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!

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?

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.

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 .

Should I toast the bread before making French toast?

Use stale bread or toast the bread until it's golden-brown . It needs to be sturdy to hold up to the egg mixture. If the bread is fresh from the bag or you toast it too lightly, the finished dish will be soggy. Soak the toasted or untoasted bread for about 10 seconds per side to achieve the optimal texture.

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.

Should I leave bread out overnight for French toast?

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking . If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

Do you soak both sides of French toast?

Soak the French toast: Place four slices of bread into the custard to soak for one minute. Flip the slices and soak another minute.

What kind of bread makes the best French toast?

Use brioche or challah . These egg-based breads have a high butter content, meaning their crumb is tender and rich but light. In other words, they're an ideal foundation for super decadent yet airy French toast.

Why does my French toast taste weird?

The success of your French toast depends enormously on the bread that you're using. Beyond what type of bread you choose, you need to make sure that it's a little bit stale. Slightly stale bread is the ideal choice for French toast. A dry slice of bread will be more eager to absorb the custard it will be dipped in.

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.

Why is my French toast falling apart?

French toast is made by dipping bread into a mixture of beaten eggs with milk and then frying. If the bread is fresh it tends to fall apart in the process . Using stale bread solves this problem.

French Toast Recipe - Alica's Pepperpot (2024)

Published: Apr 19, 2020 · Modified: Jun 1, 2021 by Alica · 2 Comments

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This classic french toast is perfect for a lazy weekend morning or any brunch menu. Thick slices of brioche bread dunked in a spiced custard then cooked till crisp on a cast iron skillet is the most comforting thing you'll eat all weekend.

I’ve been making this recipe so long that I've perfected it to have the right balance of everything you'd expect from a good french toast. Crisp edges, soft center, and intense flavor. The ingredient list is short, but I feel making french toast is mostly about technique and for that reason today's post is tip-heavy! Try to follow the recipe as is and I promise it will be so good!

Tips and recommendations:

Use stale bread. If you have a fresh loaf, slice the bread the night before and leave on the counter covered with a kitchen towel. This will help the bread dry out a bit. You can also slice the bread and place on baking sheet in oven at 275 degrees F for 10 minutes to dry out if making french toast within the same hour.
Use butter and oil to fry the bread. Butter alone will burn before allowing bread to completely cook through. Wipe skillet after every few slices to keep it clean of brown bits.
After cooking each slice of bread, place on a baking sheet in oven around 275 degrees F to keep warm while you finish cooking the rest of the loaf. This also keeps the edges crisp.
Guyanese plait bread works well here, if stale.
Change up the flavor profile! I've added bourbon, grand marnier, and even a splash of dark rum to the custard.
I sometimes make coconut french toast with this recipe. Add some coconut milk to the custard. After bread has soaked in the custard, dip in coconut flakes and place right onto hot skillet.
Cook bread in a cast iron skillet or a tawa. It really helps the bread cook evenly and also gives it that desirable crust.

Best bread for french toast

I'm using store-bought brioche bread for this recipe. It's a perfect choice for french toast. It's thick and strong enough to hold up to the heavy custard and it has a nice sweet flavor profile. Challah would be my next option or Guyanese plait bread.

Egg to milk ratio

A good egg to milk ratio is crucial so that your toast doesn't end up tasting like scrambled eggs on first bite. This particular recipe is for 8 slices of toast, but if you want to scale the recipe for more or less, then ¼ cup of milk to 1 egg is good for 2 slices.

Alternative ingredients

I've not made french toast with gluten free bread, but I have substituted different type of milks. Cashew milk is my favorite option because it is has a nice creamy consistency. Oat milk, almond, and coconut can also be used here.

Easy French Toast Recipe

Yield: 8 one-inch slices

This french toast is lightly sweet and golden brown, it's a delicious breakfast or brunch. Use brioche, challah, or Guyanese plait bread for the best texture.

Ingredients

8 slices stale brioche or challah bread, sliced 1-in thickness
4 eggs
¼ teaspoon orange zest
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 heaping teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup whole milk
¼ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
Neutral oil for cooking (avocado, grapeseed, or peanut oil work best)
Butter for cooking

Topping

Butter
Maple syrup

Instructions

Prep the custard mixture

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Crack eggs in a wide shallow dish. Add orange zest and vanilla. Whisk a few seconds. Add salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, whole milk and evaporated milk. Gently whisk until spices are no longer lumpy.

Soak bread

Cut bread into 1-inch thick slices. Have four slices soaking at a time.
Quickly dunk four slices into custard mixture one at a time. Flip to the other side and dunk again. Do this rather quickly so the bread does not get overly soaked or it will be soggy. Place soaked bread on a medium baking sheet and wait 5 minutes to ensure bread is soaked through before adding to the skillet. Repeat this process with the remaining four slices as you are cooking the first set.

Cook

Heat skillet on medium. Add a little oil and 1 teaspoon butter.
Place once slice on the skillet. Cover with a wide lid. Cook 2 minutes or so on each side. When finished transfer cooked French toast to another baking tray or dish and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking remaining slices.
In between dunking each slice of bread, gently whisk custard to bring spices up from the bottom of the dish. Wipe skillet as needed to remove brown bits. Add more oil/butter to cook the next batch.
Top with butter and syrup. Dust powdered sugar if desired.

Storage

After french toast is cooled, place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-5 days. To freeze, place a sheet of wax or parchment paper between each slice of french toast, then wrap tightly in aluminum foil or place in heavy-duty freezer bag.

To Reheat

Oven: heat oven to 350F. Place french toast on a baking sheet and heat for 8-10 minutes.
Air fryer: set temperature to 350F, once ready, put the French toast inside and air fry for 4–5 minutes.
Skillet: Using the stovetop, preheat the skillet to low heat. Once it's ready, place the frozen French toast and let the low heat do the job. Flip once to heat the other side.

Notes

This recipe is for 8 slices of toast. To scale for more or less slices use a ratio of ¼ cup of milk to 1 egg for 2 slices of 1-inch thick sliced bread. Adjust spices to taste.

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Comments

MK
June 20, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Hi, Your recipe has "¼ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream" but I don't see where it's mentioned in your steps. I see the part with the 1/2 cup whole milk, but where does this go? Thanks
Reply
- Alica
  June 20, 2023 at 1:20 pm
  Hi there, the evaporated milk or heavy cream goes in the step where you add the whole milk. I've edited the instructions. Hope it is helpful!
  Reply

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