Easy Homemade French Toast

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 the bread is, the more room it has to soak up the egg custard — like a sponge.

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.

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.