way to re-purpose stale or leftover bread. It’s still a pretty brilliant idea today! We’ve done so many variations of French Toast including Caramel French Toast and French Toast Casserole.
French Toast Recipe Video
Watch Natasha make a classic French Toast and see how easy it is to make a memorable breakfast! If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel.
Tips for the Best French Toast
- Dry out your bread – stale, day-old bread absorbs liquids better
- Batter consistency – adding the extra egg yolks creates a thicker and richer batter that will cook up better and prevent soggy toast.
- Sautéing in hot butter crisps up the edges
- Oven-finished – transferring the toasts to a hot oven keeps toasts warm for serving all at once, plus it sets the custard in the center. You’ll even see them puff up in the oven.
Ingredients
This recipe feeds a crowd and will make 8-10 slices (depending on the size of your bread slices). It’s also easy to cut the recipe in half for a smaller batch.
- Eggs – use 6 whole eggs and 2 yolks for a richer batter.
- Milk – Any kind of milk (1%, 2%, or whole milk), half and half, or heavy cream will all work great. You can also use dairy-free milk such as coconut milk or almond milk.
- Vanilla extract – or use bourbon, rum, or brandy for variety.
- Cinnamon – our favorite spice, but you can also add a pinch of nutmeg
- Honey – adds sweetness to the batter. You can also substitute it with sugar.
- Bread – 1 lb of thick-sliced bread (see options below)
What is the Best Bread for French Toast?
You can use any thick-sliced bread. Challah, Brioche and Texas toast are our favorites. Any of these will work well:
- Sweet Breads – Brioche bread, Challah or Easter Bread
- Texas Toast – comes pre-sliced into thick slices
- White Country Loaf – slice 3/4″ thick pieces
- Sourdough – the spongy texture is perfect for soaking up the custard without getting soggy
- Croissant – transforms French Toast with a unique texture. We shared a recipe for this in Natasha’s Kitchen Cookbook.
- Banana Bread – if you want a treat in the morning, sliced banana bread is a terrific choice.
Pro Tip:
This recipe is the best way to use up bread that is a day old and a little dry. If time allows, set your bread slices out onto a wire rack to air dry for 1-2 hours before using.
How to Make French Toast
This is a simple breakfast to make. You will master it in no time.
- Slice bread – into 3/4″-thick pieces and preheat the oven to 275˚F.
- Egg mixture – In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, milk, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey until well blended. Transfer to a casserole dish.
- Preheat skillet – set a large cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium-low heat and melt in 2 Tbsp butter.
- Soak Toasts – just 30-40 seconds per side.
- Sautee French Toast – transfer to the hot buttered skillet and sautee 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Bake – transfer toasts to a baking sheet and keep them in a 275˚F oven while sauteeing the remaining toasts. Once all of the toasts are done, bake another 10-15 minutes to set the custard.
Can I make French Toast in the air fryer?
Yes. To make it in the air fryer, spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Allow any excess egg wash to drip back into the dish then place soaked toasts in a single layer and air fry at 400˚F for 8-9 minutes flipping halfway.
To Serve
Sometimes keeping it simple is best and we often just serve it with maple syrup and butter. Here are more great options to keep breakfast interesting:
- Cinnamon Sugar – (1/4 cup sugar + 1/2 tsp cinnamon)
- Honey Butter or whipped cream
- Berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Sliced bananas and Caramel Sauce
- Homemade Strawberry Sauce
- Bacon – the sweet and salty combo is so good!
Make-Ahead
- To Refrigerate: Allow the cooked toast to cool completely to room temperature then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Freezing: Arrange cooked and cooled toasts on a baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for easier storage. Thaw in the microwave for 45-60 seconds, or in the refrigerator overnight
- To Reheat: warm on a skillet, or in the air fryer or toaster until hot.
We love special breakfasts for the weekends and holidays like Easter and Christmas morning especially since French Toast tastes like dessert for breakfast.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Easy Frittata Recipe
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Poached Eggs
- Ricotta Pancakes
- Eggs Benedict
- Fluffy Scrambled Eggs
- 67 Best Breakfast Ideas
Easy French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Slice your bread about 3/4" thick, and arrange on a wire rack for 1-2 hours if time permits to dry out the bread slightly. Preheat the oven to 275˚F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, milk, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and warm honey until well blended and honey has dissolved. Pour into a casserole dish that fits 4 pieces of toast at a time, or as many as will fit your skillet at a time.
- Preheat your skillet over medium-low heat and melt in 2 Tbsp butter.
- Dip 4 pieces of bread into the egg mixture at a time and soak for 30-40 seconds per side depending on the thickness of the bread. Remove bread slices from egg wash letting excess drip back into the dish then place the bread slices into the hot skillet and saute for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Transfer to a baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm at 275˚F. Repeat step 4 with the remaining toast, adding more butter as needed. Once all are sauteed, keep them in the oven for another 10-15 minutes for the custard center to fully set then serve warm with your favorite toppings.
