This simple French Toast recipe is an uncomplicated, timeless classic that's sure to satisfy every breakfast craving! Quickly learn how to whip up a basic batter, coat your bread slices, and cook them until they are deliciously golden brown. Perfect for both weekend brunches and weekday breakfasts, this homemade recipe is a delightful treat.
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Learning how to make french toast is actually quite straightforward which makes it the best lazy morning breakfast treat. Dip slices of bread in an easy egg mixture, fry them up in a little bit of butter, and serve with warm maple syrup or powdered sugar.
In just 10 minutes, you can be serving up this classic breakfast treat. For a delicious brunch menu serve alongside this egg casserole and this hands-free caramelized bacon. Anyone will get out of bed for this!
🏅 Why this recipe is great
- It is simple! Both in it's preparation and in it's ingredients.
- Unlike more complicated versions of french toast, this one is quick and easy without sacrificing a fluffy interior and golden brown crust.
- No need to use special bread or to dry it out before using. Although stale bread or day old bread will work, there is no need to wait if all you have is fresh bread.
- It is an incredibly versatile basic recipe. All you need are a handful of ingredients, but you can also jazz it up a bit depending on what you have on hand.
🥖 Ingredients
A full list and ingredient quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips:
- Bread: Almost any type of bread will work. See the FAQ section below for an in-depth selection.
- Eggs: These are added because they make for the perfect custard base.
- Dairy: We use half-n-half but whole milk or heavy cream can be used as well. See the FAQs for milk substitutions.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is my go to, but when I want something a little extra I put in brown sugar. The extra layer of flavor is delicious.
- Cinnamon: Just a touch makes the most delicious french toast.
- Vanilla extract: This is optional, but you should try it!
🍳 How to make French toast
Place all ingredients except for the bread into the blender. Alternatively, you can do this by combining in a low-sided dish.
Blend on low speed for 30 seconds or until the mixture looks uniform. If doing this by hand, use a fork and whip vigorously until the mixture is uniform in color. You don't want any big streaks of egg visible.
Pour the french toast batter into a low sided bowl or baking dish. Quickly dip each piece of bread into the liquid mixture.
Note: This easy recipe is a basic, straightforward method for making french toast. It is absolutely perfect as is, but if you want to get fancy see the section below for additions and toppings to take it to the next level.
🍓 How to serve
Pick and choose to make your favorite combination.
- Softened or melted butter and pure maple syrup.
- Try this 2 Simple Ingredients Honey Butter Syrup. A family favorite!
- Sprinkle of powdered sugar.
- Fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries, but bananas and apples are delicious as well.
- Dollop of whipped cream.
- Caramelized nuts like maple pecans.
- This berry cake filling is amazing on french toast.
- The apple pie filling we make to go on top of biscuits would make a tasty topping!
- For something bright and fresh try lemon curd.
- Cinnamon sugar - Tastes like a churro!
- Chocolate chips!
👨👩👧👦 For a crowd
French toast can be made for a crowd, but with some considerations to keep it warm and not soggy. Turn an oven on to its lowest setting. Then place a wire rack over a cookie sheet.
As each round of French toast comes off the hot skillet, place the pieces in a single layer on the wire rack. Don't layer - layering the pieces will cause condensation in between the pieces which leads to wet French toast.
Place the wire rack/cookie sheet in the oven to stay warm until all the French toast is finished.
🍞 Variations
Ninety percent of the time I keep this French toast simple. However, if you are looking to jazz it up here are some fun ideas!
- Bread: The classic french toast recipe option would be to use a basic white bread like a loaf of french bread. To jazz things up a bit try a cinnamon swirl bread, a brioche bread, a challah bread, a thick Texas toast, or a slightly chewy sourdough. Stay away from anything with a really firm crust or extra chewy inside because that makes for a tough piece of French toast. When in doubt lean toward a loaf of bread that is soft but doesn't fall apart or ball up when handled.
- Eggs: There aren't any good substitutes for the egg in french toast. You can try just skipping them.
- Milk: Any dairy milk will work, but whole milk, half and half, or heavy cream will make a more rich egg mixture. A fun twist is to use a flavored coffee creamer. French toast can be made without milk by choosing your favorite dairy substitute like oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.
- Sugar: White sugar is the easiest, but brown sugar adds a rich dimension. Also, honey or real maple syrup add their own unique layer of flavor.
- Spices: Try substituting your favorite apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon.
🙋 Questions and answers
The best bread for homemade french toast is one that is sturdy yet soft like a thicker sliced sandwich bread. For a full list of options see the variations section above.
