Published: Oct 30, 2024
This is how to make French Toast crispy, custardy, and utterly delicious. Grab the syrup and make some classic breakfast magic.
If there’s one breakfast that feels like a morning celebration on a plate, it’s a great French toast. This classic French Toast Recipe is crispy, custardy, and loaded with comforting flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg and even better than any restaurant version. Like my Baked French Toast with Banana and Chocolate Chips and Coconut Baked French Toast with Oatmeal Crumble, I use inexpensive, grocery-store French bread for its soft, white center or egg-enriched, tender challah. In this recipe, each bread slice is dipped in an egg and half-and-half or milk mixture sweetened with powdered sugar and warming spices. The result is pillowy French toast slices with a sweetened, golden-brown crust and a soft, flavorful center. While there are endless breakfast options out there, few dishes can compete with the pure nostalgia and comfort of a good, homemade French toast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This French toast has the perfect texture. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, with just the right amount of sweetness.
- The custardy egg mixture with vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg gives this French toast its signature cozy flavor.
- It’s fast and easy to make. No fancy techniques required—just mix, dip, and fry!
What’s In French Toast
- French bread or challah—The best bread for French toast is a thick, airy loaf like French bread or challah. Their thicker slices and porous texture soak up just the right amount of custard without becoming soggy (like regular white bread can.)
- Eggs—Eggs are a must and create a custardy center.
- Half-and-half or whole milk—Skip the skim milk and go with the added fat and richness to make a creamy, tender interior that isn’t too heavy.
- Powdered sugar—Powdered sugar easily mixes into the egg and milk mixture to add sweetness and help caramelize and crisp the French toast slices as they cook.
- Pure vanilla extract—Pure vanilla adds that velvety and creamy flavor profile.
- Ground cinnamon—This warming spice adds a sweet and spicy accent.
- Ground nutmeg—Earthy and cozy, nutmeg adds grounding notes.
- Kosher salt—Kosher salt brings out that extra bit of flavor in everything its mixed with.
- Butter and oil—A combination gives that buttery flavor with the oil raising the smoke point so the butter doesn’t burn when frying.
- More butter and maple syrup for serving—Warm the syrup for that extra touch.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make French Toast
- Slice the French bread or challah in 1-inch thick slices.
- Whisk the eggs with the half-and-half or whole milk in a large bowl or oblong baking dish.
- Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt until smooth. Set aside.
- Melt the butter and oil in a large non-stick skillet between medium and medium-high heat or set an electric frying pan to 350°F.
- Dip 4 bread slices in the egg mixture, coating both sides well. Soak for 3-5 minutes. Let the excess egg drip from the bread before adding to the skillet.
- Add the bread slices to the skillet in an even layer.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden then flip and cook for 3-4 more minutes then transfer to a serving platter.
- Repeat with the rest of the bread slices. Add more oil or butter to the skillet if needed.
- Serve the French toast slices hot topped with butter and drizzled with warm maple syrup.
FAQ and Recipe Tips
- The best bread for French toast? Simple grocery-store French bread or egg-enriched challah works best for French toast. French bread soaks in the custard coating but holds up well to create an irresistibly crisp exterior. Challah, with its subtle sweetness and pillowy texture, brings out that classic French toast vibe. Using plain sliced bread is tempting but often results in soggy, floppy toast that just can’t hold up to toppings.
- The trick to making good French toast is skipping the skim milk and going with whole milk or half-and-half mixed with eggs for the best custardy coating with vanilla, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg adding classic comfort flavors.
- Soak the French bread slices for 3-5 minutes and up to 15 minutes for the egg mixture to absorb into the bread.
- Pro Tip: Use a mix of butter and oil to fry it. Butter adds flavor, but it can burn at higher temperatures. By adding a bit of canola or vegetable oil, you get the flavor of butter with a higher smoke point, helping you achieve that perfect, evenly golden-brown toast every time.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Instead of French bread or challah, try brioche, Texas toast, or a sturdy, rustic white bread for similar results.
- Almond milk or oat milk can substitute for whole milk for a dairy-free version (like in this baked French toast recipe) though the texture may be slightly lighter.
- If you’re out of cinnamon or nutmeg, a pinch of pumpkin spice or allspice adds a warm, cozy twist.
- Substitute almond extract for the vanilla, or add a shot of bourbon, whiskey, or amaretto to the dipping mixture.
- Have leftover French toast? Turn it into a bread pudding and enjoy for dessert.
Storage Tips
- Store French toast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To freeze, place slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F or pop it in the toaster for a quick fix that keeps the crisp edges intact.
What to Serve With French Toast
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
How to Make French Toast
This is how to make French toast crispy, custardy, and utterly delicious. Grab the syrup and make some classic breakfast magic.
Servings 4
Calories 517kcal
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread or challah
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups half-and-half or whole milk
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon butter , plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon canola oil or vegetable oil
- maple syrup , for serving
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Instructions
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Slice the French bread or challah in 1-inch thick slices. Save the rest of the loaf for another use.
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Whisk the eggs with the half-and-half or whole milk in a large bowl or baking dish. Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt until smooth. Set aside.
-
Melt the butter and oil in a large non-stick skillet between medium and medium-high heat or set an electric frying pan to 350°F. Dip 4 bread slices in the egg mixture, coating both sides well. Soak the bread for 3-5 minutes up to 15 minutes. Let the excess egg drip from the bread before adding to the skillet in an even layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden, then flip and cook for 3-4 more minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. Add more oil or butter to the skillet if needed and repeat with the rest of the bread slices.
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Serve the French toast slices hot topped with butter and drizzled with maple syrup.
Nutrition
Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 872mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 588IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 5mg
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