How To Make French Toast (Best Simple Recipe)

Learn how to make French toast the simplest way, then take things up a notch by trying out the best variations of this classic breakfast and brunch dish.

RELATED: 6 Cool Toaster Hacks You Thought Were Impossible To Do

In this article:

1. Delicious and Filling Breakfast and Brunch with the Classic French Toast
2. How to Make French Toast Simple Recipe
3. How to Make the Best Classic French Toast
4. French Toast Recipes with a Twist

How to Make French Toast Easy and from Scratch

Delicious and Filling Breakfast and Brunch with the Classic French Toast

With an unsatisfactory or incomplete breakfast or brunch, chances are you’ll be paying for it later with a bad mood and an upset stomach. So, it’s absolutely essential to have a delicious and hearty breakfast every morning and improve your chance of having a great day.

The classic French toast will always be the one dish to save your first meal. If we had a nickel for every time, someone emailed us asking, “How do you make French toast?” we wouldn’t be wealthy, but we’d definitely be able to treat ourselves to a fancy dinner.

Nothing says “Hello, weekend!” like French toast. It’s thick, coated in a sweet batter, fried, then drizzled in delectable maple syrup! Who doesn’t love this?

French toast is one of the most-loved breakfast or brunch recipes on the planet, yet it seems so difficult to perfect. Well, not anymore, because we’ve laid out two easy-to-follow recipes with step-by-step instructions.

We also featured eight recipes with a delicious twist on the original and well-loved basic toast. You will now know how to make the perfect French toast every time you step up to your stove for sure.

How to Make French Toast Simple Recipe

What better way to get your day started than with a simple and easy French toast recipe you can prepare in no time? This recipe from In The Kitchen With Matt shows us how to make the best French toast recipe in town.

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 2 pieces thick, sliced bread (any kind is fine)
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• Butter

Instructions

Step 1. Mix Up Your Ingredients

In your small bowl, combine the egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Use a fork or whisk to mix together well.

Step 2. Dip Bread in Batter

Transfer the egg mixture into a shallow bowl or pan and dip your bread slices in it. Make sure to cover the entire slices of bread in the egg mixture. Let any excess batter drip back into the bowl.

Step 3. Cook ‘Em

Using medium to medium-high heat, coat your skillet with a pat of butter and then lay your batter-soaked bread on it.

Cook each side for about one and a half minutes or until they look golden brown. Right before they’re done cooking, add a little bit of butter to the top of the bread slices.

Step 4. Add Toppings and Serve

Sprinkle on powdered sugar, bananas, strawberries, honey, maple syrup, and any other toppings you want on your homemade French toast and serve.

Watch this video, from In The Kitchen With Matt, to check out the easy process of making French toast at home:

How to Make the Best Classic French Toast

While it’s universally appreciated, it’s not universally mastered, so we’ve made the process easier for you by breaking it down into a step by step tutorial! Perfect French toast is no longer a myth, it’s a reality!

Ingredients

• 3 slices challah bread or French bread
• 5 whole eggs, beaten
• 1 /4 cup milk
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 oz. butter
• Powdered sugar

Instructions

|

Step 1. Prepare Your Ingredients

First, make sure you have all of the ingredients you will need out and in arm’s reach. This recipe uses thicker French bread like challah bread, baguette, and brioche bread.

You can also use thick-cut sourdough bread or Pannetone, an Italian bread often reserved for the holidays. It is important to use thick slices and sturdy bread for recipes like French toast and French toast bake.

If this bread isn’t available where you live, feel free to use any bread thicker than regular white bread. You will be coating your bread in a thick egg mixture, so you’re looking for a sturdy slice to hold the liquid and you don’t get soggy French toast.

Step 2. Make a Milk Mixture or Batter

Beat five whole eggs then add a tablespoon of vanilla extract. Vanilla is incredibly important when making your French toast as it will give it the sweet flavor you’re looking for.

Add a quarter cup of milk to the mixture. Whisk the mixture until the ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 3. Heat Pan

Heat the pan on medium heat then put a tablespoon of butter in, depending on the size of your pan.

Step 4. Soak Bread Slices

Soak your bread slices in your milk and egg mixture, but for only a couple of seconds on each side. You don’t want your slices to soak for too long as this will cause your bread to break up and you end up with a soggy French toast.

