French Toast Recipe
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Discover the best French toast recipe: crispy outside, custardy inside, never soggy. Easy 10-minute classic with make-ahead, freezer, egg-free & dairy-free options. Perfect brunch idea!
This classic French Toast recipe is so delicious, easy to make, and perfect for breakfast or brunch! Enjoy the BEST French toast in minutes with this recipe and helpful tips!
This French Toast recipe is one that I absolutely love to make—especially on a lazy weekend morning. There’s something special about this rich and delicious French Toast drizzled with warm maple syrup! I’ve been making it for so long that I’ve perfected the steps so that it is easy. Whether I’m making it for a crowd of weekend guests or just my husband and me, I can have it on the table in minutes!
French toast has a way of starting the morning off in the best way. Paired with a bowl of fresh berries, a few slices of bacon, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a dollop of whipped cream, this meal is always a crowd favorite!
Why This Is the Best French Toast Recipe
Many French toast recipes turn out soggy, overly eggy, or bland. This one stands out because:
- Quick dip, not soak, that prevents sogginess.
- Balanced cinnamon-vanilla flavor with the perfect egg-to-milk ratio.
- Works with everyday sandwich bread or fancy brioche.
- Make-ahead and freezer-friendly for stress-free mornings.
- Endless customizations for diets and seasons.
French Toast Ingredients and Smart Substitutes
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Best Bread for French Toast (day-old or stale is ideal for better absorption without sogginess):
- Challah bread
- Brioche
- Sourdough
- Texas Toast or French Bread
- Sally Lunn bread
- Everyday sandwich bread (homemade or store bought) (yes, it works beautifully!)
Milk Options: Heavy cream for extra richness, half-and-half, whole milk, or dairy-free alternatives like oat, almond, or coconut milk.
Sweeteners: Maple syrup (my favorite for flavor), honey, granulated sugar, coconut sugar, or confectioners’ sugar.
Flavorings: Vanilla extract + ground cinnamon (increase for stronger cinnamon French toast). Optional: pinch of nutmeg or orange zest.
Other: Eggs (or substitutes), pinch of salt, butter for cooking.
Dairy-Free & Egg-Free Options
Dairy-Free: Use your favorite plant-based milk (oat milk is creamy and neutral) and vegan butter.
Egg-Free French Toast: Replace eggs with 1/3 cup cornstarch or simply omit them—the exterior stays crispy and delicious. Great for allergies!
Fully Vegan: Combine dairy-free milk, vegan butter, and one of the egg-free methods above.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect French Toast
- Whisk the Batter — In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
- Quick Dip — Dip each bread slice for just a few seconds per side. Do not soak! This is the secret to crispy, never-soggy French toast.
- Cook — Melt butter in a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown. Don’t crowd the pan.
- Keep Warm — Place finished slices on a baking sheet in a 250°F oven while you finish the batch.
Serve immediately with warm maple syrup, fresh berries, and whipped cream.
My recipe can be made with simple ingredients that most of you will have on hand. I love that it’s this easy! It takes the pressure off of me from thinking that I have to have exact ingredients in my house to be able to make a family favorite breakfast or brunch. Because, let’s face it, sometimes I wake up and know that this delicious breakfast recipe would be a great way to welcome the morning.
With just a few basic ingredients I always have on hand, I know I can whip up this delicious recipe that my family will love!
Pro Tips for the Best Results Every Time
- Use room-temperature ingredients for even cooking.
- Medium heat prevents burning while allowing the center to set.
- Thicker slices (about ¾–1 inch) give the best texture.
- For a crowd: Scale up and use the oven method.
- Common mistake to avoid: Over-soaking the bread.
Make-Ahead, Freezer & Storage Tips
Up to 30 Minutes Ahead: Keep warm in a 250°F oven.
Up to 24 Hours: Store batter in the fridge; stir before using.
Freezer-Friendly (Up to 3 Months): Freeze on a tray, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Reheat in oven (350°F, 10 min), toaster, or air fryer straight from frozen.
Delicious Recipe Variations
- Cinnamon French Toast: Increase cinnamon to 1½–2 teaspoons.
- Cinnamon Apple: Top with Southern Fried Apples.
- Pumpkin Spice: Swap cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice.
- Gingerbread: Use a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
- Stuffed: Try cream cheese and berries (see my stuffed variation for inspiration).
- Savory Twist: Reduce sugar and add herbs/cheese for a unique brunch option.
Serving Suggestions & Brunch Pairings
Classic: Maple syrup + berries + bacon.
Elevated: Powdered sugar, caramelized bananas, Greek yogurt, or a side of scrambled eggs. Holiday Brunch Menu Idea: French toast, breakfast casserole, fresh fruit, and juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick dip only—never soak. Use slightly stale bread and medium heat.
