French Toast

By Maria Lichty

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Quick Summary

Learn how to make the best French toast with this easy, classic recipe using buttery brioche bread. Crispy on the outside, soft and custardy on the inside, this French toast is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any time you want something a little extra special. Ready in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients!

French Toast cut in slices on plate with powdered sugar, butter, syrup, and berries.

The Best French Toast (Easy Recipe!)

French toast has always been my favorite breakfast. If I have a choice between pancakes, waffles, or French toast, I always pick French toast.

There’s something magical about starting your morning with a stack of golden, buttery French toast. Whether it’s a lazy Sunday brunch or a special holiday breakfast, classic French Toast is the ultimate comfort food that feels indulgent yet effortless.

Brioche, with its soft, pillowy texture and rich flavor, is hands down the best bread for French toast. It soaks up the custard mixture beautifully without falling apart, giving you that dreamy combination of a crispy, caramelized outside and a soft, custardy center.

You also get the perfect hint of cinnamon and vanilla in every bite and I highly recommend topping with a pat of butter and a drizzle of warm maple syrup. If you want to take it to the next level, add a handful of fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar for a plate that looks as amazing as it tastes.

This recipe is all about getting back to basics—simple ingredients, easy steps, and that perfect balance of flavor and texture that makes this dish unforgettable.

Tips for Perfect French Toast

  • You can use an electric griddle or skillet on the stove. We like to use an electric griddle because we can cook several pieces at the same time. Make sure the griddle or skillet is hot before you start cooking.
  • Mix the batter in a shallow pan or pie pan. I mix the batter right in the pan so I don’t have to dirty another dish. You can use a whisk or fork to mix the batter together. Make sure the eggs and milk are thoroughly beaten together.
  • Don’t skip the vanilla and cinnamon, these two ingredients are essential for making the best French toast. They add so much flavor to the bread.
  • Add half of the cinnamon and mix it in. When you have cooked half of your French toast, add the rest of the cinnamon. This will make sure all of the French toast pieces have a good amount of cinnamon and not just the first few pieces.
  • To flip, use a spatula, fork, or tongs to flip the bread in the French toast batter.
  • Make sure you soak each side of the bread in the French toast batter. You want both sides of the bread to soak up all of the egg mixture. Don’t leave the bread in the mixture too long or it will get soggy.
  • Cook the bread slices in butter. It will give the French toast extra flavor and create a nice golden brown crust. Place a little butter on the hot griddle or pan and let it melt. Place the soaked pieces of bread onto the hot, buttery pan.
  • Cook on both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Make sure the temperature isn’t too hot or the outsides will burn and the inside will be soggy.

Classic French Toast

Fluffy, golden French toast made with rich brioche bread and a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. Perfect with butter, maple syrup, and fresh fruit for an easy, delicious breakfast or brunch.
4.45 from 140 votes
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Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
  • Pinch of salt
  • 8 slices Brioche bread
  • Unsalted butter, for cooking
  • Maple syrup, powdered sugar, and berries for serving, if desired

Instructions
 

  • If using an electric griddle, preheat the griddle to 350 degrees F.
  • In a shallow pan or pie plate, add the eggs, milk, vanilla, half of the cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
  • Dip each side of the bread in the egg mixture. Note-add the other half of the cinnamon after you have dipped half of your bread slices and mix again. This will make sure all of the slices get a good amount of cinnamon.
  • Melt a little butter on the hot griddle or in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the French toast until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
  • Serve the French toast warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and berries, if desired.

Video

Notes

Keep warm: To keep the French toast warm, heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet and place the French toast on the rack. Keep warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes.
How to Store: Let leftover French toast cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. To freeze, lay slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or toaster for the best texture, or microwave for a softer option.

Nutrition

Serving: 4slices, Calories: 237kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 166mg, Sodium: 366mg, Potassium: 202mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 285IU, Calcium: 144mg, Iron: 2.8mg
Keywords bread, breakfast, french toast

Have you tried this recipe?

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large stack of brioche French toast on plate with butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup.

Frequently Asked Questions for This Recipe

Can I use another type of bread for French toast? Yes! While rich, buttery brioche is my favorite, challah, thick-cut Texas toast, or French bread also work great. The key is using thick, slightly stale slices. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free bread.

What milk is best for French toast? Whole milk or half-and-half give the richest flavor, but dairy-free alternatives like almond milk, oat milk, or even coconut milk also work well.

Can I make French toast ahead of time? Yes! You can prep the custard mixture the night before and store covered in the fridge. In the morning, soak the bread and cook!

Can I freeze French toast? Yes! Let slices cool completely, then freeze on a baking sheet. Transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat on a hot griddle, hot skillet, or place slices in a 350°F oven until heated through. You can also use the toaster. I don’t recommend reheating in the microwave because it makes the bread a little soggy.

