Quick and Easy Homemade French Toast Recipe

This classic French Toast recipe is super easy to make and perfect for quick breakfast, brunch, or even dinner! Here I’ll also share a few tips on how to make french toast perfect every time. You could be enjoying this just minutes from now drizzled with sweet maple syrup or a sprinkling of powdered sugar. 

At the heart of it, this quick and easy recipe is super simple with just five ingredients; egg, whole milk, vanilla, bread, and butter. Not diet food by any stretch of the imagination, just wholesome ingredients that when put together result in a hearty and comfortable breakfast that you can create at home or if you are campers, like us, cooking in a cast iron skillet over a campfire or camp stove. 

What Do I Need For French Toast?

Salted Butter – You will be frying your egg coated bread in a skillet with good ole melted butter. I use salted butter for most things and that’s what I use. It eliminates the need for added salt too. 

Eggs – Did you know we have backyard chickens? We call them our “Secret” chickens since we live in the city. Our little flock lays eggs with shells ranging from a blue green to tan to dark brown. The yolks are almost always a dark yellow and during the summer months an orange color. There’s nothing quite as delicious as a fresh egg from a free-range chicken! 

Milk – I use whole milk in this recipe because I like the flavor. You can use whatever you like including non-dairy milk (coconut, almond, oat, etc.) I read somewhere that classic French Toast uses ¼ cup milk to 1 egg for every two slices of bread. I think that is just way too much milk and the result is bland. 

Vanilla – This adds a lovely flavor to this breakfast recipe. I get a pure four-fold Mexican vanilla extract from Azure Standard (a bulk and natural foods delivery service). This vanilla extract uses four times the vanilla beans when it’s being made and the result is heavenly. I get it at Azure Standard because it’s the cheapest price I’ve found. 

Bread – You can use many types of bread you like; whole wheat, sourdough, white sandwich, Texas toast, cinnamon raisin, brioche, etc. I personally like to use sourdough, challah, brioche, and a thick slices of sandwich bread. The best bread though for homemade french toast is anything at least ½ inch to 1 inch thick so that it holds its shape and doesn’t fall apart when soaked in the egg mixture. Stale or bread that’s a few days old is also good for this. I have a tip for you too, but first let me talk about sweeteners. 

Maple Syrup – Drizzling real maple syrup over french toast is the classic way to serve this. “Pancake syrup” isn’t actually maple syrup and the two don’t compare. 

Powdered Sugar – My kids insist on powdered sugar because that’s how they get it when they go out to eat. 

How Do I Prevent My Bread From Getting Soggy?

My daughter taught me this trick. If your bread is thinner than ½ inch thick or you’re afraid it will fall apart, lightly toast the bread before dipping it into the egg mixture. This dries the bread out and allows it to soak up the mixture without falling apart. I don’t include this step in the instructions below, but wanted to share this pearl of wisdom. 

How to Make Easy French Toast

Beat together eggs, milk, and vanilla with a fork or whisk. I like to combine these ingredients in shallow bowl or dish. I use a 9” pie dish. It’s wide enough to dip the bread into during the next step and deep enough that I don’t slosh eggs everywhere while I beat the eggs. 

Dip and soak your bread in the egg mixture. After you get the eggs and milk combined, place a slice of bread into it. Coat one side and then flip with a fork or pair of tongs to coat the other side. I leave the bread in the eggs for just a few seconds per side to absorb the liquid. It’s important that you don’t soak it for too long and get soggy. 

Pan fry in a preheated skillet with melted butter. Transfer your egg coated bread to a skillet over medium heat. Cook about 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. 

Transfer to a plate and topic as you like. I add another pat of butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. 

There are endless varieties of homemade French Toast you could make. Three of our favorite versions aside from this classic version are this:

1. Add cream cheese and strawberry jam for Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
2. Add a teaspoon each of cinnamon and sugar for Cinnamon French Toast
3. Assemble this the night before as a French Toast Casserole to feed a crowd.  

How to Freeze French Toast

The kids love this recipe and it’s one that freezes really well. So make a large batch and plan to freeze some for a quick breakfast throughout the week. 

To freeze french toast – Cook your french toast as described and allow it to cool completely. Arrange sliced on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place into the freezer and freeze until firmly frozen, about 30-40 minutes. Transfer the slices to a freezer-safe storage bag ( I like these Stasher silicone bags) or other airtight container for 1-2 months.

To reheat frozen french toast – The two easiest ways are in the toaster and oven. 

• Reheat in the Toaster – Place frozen bread in the toast and heat until hot. 
• Reheat in the Oven – Preheat oven to 300˚F. Place frozen bread onto a baking sheet in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook for 5-7 minutes or until hot.

Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas

Make this a complete breakfast with some fresh fruit, fried bacon or sausage, and a hot cup of coffee or espresso. (For Valentine’s Day this year, I got this coffee machine from illy. When I started their coffee subscription service that delivers coffee right to my door I got the machine for FREE!) 

More Delicious Breakfast Recipes

• Boil in Bag Omelette
• Sausage and Egg Breakfast Quesadillas
• Egg in a Basket/Hole
• Eggnog Bread Casserole/Pudding
• Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Continue to Content

Yield: 4

Homemade French Toast

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Total Time 11 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 slices of bread
• 4 Tablespoons of butter, plus more for serving
• Maple syrup
• Powdered sugar, optional

Instructions

1. In a shallow dish or bowl, beat together eggs, milk, and vanilla with a fork or whisk.
2. Set your skillet on the stovetop over medium heat.
3. Dip one slice of bread in the egg mixture. Coat one side and then flip with a fork or pair of tongs to coat the other side.
4. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet and follow with bread slice coating with egg mixture. You can often add a second slice with the pan size allows.
5. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
6. Transfer french toast to a plate and repeat until you are down.
7. To serve, top with additional butter, maple syrup, and/or powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

To freeze french toast - Cook your french toast as described and allow it to cool completely. Arrange sliced on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place into the freezer and freeze until firmly frozen about 30-40 minutes. Transfer the slices to a freezer-safe storage bag ( I like these Stasher silicone bags) or another airtight container for 1-2 months.

To reheat frozen french toast - The two easiest ways are in the toaster and oven.
Reheat in the Toaster - Place frozen bread in the toast and heat until hot.
Reheat in the Oven - Preheat oven to 300˚F. Place frozen bread onto a baking sheet in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook for 5-7 minutes or until hot.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 481Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 218mgSodium: 474mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 2gSugar: 37gProtein: 12g