Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (2024)

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Diana Rattray

Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (1)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Emma Christensen

Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (2)

Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen is the General Manager for Spruce Eats and Simply Recipes, the author of three books on home brewing, and a graduate of The Cambridge School for Culinary Arts.

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Updated on 02/2/24

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Tracy Wilk

Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (3)

Tested byTracy Wilk

Tracy Wilk is a professional pastry chef, recipe developer and chef instructor, and, most importantly, a firm believer in sprinkles.

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Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (4)

You don't need much to make yourself a stack of crispy-on-the-outside, soft-in-the-middle French toast! Just eggs, milk, bread — and don't forget the maple syrup to pour over top!

How to Make French Toast

French toast is very easy: whisk together eggs and milk, add thick slices of bread for a quick soak, then fry them up in a hot buttered pan.

This recipe uses just a few basic ingredients you likely have in the kitchen already. Bonus: French toast freezes incredibly well, so make a big batch of easy breakfasts during the week.

The Best Bread for French Toast

Any soft, thick bread will work for making French toast. Go for challah or brioche if you're feeling decadent, or keep it simple with white sandwich bread or Texas toast. Rustic country loaves or crusty sourdough loaves can also be used, but will tend to be chewier.

Regardless of which bread you choose, cut it into thick slices if possible. This will give you the best ratio of crispy outsides to creamy middles. If your bread is pre-sliced, use what you have — the french toast will still be great.

Classically, French toast is made with stale bread that's been sitting on the counter for a few days. If you only have fresh bread, lay slices on a baking sheet and place it in the oven at 275 F for about 10 minutes, or until the center is dry.

Fresh bread can also be used, but won't soak up the milk-egg mixture quite as well and can sometimes fall apart during cooking.

Why Stale Bread is Best for French Toast

Using dry, stale bread is key to avoiding soggy French toast. Fresh bread already has a good deal of moisture, but the drier a bread is, the more room it has to soak up the egg custard — like a sponge.

Ways to Top Your French Toast

  • Keep It Classic: A sprinkle of cinnamon, a dash of powdered sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup
  • Go Nuts: Sprinkle with toasted and chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
  • Fruit-tastic: Blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries, or any other fresh, seasonal fruit can go on top of French toast. If you're feeling fancy, whip up a quick fruit compote.
  • Swap the Maple: Instead of maple syrup, try honey, date syrup, boiled cider, or fruit syrup.

French Toast for a Crowd?

If you'd like to serve your French toast all at once instead of in batches as they come off the stove, warm your oven to 200 F (or the "Warm" setting) and set a sheet pan on a middle rack. Transfer the French toast to the sheet pan as they're cooked to keep warm until you're ready to serve.

What You'll Need To Make This Easy French Toast Recipe

A Shallow Pie Plate
A Good Whisk
A Griddle

"This French toast recipe is perfect for a Sunday brunch. You can utilize any bread you have left over from the week to make this breakfast treat. Feel free to customize the recipe with different toppings, or keep it simple with the items you may already have in your fridge." —Tracy Wilk

Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (8)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)

  • 1 dash salt

  • 1 teaspoon sugar, optional

  • 2 tablespoons butter, for the pan

  • 8 to 10 slices bread, preferably stale or day-old bread

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (9)

  2. Break the eggs into a wide, shallow bowl or pie plate andbeat them lightly with a fork or whisk.

    Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (10)

  3. Stir the milk, sugar, and salt into the beaten eggs.

    Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (11)

  4. Coat a skillet or griddle with a thin layer of butter. Place it over medium-low heat.

    Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (12)

  5. Place the bread slices, one at a time, into the bowl or plate. Let the bread soak up the egg mixture for a few seconds and then carefully turn to coat the other side. Coat only as many slices as you will be cooking at one time to prevent soggy French toast.

    Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (13)

  6. Transfer the egg-coated bread slices to the hot skillet or griddle. Heat slowly until the bottom is golden brown. Turn and brown the other side. Exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your bread, but it shouldn't take more than a few minutes per side.

    Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (14)

  7. Serve French toast hot with butter and syrup, or your preferred toppings. Enjoy.

Tips

  • Use thick slices of bread and soak it just long enough to absorb the egg mixture but not so long that it becomes saturated.
  • Shortening or oil can be used instead of butter when cooking the French toast. The amount needed will depend on the size of pan; use just enough to coat the bottom.

Recipe Variations

  • Add an extra teaspoonortwo of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and a teaspoon of cinnamon to the egg mixture for cinnamon-spiced French toast.
  • Use part light cream, half-and-half, or heavy cream to create a silkier, richer egg batter.
  • Up your French toast game and make pain perdu. Meaning "lost bread," this French-influenced New Orleans recipe uses allspice, cinnamon, and vanilla, with thick French baguette slices.

Why Does French Toast Taste Too Eggy?

To create the classic custard taste that makes French toast great, the ratio of eggs to milk is important. If the balance is off and you include too many eggs or not enough milk, the finished French toast will have a scrambled egg-like flavor. When scaling this recipe up or down, keep in mind that you need 1/4 cup of milk for every egg.

How to Freeze French Toast

Did you know you can freeze French toast? Make big batches and freeze French toast for easy breakfasts: Arrange the cooked and cooled French toast on a baking sheet, freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to freezer bags and seal. It will keep for up to two months. Reheat the French toast in the toaster or skillet.

French Toast With Vanilla

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
366Calories
15g Fat
42g Carbs
15g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g19%
Saturated Fat 7g34%
Cholesterol 207mg69%
Sodium 562mg24%
Total Carbohydrate 42g15%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 210mg16%
Iron 4mg21%
Potassium 249mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • pancakes
  • french toast
  • breakfast
  • american

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Diner-Style French Toast is Just 10 Minutes Away! (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast. You want the bread to soak up the egg mixture, but you don't want it to become sodden before you cook it.

How do you know if French toast is cooked all the way? ›

This allows you to sear the French toast without burning it, while ensuring it's fully cooked in the center. "You know when your French toast is done when the center is set and doesn't have a runny consistency once cut," Oliveira says.

Why is restaurant French toast so much better? ›

If you wondered why baked French toast at restaurants is so custardy and delicious, it is because they do not just pour and bake. A few minutes simply will not cut it. Restaurants may let the bread sit in the egg and milk wash overnight, allowing a thorough saturation before cooking.

What is the ratio of eggs to milk in French toast? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk.

How often should you flip French toast? ›

Forks tend to rip the bread so they are not a good choice. Continue until the pan is full with a single layer of toast. Cook until golden brown and all of the batter looks cooked, then flip with a turner and cook the second side until golden brown. If needed, adjust the temperature, so it doesn't burn or stay soggy.

What is the secret to good French toast? ›

The secret ingredient in this fluffy French toast recipe: all-purpose flour! Flour binds the liquids together, which creates a more traditional “batter” and helps prevent soggy results. This extra ingredient ensures the French toast is crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside.

Is it better to cook French toast fast or slow? ›

Tip #3: Cook French Toast Over Low Heat for 15 Minutes Total

The mistake that is most often made with french toast is not cooking it long enough so that the custard inside is cooked thoroughly. We're going to be working over low heat here, so it is important to let it cook for 7 & 1/2 minutes per side.

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream for French toast? ›

We use whole milk because the higher fat content makes the French toast nice and creamy, but you can substitute heavy cream, almond milk, or even coconut milk. The flavors will change a little, but the end result will still be delicious!

Why is my French toast bad? ›

For French toast, the amount of ingredients can make all the difference in the finished product. Too much, says Bon Appetit, could turn your bread into a soggy mess. The same could happen if you measure out a bit too much dairy.

Should I cook French toast in butter or oil? ›

Butter gives French toast a deep richness and comforting quality, which are what we crave on mornings we sizzle this breakfast staple. To prevent burning or smoking, use a combination of butter and oil in the pan to cook the toast.

What is the best bread for French toast? ›

For a solid French toast, aim for sturdy bread with a uniform texture and a soft crust. Hearty sandwich bread, brioche, challah, and shokupan (Japanese milk bread) are all great choices. Avoid rustic loaves with thick crusts or large holes in the interior.

Should French toast have more eggs or milk? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk. How's that for an easy recipe?

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