Toppings

You can’t go wrong with butter, pure maple syrup, and a dusting of powdered sugar. Sometimes, for a special treat, I will make my Brown Butter Buttermilk Syrup to pour over the top. Other topping ideas:

  • Whipped cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream for a decadent touch!
  • Nuts: Garnish with sliced almonds, chopped candied pecans or pecans, or walnuts.
  • Granola: Top with a sprinkling of your favorite granola for an added crunch!
  • Nut butter: Peanut butter and almond butter are a great addition!
  • Fruit: Berries, banana slices, peaches, or even cinnamon apples!
  • Jam or Nutella: Use your favorite jam or go all out with Nutella to sweeten things up!

Serving Suggestions

This French toast is guaranteed to be the star of any breakfast and it is good on it’s own, but if you want a full breakfast spread, you can serve the French toast with:

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Maria

Iโ€™m Maria Lichty, creator of Two Peas and Their Pod and two-time cookbook author.

On Two Peas & Their Pod, you will find recipes that are family friendly, affordable, approachable, and most importantly DELICIOUS. I share everyday recipes for everyone!

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4.45 from 140 votes (112 ratings without comment)

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Comments

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  1. This looks so delicious, love the idea of having it with bacon! I wonder how this would work with gluten free bread – definitely going to try that out. Thanks for sharing!

    Holly from The Art of Being Holly xo

  2. Curtis Stone make some and dipped it in melted butter then cinnamon and sugar and topped with warmed peaches.

    1. All that fancy bread is way too expensive for a minority mom like myself but if I refrigerate normal 99 cent bread it stays together just fine and it comes out great. Not as eggy of a taste as other recipes.

  3. 5 stars
    I can positively say this is the most delicious French toast ever… it’s exactly the way I make it! Sooo good.
    For special occasions I do the regular drizzle of maple syrup, sprinkled with powdered sugar, then add fresh strawberries and a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
    Sometimes I make extra and let it cool on the wire rack, then put the cookie sheet with the wire rack into the freezer. It freezes better on the rack than it does just on the cookie sheet. When frozen they go into a freezer bag. While they’re not as good as fresh, it’s quick work to put in the toaster oven to reheat. If you plan to freeze, don’t butter them fresh off the griddle. The butter will melt in the toaster oven and it can set off the smoke alarm! It would probably drop into a regular toaster too, but I don’t have one, so I haven’t tried that.
    Yummy!!! Love your recipes!
    Jan

  4. Some of the best french toast I’ve ever had was made with croissants. I use that as an extra special treat.

    1. You can double the recipe and see the tips about keeping it warm in the oven! Enjoy!

  5. 5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe! I used Texas toast and really appreciated the advice of adding the cinnamon in stages for later batches of french toast.

    1. If you put the cinnamon in a cup add cinnamon and a little bit of water, then stir with a fork then pour into the batter. The cinnamon does not sit on top of the batter.

    1. Yes, I have added a little vanilla coffee creamer to the milk, skipping the vanilla and sugar when I had run out of vanilla.ย 

  6. 5 stars
    I was in charge of making breakfast while camping in Yosemite. I used this recipe and used Trader Joe’s brioche bread. (recommended in another recipe.

    EVERYONE said this was the best French bread they had ever had!

    Even though we were camping, I did the full breakfast. Berries, real butter, maple syrup (no imitation stuff), sprinkled powdered sugar over the toast, gourmet sausage and scrambled eggs. Added a small arrangement on the table of pine sprigs, random leaves and twigs. Whatever was nearby.

    It made the camping trip feel very special. The group even asked me to make it again the following day. Double decadence!

  7. I’ve prepared this recipe twice now, and I love it! Today I went to 2 bakeries specifically for the brioche before I finally found it at Whole Foods, and it was worth the running around in the early morning city heat!(and I found some tiramisu gelato while I was there :). I baked thick cut crispy bacon and served it with fresh blueberries and strawberries and warm maple syrup per your recommendation. So thank you for helping me create a perfect Sunday brunch for me and my partner. I’m looking forward to making this again when fall arrives.

  8. 5 stars
    I thought I was good at making French Toast already. I included most of these ingredients, but this weekend I followed all these steps. WOW!! Crazy delicious! I we served a little fruit compote on the side and my kids begged for the same thing for dinner!

  9. I always do orange zest in mi French toast batter along with what you have listed. Itโ€™s a total game changer and I promise you will be doing it every time after you try it. Especially when you do it with buttermilk syrup…perfect flavor combinations. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. 5 stars
    Always a great breakfast hit, I love this and any of y’all’s recipes that I research from ur site! ยกmil gracias!
    provecho.

  11. Hi, I’m curious as to why many dessert-type recipes call for unsalted butter. I have tried many recipes both with salted and unsalted butter and far prefer salted. To me, unsalted butter has no taste and leaves the finished product less delicious. If there is a special reason for using unsalted butter, please let me know! Thank you.

    1. Great question! Most call for unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in the recipe. Salt is a MUST to make recipes taste good…I just always add the amount I want. If you want to use salted butter, you certainly can!

  12. 5 stars
    I love French Toast, as does my family. I used to do it this way, but several years ago changed to putting fresh ground nutmeg in the batter. the cinnamon sugar was put out as one of a variety of toppings. Yum.

