This sweet and soft French Toast is an excellent way to start your day!
I love breakfast. You’ll find me at the start of nearly every single day enjoying a cup of coffee with some type of breakfast food in the early morning sunlight. I often treat myself to breakfast for dinner, swapping the usual main dinner fare for pancakes and eggs, because who says I can’t? For my birthday each year, I opt to celebrate over a big mimosa brunch with my friends, sharing pastries and fresh fruit, and cheers-ing to another year of delicious breakfasts! It’s not just the most important meal of the day—it’s the most important meal to me. And as much as I love all breakfast foods, one of my favorite dishes has to be French toast.
My love of French toast, like so many of my favorite recipes, was influenced by my grandmother. I used to go to her house before school when my parents had to work early, and she would make me French toast for breakfast every single time. I’d enjoy the thick slabs of toast, chatting with my grandmother and eating everything but the crust. My grandmother would sit across from me, chit-chatting back, and finishing off my crusts for me. It was our little morning routine.
Not unlike my grandmother, her French toast was warm and comforting, sweet and decadent, and full of creative opportunity. I could always choose to serve it with an array of side dishes, toppings, syrups, jams, and fruits! Even still, when I make this French toast recipe, I lay out plenty of options for my guests to decorate their own plate, from protein-packed sides like Air-Fryer Turkey Bacon, to toast toppings like maple syrup and Almond Butter.
This French toast is soft and sweet, with a pillowy texture from the unique batter, and a cinnamon-sugar flavor that’s perfect for cozy and crisp fall mornings. As good as this French toast tastes, the smell is almost better! When you cook your French toast, your whole kitchen will turn into a sweet autumnal wonderland, and your taste buds will soon follow.
Is This French Toast Recipe Healthy?
Although French toast is a sugary choice for breakfast, you can make healthy modifications to suit your own diet and start your day off right. I always make my French toast with whole-grain wheat bread and oat milk, and top it with fresh fruit like bananas and berries for added nutritional value. Choosing a bread and toppings that suit your dietary needs will make French toast a filling choice for your first meal of the day!
What Is French Toast?
French toast is a popular breakfast dish that involves coating bread slices in an egg mixture, then cooking each side in a pan to create a soft, battered toast. Most recipes use cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and other pantry essentials to sweeten and flavor the toast. French toast is commonly served with honey or syrup, dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, or topped with fresh fruits.
Fun fact for you: French toast, funnily enough, isn’t exactly French. Similar dishes have existed since the Roman Empire, and legend has it that this version of the popular dish got its name from a New Yorker named Joseph French!
How to make ahead and store
You can make your egg mixture ahead of time and leave it covered in the fridge overnight. Doing this will actually allow the flavors to settle nicely. Once cooked, French toast is best enjoyed fresh, but you can keep it in an airtight container or sealed bag for up to 5 days in the fridge, or up to a month in the freezer! If you freeze your French toast, allow it to thaw before reheating it.
Serving Suggestions
French toast makes for a delightful centerpiece to a big breakfast spread! Serve it with other FFF breakfast sides like Air-Fryer Breakfast Sausage, Baked Brown Sugar Bacon, Breakfast Potatoes, and of course, my favorite Ham and Spinach Quiche. Don’t forget the mimosas! Cheers to a great way to start your day!
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 8 slices of thick-cut bread
- Butter as needed
- Maple syrup as needed
- Fresh fruit for serving
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, nutmeg, salt, and cinnamon until well combined.
- Dunk the bread slices into the custard mixture, allowing bread to soak up some of the mixture.
- Melt butter in a skillet on medium heat. Place the soaked bread slices in the skillet. Cook on both sides, about 2 to 4 minutes per side, without disturbing them. Remove from heat when golden brown.
- Serve hot with a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh fruit.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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