Step 5. Toast the Bread Slices

Place your bread slices in your heated pan and cook on each side for about two or so minutes, or until your bread slices look golden brown. Then, put them on a plate and set aside.

Step 6. Set Butter in Pan Aside

Remove the butter you used to toast the bread slices in. Place them in a cool pan.

Step 7. Make the Drizzle

Put two tablespoons of fresh butter on the heated pan. Put the butter and orange liqueur mixture over the top of the pan to burn off the alcohol and give it a nice, concentrated citrus flavor. Once the mixture has reduced, drizzle it over the French toast.

Optional: Put some orange liqueur on the pan. If you do decide to incorporate the orange liqueur, expect the pan’s flame to rise up. Be incredibly careful when doing this step, especially if this is your first time cooking with alcohol.

Step 8. Garnish

Garnish your French toast with some toasted almonds and fresh fruits, then sprinkle some powdered sugar on top. To give it a toasty color, you may caramelize some sugar and drizzle on top of your toasts.

Lastly, pour some warm maple syrup on and get ready to tuck in. Your homemade French toast is now ready! Enjoy!

Want to learn how to cook like a pro without ever leaving your kitchen? SmartKitchen.com features tons of recipes, tutorials, and techniques from chefs who have been there and done that. Check it out below!

RELATED: 12 Unique Homemade French Toast Recipes

French Toast Recipes with a Twist

Now you know how to make the perfect French toast, how about some recipes to try your new skills with? These classic French toast recipes will make your mouth water and your spatula-holding hand tingle!

1. French Toast with Peaches and Ice Cream

This French toast recipe with peaches and ice cream is the perfect summer brunch item! Did we mention this fresh treat pairs well with mimosas?

2. Cannoli Stuffed French Toast

This indulgent cannoli-stuffed French toast is perfect for surprising a special someone with some breakfast in bed. Whomever you serve it to will feel loved and extra special!

3. French Toast Sausage Roll-ups

Who needs breakfast sausages as a side when you can incorporate them into your main meal? This is a fresh, delicious take on breakfast we truly appreciate (we even wrote about it in our Gratitude journal!) and we’re sure you will too.

4. Strawberry and Cream French Toast

|

Strawberries and cream are already a match made in heaven, but strawberries, cream, and French toast are a reminder, ‘Heaven is a place on earth’ is true! This French toast recipe will definitely not disappoint and might even give you some serious brownie points if there’s someone you’re trying to impress.

You know what they say: the quickest way to anyone’s heart is with food. (We said it, but feel free to quote it.)

5. Easy Baked French Toast Casserole

If what you’re looking for is a quick and easy-to-prepare breakfast treat, then you’re gonna love this French toast casserole recipe! This makes a large batch to feed the entire family and help set a sweet and loving mood for the rest of your day!

6. Betty Crocker Classic French Toast Recipe with Stuffing

Betty Crocker’s classic French toast recipe, hands down, is one of the most popular. This one has some cream cheese stuffed into the sweet toasts both kids and adults love.

7. Easy Cinnamon Fench Toast Sticks

|

For light breakfast or brunch, and even snacks, these cinnamon French toast sticks are a dear. We recommend you use Texas toast and heavy cream in your egg mixture/batter.

A drizzle of maple syrup is good for both presentation and taste.

8. Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter French Toast

Yup, we had to save the best for last: peanut butter and chocolate French toast! This recipe is pretty indulgent, so expect a post-breakfast nap to hit you hard.

To watch the full tutorial by Chef Mark from Learn To Cook, click the video below! 

There you go, foodies! French toast recipes you can prepare fast and easy. Now, you’ve no more reason to skip the most important meal of the day!

We love hearing your feedback and comments; we also love sharing, so if you have an amazing French toast recipe, we’d love to hear about it and try it for ourselves.

That’s all, friends! If you enjoyed our French toast recipes, let us know in the comments section below!

UP NEXT:

• The Best Homemade Pancakes Recipe [Breakfast]
• 22 Must-Try Homemade Breakfast Bar Recipes
• Yummy Toast Appetizers For Thanksgiving

Don’t forget to keep in touch, foodies!

Also, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 24, 2015, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.