  13. 5 stars
    It was perfect. I used 1/2 cream and 1/2 milk
    Sliced bakery loaf of white bread…1 inch thick
    Cut bread in triangles and layered like the picture garnishing with strawberries and blueberries, powdered sugar and drizzled with syrup.
    It was fantastic. Served on heated plate from the microwave and hot syrup

  14. I do NOT add cinnamon to the milk. Instead I mix cinnamon and sugar (2-1) into a small shaker. After dipping the bread into the milk I sprinkle one side of the toast and place it face down onto the hot griddle; then I sprinkle the other side. This way I get cinnamon sugar evenly on each slice and the toasted color is perfect.
    PS: I always have a shaker of cinnamon sugar mix in my spice drawer to sprinkle onto buttered toast when Iโ€™m in the mood.

  15. 5 stars
    Best French toast ever!! I recommend it for large families! It always puts a smile on my mom siblings!

  16. 5 stars
    OK, I haven’t made this, but you have me all in on French toast Friday….thank you for sharing this and I love French toast, but it has never been my strong point…but with this recipe, I am sure I will be able to hone my skills. I’ll come back to let you know. Meanwhile, your buttermilk banana bread has been on repeat during quarantine.

  17. 5 stars
    I DID make this and it delivered! I even found sliced brioche at Walmart. Who knew…I always skip the bread dept in the bakery. I was surprised by the number of different types of brioche available at their bakery, but opted for the sliced loaf. The bread alone was delicious…but using it to make French toast, well, let’s just say this is my go to recipe to follow from here on out. Thank you!

  18. 5 stars
    Best French Toast ever! Brioche is a must for this dish. Not too sweet, grills up toasty! Used warm maple syrup and homemade cultured butter. Also topped with homemade granola. Superb recipe! Oh, I used heavy cream instead of milk. Thx.

  19. 5 stars
    Some of the best French Toast I or my husband have ever had! Heโ€™s not a French Toast fan and said he actually liked it so thatโ€™s an amazing sign! Thanks for the simple and delicious recipe!

  20. 4 stars
    “Donโ€™t leave the bread in the mixture too long or it will get soggy.”

    One can never leave the bread in the mixture for too long. The best french toast is when the batter saturates the full thickness of the bread (which, if you’re using brioche, tends to be quite thick).

    Just make sure you leave it on the griddle for longer, or finish in the over at low heat, to ensure that it’s cooked thoroughly.

    This all takes longer (longer to soak, longer to cook), but the result is better.

  21. 5 stars
    This is exactly how I make my French toast, only I add a 1/4-1/2 tsp of orange flavoring for a little extra zing! If I don’t have orange flavoring, I’ll use a big spoonful of frozen orange concentrate and melt it in the microwave, then mix it into the rest of the batter.

  22. I like your recipes and use them. I do have to cut them in half for two since it is just my husband and myself. Recipes for two are hard to find. This french toast is great.

  23. 5 stars
    This was the first time making French toast and my husband said it was the best heโ€™s ever had! I used regular whole wheat bread which worked out well. My three kiddos devoured it. I added blueberries and sliced strawberries on top! So good and easy. Thank you so much for sharing and for the simple instructions!!

  24. 4 stars
    I tried this recipe, yes very good however I barely had enough to do 7 pieces. Next time I will increase it by doing either a quarter or half more of this recipe.

  25. This looks delicious! My 7 year old grandson and I made chocolate sourdough bread today, in the morning we are trying fresh toast using this recipe. Canโ€™t wait to try it.

  26. 5 stars
    This is the only recipe you need! Cooked up perfectly. Brioche bread is the BEST if you can find it, although quite expensive. I used all organic ingredients this time, including the maple syrup. My family agreed it was the best French toast they’d ever had. I will use this recipe in the future.

  27. 4 stars
    I have always soaked for a short time. Don’t want to waste all these ingredients. I recommend some soaking. its great.

  28. Sounds scrumptious and I love all of your detailed tips! We live in Seattle and my husband uses the cinnamon loaf of bread from the Great Harvest Bakery for his French Toast. It’s our favorite, but I want to try the brioche bread for m Trader Joe’s!
    Cheers to French toast!

  29. 5 stars
    Love this recipe. Itโ€™s simple and tastes amazing. I make it with the Trader Joeโ€™s Brioche bread which I think makes the difference. The bread sweetens the French toast perfectly for my 2 year old son that he doesnโ€™t need maple syrup. He even eats them on the go. My partner also loved them, but with maple syrup lol. Highly recommend, easy to make even in the mornings before school/work.

    1. I am so glad you love our French toast recipe! That bread is perfect for French toast!

  30. Amazing recipe! I just made it with brioche bread and I will never go back to any other bread for french toast! So fluffy.

  31. 5 stars
    Very simple and very good! I added a TB or so of sugar because all I had was leftover soda bread, gluten-free at that, and this was absolutely delish! I used a ton of cinnamon because I love it, but the reason I was here was for the proper quantities for the custard mixture, and this was it! Thank you!