Who doesn’t love to make and share a homemade French Toast recipe with friends and family?

Our classic recipe for the perfect light and fluffy French toast takes breakfast and brunch to the next level. The sweet aroma of cinnamon and the bright flavors of orange juice and cognac gently soaked bread is just too heavenly to believe! 

pouring syrup over French Toast

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Perfect French Toast

One dish to deliciousness, that’s what we love about our French toast! Fancy enough for a celebration, but easy enough for simple everyday breakfast requests, it always comes out light, fragrant, and absolutely divine! We even have the new and creative ideas to prepare French toast so you can create your own signature recipe. You’re welcome!

Is French Toast Really French?

Sorry, but no. It was originally created by the Romans as a way to re-use leftover bread. In France, it’s called ‘pain perdu’ which means “lost bread” but sounds very fancy and elegant.

ingredients to make French Toast with bread on a baking sheet

French Toast Ingredients

BREAD A classic French toast recipe always starts with dried bread of some sort so it can soak up the custard-like batter. Thickly sliced is better!

DAIRY Eggs and milk are whisked together with freshly squeezed orange juice.

FLAVORINGS & SEASONINGS The chef can use any variety of seasonings, mostly cinnamon and sugar. We also added lemon zest and vanilla.

TASTY ADDITIONS We also added some cognac or Grand Marnier for a baked sweet/savory flavor that is truly unforgettable!

Best Breads for a Basic French Toast Recipe

The best French toast still comes from bread that is dried out, but there are so many delicious breads to choose from! Use any from this list for perfect results every time!

  • Brioche
  • Biscuits
  • Challah
  • Croissant
  • French bread
  • Hawaiian bread
  • Panettone
  • Sourdough
  • Texas Toast (found in the freezer section)

soaked bread on a baking sheet to make French Toast

Basic French Toast Recipe

  1. Slice bread 1 inch thick. Dry on a wire rack in the oven overnight.

PRO TIP: If time is short, gently bake bread slices in an oven at 200° F for 15 minutes. Cool bread completely before proceeding.

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except for butter and oil.

PRO TIP: Eggnog can be used as a quick and easy batter, perfect for the holidays!

  1. Place bread slices on the bottom of a prepared baking dish with sides. Pour batter evenly over the slices and gently flip each piece over multiple times until the bread is soaked.
  2. Preheat the oven to 200° F to keep the cooked pieces warm while the other pieces are being fried.
  3. Heat equal parts of butter and oil in a skillet. Fry slices of French bread and move to the preheated oven.

PRO TIP: Combining oil and butter keeps the pieces from burning.

  1. Wipe the skillet between frying the slices. Use tongs to grip a paper towel if the skillet is too hot to wipe. Serve immediately for best texture.

piece of French Toast on a fork close up

Toppings for French Toast

  • Serve French toast with warmed maple syrup, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, or a dollop of strawberry or blueberry jam.
  • Also delicious with whipped cream, of course!
  • We also like sliced bananas, almonds, mini chocolate chips, or even a dollop of Nutella!

Try serving it with yogurt, strawberry butter or some honey butter, and maybe a side of bacon in the oven. Why not serve some mixed berry smoothies, as well?

Leftovers

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. French toast is best when it’s enjoyed right away, but leftover pieces can be reheated to crispy perfection in a toaster oven or under the broiler for about 4 minutes per side. I also pop it in the toaster to heat it up!

French Toast on a plate with orange slices

Other Easy Breakfast Recipes!

pouring syrup over French Toast
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French Toast

This recipe makes the most delicious and perfect French Toast!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author Candace

Ingredients  

  • 12 slices bread thick sliced if possible
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup orange juice fresh squeezed is best
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • zest of 1 lemon (about 1 Tablespoon)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons cognac or Grand Marnier (or other liqueur) (optional)
  • 4-6 Tablespoons butter
  • 4-6 Tablespoons oil

Instructions 

  • Dry bread by laying on a wire rack overnight* or bake at 200˚F for about 15 minutes (then cool completely).
  • In a large measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, juice, sugar, zest, cinnamon, salt, and cognac if using.
  • Place bread in a single layer in a baking tray with sides. Pour egg mixture on bread. Flip slices a number of times, until bread is coated and soaked, about 15-20 minutes. There may be a small amount of egg mixture remaining in the pan, but most will have soaked into the bread.
  • ***Preheat oven to 200˚F. Place a wire rack on a baking tray and set aside.
  • Over medium heat in a skillet, or on a griddle, heat equal parts butter and oil (about 1 Tablespoon of each for a skillet, and 2 Tablespoons of each on a skillet). Fry bread slices 3-4 minutes per side or until golden. Serve immediately or transfer to wire rack on the baking tray and place in oven to keep warm.
  • Wipe skillet or griddle, and repeat, adding butter and oil to fry remaining French toast.
  • Serve warm with maple syrup or your favorite toppings.

Notes

*Easiest to leave the bread out overnight to dry it. This helps it so that it doesn’t fall apart when soaking up the egg mixture.
** Using butter and oil mixture helps keep butter from burning.
***If not serving immediately, preheat oven to keep French toast warm.
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Nutrition Information

Calories: 374 | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 482mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 379IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.

Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

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About the author

I am a wife, mother of two, and professional accountant. I love fantastic food, and it is so often the center of our lives, from everyday dinner, to family gatherings, and special evenings at fabulous restaurants. I have always loved cooking and baking, with my mom and grandma, and now, with my daughter and son. I love trying new recipes while enjoying my favorites too. I’m so happy to share them with you.
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