French toast is such a simple and well-loved food that many of us cook it on autopilot, going through motions that we’ve long known. But whether you have an established method or are just learning how to make French toast, know that a few simple tweaks can elevate your recipe. Looking for an easy upgrade? Try these tips when cooking one of our favorite French toast recipes.
How to Make French Toast
French toast might be the ultimate breakfast comfort food, and thankfully, it’s super easy to make. Before you get into our best French toast tips, here are the basic steps on how to make the breakfast staple.
- Begin by slicing your bread 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick.
- Make custard by beating eggs with milk, sugar, and spices of your choice, such as cinnamon.
- Soak the bread slices one by one in the custard mixture.
- Place on the skillet and cook for about 4 minutes on each side, until the toast becomes crisp and golden.
- Garnish with the toppings of your choice (maple syrup, powdered sugar, butter, berries) and enjoy!
The Best French Toast Tips
Start With the Best French Toast Bread
A dense-crumbed white Pullman bread is classic for French toast—but for an extra dose of richness, eggy challah or brioche works wonderfully, too. Just remember: The drier your bread, the better it will soak up all that lovely custard.
A day-old loaf will do the trick—or, should you find yourself in a pinch, dry your slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before giving them their first dip. While dry or day-old bread is a plus, it isn’t necessary. So, go ahead and use the bread you’ve got if you need to save some time.
Cut the Right Size Slice
Thinly sliced French toast loses something of its luxurious bite. So go thick, no thinner than half an inch. More bread per slice equals a bite with more personality. It also means a greater ability to sponge up the egg and milk mixture, packing more goodness into each slice.
Make sure each piece is half-inch to one-inch thick. If you want to cut down on prep time, purchase pre-sliced Texas toast at the store, which is typically sliced about an inch thick. You can also grab pre-sliced challah or brioche, as long as it’s cut at least a half-inch thick.
Nail the Egg-to-Milk Ratio
Eggs and milk are the essential components of the custard base that gives French toast its tender richness—but get their ratio off and you’ll wind up with undercooked slices that have an unpleasantly savory “scrambled eggs” flavor.
A basic rule of thumb is about 1/4 cup of milk and one egg per two-slice serving—and if you want to avoid that “scrambled” taste, use only the yolks of some or all of the eggs. (Sulfur compounds in the whites are what give eggs their unique “egg” taste.)
When it comes to French toast, always go for milk that has a high-fat content, such as whole milk. You can even add a splash of half-and-half or heavy cream for even more richness. If you’re reaching for non-dairy milk, use a creamy one like coconut or macadamia nut milk for the best result.
Season Your French Toast Batter
Milk and eggs are the only essentials required for the custard base—but it’s how you season the mixture that will give your French toast a distinctive flavor. A pinch of cinnamon and some vanilla extract are standard upgrades—and a little sugar never hurts either. Cardamom or pumpkin pie spice are other warming spices that can enhance your toast.
(Consider this when choosing a sweetener: Powdered sugar will dissolve well, leaving you with a smooth custard, while brown sugar will create a lovely caramel flavor as it cooks.) Or, for a grown-up twist, try adding a dash of liqueur, like a spiced rum or Grand Marnier.
Use a Non-Stick Pan
French toast, we know, arises from bread dipped in an egg mixture. Given how much bread absorbs egg, you probably want to cook French toast in a non-stick pan. Standard pans might give you the chance to develop a more flavorful color during cooking, but spending 10 minutes scrubbing off an egg glued to a pan isn’t fun. Non-stick does a great job, especially if you’re making big batches and want minimal cleaning between them.
Upgrade Your Maple Syrup
When topping French toast just before eating, skip the corn syrup pretenders. Many aren’t maple, but rather “breakfast” or “pancake” syrups. Be sure you’re getting maple syrup, the real product boiled from the sap of the maple tree—a sweetener with eye-widening complexity.
Explore Fancy Toppings
Consider topping slices of French toast with a dollop of cool ricotta cheese and a spoonful of your favorite jam—say cherry or apricot. Compound butter that embraces sweet ingredients, such as honey butter, can also add something different and welcome. These approaches can replace maple syrup. But if you want, you can mix and match.
Don’t Skip the 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 when we sizzle this breakfast staple. To prevent burning or smoking, use a combination of butter and oil in the pan to cook the toast.
French Toast Recipes
Now that you know how to make the best French toast, it’s time to get to started. And what better way than with these French toast recipes?
Challah Cinnamon French Toast
Challah bread is an excellent choice for French toast, as it is thick, rich, and soft. This recipe includes orange zest in the custard, which brings a bright citrusy flavor to each slice. Drizzle with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Savory French Toast Casserole
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Food Stylist: Claire Spollen
Don’t have a sweet tooth? This French toast casserole incorporates ingredients like red onions, Fresno chiles, and cilantro for a savory twist on the classic. The toast bakes in a casserole dish until golden. Serve with sweet chutney to level out the savory flavors.