French toast is a delicious and comforting dish that can be enjoyed at any time. Take a look at a detailed guide from the experts at Food Network Kitchen for achieving perfect slices easily.
The perfect French toast should be crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. Take a look at our easy-to-follow guide, then enjoy delicious French toast with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, butter, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or even chocolate hazelnut spread.
1. Pick the type of bread you want and cut it into thick slices.
For very fluffy and creamy French toast, choose bread such as brioche or challah. For a more organized option, choose a rustic bread. To make delicious French toast, use thick slices of bread. Avoid buying pre-sliced bread and instead opt for a whole loaf, cutting it into 3/4-inch thick slices. Old bread is perfect for this because it absorbs the custard well without falling apart. If you only have fresh bread, bake it at 300 degrees F for 12 minutes to make toast.
2. Prepare the mixture.
Our recipe for Delicious French Toast has a great mix of ingredients: Use 10 big eggs, 2 cups of half-and-half, and 1/4 cup of light brown sugar to soak a whole loaf of bread. But you can simply adjust the recipe to make more or less food depending on the number of people you are serving. If you are cooking for a smaller group, use 5 big eggs, 1 cup of half-and-half, and 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar. Use our measurements as rough guidelines, not strict rules.
Some important tips about preparing the batter. If you break your eggs on a flat surface and open them from the top, you won’t have any eggshell pieces in your bowl (very clever). Make sure to beat the eggs well until they are fully mixed and there are no white streaks left. By adding some vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt, you can give the French toast a delicious taste and harmony. After you have prepared your mix, put it in a big rectangular baking pan.
Dip the bread in the mixture.
Put some slices of bread in the egg mixture and let them soak until they absorb the mixture and feel heavy but not too soggy. About 30 seconds to one minute per side should be enough. Avoid filling the baking dish too much because the bread will not soak evenly. Work with two slices of bread at a time, moving them to a big plate after soaking.
Make the French Toast in groups.
As you dip the bread, heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a big nonstick pan on medium-low heat. Cook two slices of soaked bread until they are a deep golden brown, the custard is firm, and the inside is cooked, for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Do the same with the rest of the bread, melt one more tablespoon of butter, and then add two more slices. It is important to keep an eye on the bread while cooking and adjust the heat to medium or medium-low to ensure that the slices turn golden evenly.
Try different toppings.
While maple syrup, butter, and powdered sugar are traditional toppings for French toast, you can also use sliced fresh fruit to garnish your dish. Or walnuts that have been toasted. If you have some time and want to add something extra to your dish, you could try making a simple vanilla whipped cream, pear compote, or salted bourbon caramel sauce. Take it to the next level. What is the reason for that?