Yes! Allow the french toast to cool completely. Then lay them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, place in the freezer until frozen solid, then stack them in a freezer ziptop bag or airtight container. Squeeze as much air out as possible and they should last for 2-3 months.
When it's time to serve, cook from frozen.
Toaster Oven or Conventional Oven: Cook in a single layer at 350º until warmed through, which is about 10 minutes.
Toaster: Place in toaster on low. Repeat until hot.
Air Fryer: Reheat in a single layer until warmed thorough.
It is best when made fresh, however it can be made ahead in a few different ways.
Less than an hour: If it will be served in under an hour, place slices in oven set to 170 degrees on a wire rack until time to serve. See the "For a Crowd" section for an in-depth explanation.
The night before: For prepping the night before, make the egg and dairy mixture and place in the refrigerator. Then cook the french toast as directed the next morning.
Up to 3 months: For freezing, please see the question above for thorough instructions.
Once the pieces have cooled completely, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
👨🏼🍳 Tips & tricks
- The best tip for keeping simple french toast from being soggy is to dip it in the egg and milk mixture quickly. Don't allow the bread to get too saturated.
- Make sure to get your skillet or griddle to the right temperature before adding the french toast. If it is too hot the outside will burn before the middle is done.
📖 Other breakfast recipes
- Buttermilk Farm Pancakes come from my husband's side of the family. A quick and delicious breakfast any day of the week.
- Apple Scones with Maple Glaze are quick to whip up and are sure to be enjoyed by all.
- Easy Monkey Bread is the star of any make-ahead menu.
- For an easy addition to your breakfast menu try these chicken sausage bites.
- Skillet Potatoes and Onions are an easy and frugal side dish.
- Brown Butter Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake is an incredible cold-weather breakfast treat!
- These Hash Browns in the Oven are so simple and so crispy!
- This Oven Roasted Bacon is a great method for crispy bacon that takes minimal effort.
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Recipe
How to Make Simple French Toast (Super Easy Recipe!)
Equipment
- pancake griddle or large skillet
- blender optional
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread soft white, bricohe, challah, sourdough are all good options
- 6 large eggs
- 1⅓ cups half-n-half
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for the bread into the blender. Alternatively, you can do this by combining in a low-sided dish.6 large eggs, 1⅓ cups half-n-half, ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Blend on low speed for 30 seconds or until the mixture looks uniform. If doing this by hand, use a fork and whip vigorously until the mixture is uniform in color. You don't want any big streaks of egg visible.
- Pour the french toast batter into a low sided bowl or baking dish. Quickly dip each piece of bread into the liquid mixture.1 loaf bread
- Cook on a buttered skillet or griddle over medium heat to medium hot heat until golden brown on one side. Once the bottom is ready flip the bread over and allow to cook long enough that both sides of the bread are toasty brown and the middle is cooked through.
Notes
- The best tip for keeping simple french toast from being soggy is to dip it in the egg and milk mixture quickly. Don't allow the bread to get too saturated.
- Make sure to get your skillet or griddle to the right temperature before adding the french toast. If it is too hot the outside will burn before the middle is done.
- Softened or melted butter and pure maple syrup.
- Try this 2 Simple Ingredients Honey Butter Syrup. A family favorite!
- Sprinkle of powdered sugar.
- Fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries, but bananas and apples are delicious as well.
- Dollop of whipped cream.
- Caramelized nuts like maple pecans.
- This berry cake filling is amazing on french toast.
- The apple pie filling we make to go on top of biscuits would make a tasty topping!
- For something bright and fresh try lemon curd.
- Cinnamon sugar - Tastes like a churro!
- Chocolate chips!
- Bread: The classic french toast recipe option would be to use a basic white bread like a loaf of french bread. To jazz things up a bit try a cinnamon swirl bread, a brioche bread, a challah bread, a thick Texas toast, or a slightly chewy sourdough. Stay away from anything with a really firm crust or extra chewy inside because that makes for a tough piece of French toast. When in doubt lean toward a loaf of bread that is soft but doesn't fall apart or ball up when handled.
- Eggs: There aren't any good substitutes for the egg in french toast. You can try just skipping them.
- Milk: Any dairy milk will work, but whole milk, half and half, or heavy cream will make a more rich egg mixture. A fun twist is to use a flavored coffee creamer. French toast can be made without milk by choosing your favorite dairy substitute like oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.
- Sugar: White sugar is the easiest, but brown sugar adds a rich dimension. Also, honey or real maple syrup add their own unique layer of flavor.
- Spices: Try substituting your favorite apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
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