Absolutely! It’s one of my favorites for everyday French toast.
Challah or brioche for luxury; sandwich bread for convenience.
See make-ahead and freezer sections above—perfect for holidays and busy mornings.
Cornstarch slurry or omit entirely—both work well.
Yes! Bake at 375°F or air fry for a hands-off version.
More Breakfast and Brunch Favorites
There are many scrumptious breakfast and brunch recipes
Here’s my Best French Toast Recipe. It makes a classic breakfast or brunch recipe that everyone loves! I think you’ll love it, too!
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Best French Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk, or half and half, coconut milk or almond milk
- pinch kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, or honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 slices sandwich bread
- butter
Instructions
- Whisk and dip. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon in a flat-bottomed shallow baking dish. Place bread slices, one or two at a time, into the egg mixture and flip to make sure both sides of bread are well-coated.
- Cook. Melt butter in a large skillet or on a griddle. Place bread slices in skillet or on griddle and cook on medium heat until golden brown on each side, about 2-3 minutes.
- Serve. Serve immediately or keep warm in oven until ready to serve, but no longer than about 30 minutes.
Notes
- Tip: Don’t soak the bread to avoid sogginess.
- Full make-ahead, freezer, and variation details above.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally published 2014.
Perfect for sure!
The. Best. !! So easy and delicious!
I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s ALWAYS hit the spot. To give life in the mornings a lil kick, I like to switch it up once in a while. Add some more cinnamon or zest up a lemon. Wifey loves it EVERY time I make this recipe! Wait for your mind to be blown, this last time, to go with a homemade peach sauce to drizzle over the top, I added – wait for it – warmed cream cheese! It even made Emma and Rue follow their noses in to the kitchen. And those two are picky! Highly recommend this recipe! And have some fun with it! <3 KTC
I made mine this morning with a similar twist. =) I love making my grandma’s French recipes for fresh fruit preserves, sauces and glazes, and we used to make stuffed French toast together every Sunday when I was little. Today has been 1 year since she passed away and it just so happens to be a Sunday. So I whipped up a batch of fresh peach marmalade and a warm cinnamon vanilla peach sauce. I followed this recipe to make the French toast then when almost done I add a big spoon full of cream cheese and peach marmalade on top of one piece (spread evenly) then place another piece of French toast on top, cover the pan, and remove from heat. After a few minutes I uncover, carefully slide the French toast onto a plate then top with a drizzle of warm cinnamon peach sauce and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Following Robyn’s recipe for French toast I was able to make the best stuffed French toast I’ve had since I had to use a stool to see the countertop. It brought me back to the best memories of my life and the smell, taste and texture of the French toast was so spot on it actually made me cry when I took the first bite. Thank you Robyn for creating the perfect recipe to continue the tradition every Sunday morning to my own little ones.
Oh, Janey, what a sweet story and what a sweet tradition to carry on with your children! I love it when one of my recipes brings back such sweet memories for someone. I will have to make stuffed French toast this way now for my family.
Absolutely excellent recipe – my only complaint was the volume. Only made us 6 slices, I will say the bread we used was very stale though. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Penelope. Sometimes the texture of the bread makes a difference about the absorption of the liquid.
A FABULOUS Recipe that works perfectly just as is and is loved by my whole Family of VERY fussy eaters, thank you!! 🌻🌟💐
Thanks, Sarah. I have some fussy eaters at my house sometimes, too but they all love the French Toast. I’m glad your family does, too. xo
Delicious and not difficult, thank you!
Thanks, Frank!
Hello, just came across this recipe I would love to try it on Father’s Day for my husband but I had a question do you recommend using the whole 1 cup of heavy cream or does the recipe taste better just with whole milk? I normally make french toast with milk but I’m willing to go the extra mile for the heavy cream if it’s worth it.
I sometimes do use the heavy cream instead of milk for this French toast. It is scrumptious. My family loves it that way.
Thank you! It was absolutely delicious my husband loved them this recipe will be my go to for now on makes a good amount for my family & I.
Thanks, Nayy. I’m glad your family loves this recipe.
So delish, family loved it. Will definitely add it to my collection. You could really smell the vanilla and cinnamon through the house. Used almond milk which I recommend. Yum!!!
Best French toast we ever made. We used Chicken Salad Chick bread. Perfect.
Thanks, Alice!
😀It truly is THE BEST FRENCH TOAST!
I made it this morning and it was AMAZING!
YUM YUM YUM
Going to use this recipe for now on💗
Thanks, Margo. So glad you loved the French Toast!