How to Make French Toast That's Just as Easy as It Is Decadent

French toast has always been a weekend brunch favorite: It’s a classic that will win everyone over, every time. And you can easily make the dish extra special by serving it with fun toppings: maple syrup, fresh fruit, chopped nuts and chocolate sauce. Just think, “What would I love to put on an ice cream sundae?” and then put that out for your French Toast bar!

But if you've never made it before and are wondering how to make French toast, the classic recipe is so simple. You don’t have to make a batter like you do with pancakes or waffles and it’s made up of ingredients that you probably already have on hand: eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and bread. Of course, there are so many ways to elevate French toast, but it all starts with this basic recipe.

The best part about French toast is that you can make it with any kind of bread imaginable. Just use whatever you have around: Sourdough, banana bread, challah, or even croissants will work. Depending on the bread you use, you might have a softer or sturdier French toast, but we’ll get to that later. French toast is so versatile, it can be made for a simple weekday breakfast, a fancy weekend brunch, or even a holiday feast. On occasions when you’re serving a crowd, try a French toast casserole. Or on a day when you wake up just needing something a little indulgent (we all deserve that sometimes!) this French toast recipe will do the trick. 

How do you make French toast from scratch? 

Homemade French toast is so easy, you’ll have it whipped up in no time. Just remember three simple steps: whisk, dip, cook. First, you whisk up your custard, then you dip in your bread, and finally you cook both sides until they’re golden brown. Oh, but there is one last step that’s very important: adding toppings! This is where you can really have some fun. Try some of our favorite toppings: butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, whipped cream, granola, chopped nuts, and caramel sauce.

Why is my French toast soggy? 

The key to making great French toast is making it not too soggy and not too dry. There's nothing worse than French toast that’s undercooked on the inside, and burned on the outside. To avoid these mistakes, try to remember three simple French toast rules:

1. The best French toast starts with good quality bread. If the bread is too soft or too thin, it won’t hold up to the thick custard. This usually means avoiding generic sliced sandwich bread. We prefer a thicker slice of good quality bread instead. If all you have is sandwich bread, don’t worry! You can still make a delicious French toast in the form of Crunchy French Toast.
2. It’s all about the custard. The basis for a creamy custard is eggs and milk. We prefer using half-and-half for its richness, but whole milk or even cream will work well. The custard needs to be completely whisked together. Add a touch of vanilla, some sugar for sweetness, and a bit of cinnamon for flavor, then soak the bread. To avoid a soggy mess, don’t let the bread sit in the custard for too long (this isn’t a bath)—it should be dipped in to soak up just enough liquid on each side.
3. Control the heat. This is important to avoid overcooking or burning your French toast. Start by pre-heating a non-stick skillet over low heat, then add the butter, and after you add your toast, hover between low and medium-low, depending on how hot your stove gets. It cooks up quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on it. 

What's the best bread for making French toast? 

While any bread will work in this recipe, it’s also important to remember that bread is the central ingredient, so it should be a good quality, tasty bread. Picking a loaf of bread rather than a pre-sliced bread gives you the ability to make thicker slices or even cubes (if you’re making a French toast casserole). Here are our recommendations for bread:

- Brioche or Challah: Buttery and creamy.

- French bread: Hardy and chewy. Make sure to let this bread soak up the custard a little longer.

- Texas Toast: Thick, country style bread with fluffy texture.

- Cinnamon bread: Try this bread for some extra flavor.

- Croissants: Light, airy, and slightly crisp.

Can you make French toast in advance? 

Sometimes cooking French toast on the spot can be a daunting task, especially when you have a million other things going on. We get it—mornings can get busy! To make French toast even easier, you can prepare everything in advance. Make the full recipe, then arrange the cooked French toast slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the oven at 250˚F for up to 30 minutes to keep them warm. To freeze, place the baking sheet in the freezer until firm, then transfer to a sealed container for up to 3 months.