Old-Fashioned French Toast (Like Mom Used to Make)
French toast is where simplicity meets indulgence – thick slices of homemade French bread soaked in a rich vanilla-cinnamon custard, then pan-fried to golden-brown perfection. Each bite is a contrast of textures: crisp edges that gently crackle under your fork, giving way to a soft, custardy center that almost melts on your tongue.
Topped with a drizzle of warm maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and maybe a handful of fresh berries, it’s the kind of breakfast that feels like a celebration – whether it’s a lazy weekend morning or a midweek pick-me-up. Comforting, nostalgic, and just the right amount of fancy!
What is French Toast?
French toast, also known as eggy bread or gypsy toast, is a delicacy cooked by soaking bread in a mixture of beaten eggs, milk or cream, sugar, and spices, and then frying it till golden brown. The meal can be served with a number of toppings, including fresh fruit, maple syrup, honey, or powdered sugar.
French toast is a traditional morning dish that has been enjoyed by families for decades. It is a simple, yet delicious meal that requires only a few ingredients. For many, this sweet and savory bread is a go-to breakfast choice because of its supple texture and balanced flavor.
What Makes French Toast Special?
Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: Uses pantry staples like bread, eggs, and milk to create something rich and satisfying.
Perfect Texture Combo: Crispy on the outside, soft and custardy inside – comfort in every bite.
Endlessly Customizable: Sweet or savory, stuffed or stacked, topped with fruit, syrup, cream, or even bacon.
Works with Any Bread: From basic white bread to buttery bread or challah – even day-old bread gets new life.
Tied to Memory & Comfort: Brings back cozy, nostalgic vibes – weekend breakfasts, holidays, and mom’s kitchen.
Easy: This is an extremely easy French toast recipe. It requires very few ingredients that are probably already in your pantry, and you can fry them up in no time!
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make this delicious French toast at home. Let’s look at each of these in more detail:
- Eggs: We’ll need a few large eggs to mix the rest of the ingredients in. Once the mixture is ready, we’ll soak it up with the bread and then fry it.
- Sugar: Sugar is what gives our French bread that delightful sweet flavor. Try to use organic sugar if you can, but regular sugar works as well.
- Salt: We’re going to use a pinch of salt in the egg mixture also. This will help bring out the other flavors and balance some of the sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract will add a mildly sweet flavor with very nice floral notes. It’s perfect for this French bread recipe and also pairs well with maple syrup.
- French bread: We will also need a full loaf of French bread to make this French toast. I think the best bread is homemade French bread since it’s free of preservatives and extra tasty, but you can use storebought also.
- Unsalted butter: We’re going to fry up the French toast with some unsalted butter. It will make our French toast even richer.
- Maple syrup: Maple syrup is my personal favorite topping for French toast. If you want, you can also replace it with some honey.
- Fresh fruit: This ingredient is optional, but it really adds a nice touch to this recipe. Try some fresh berries or bananas for a touch of natural sweetness and extra flavor.
What You Need to Make French Toast at Home
How to Make French Toast at Home
Making French toast at home is easier than you think. Here’s what you need to do step by step:
First, cut thick slices of bread out of a loaf of French Bread.
Whisk the eggs, sugar, salt, and pure vanilla extract in a mixing bowl with a hand whisker until well combined and the sugar dissolves.
Next, heat a medium-sized frying pan, skillet, or griddle to medium heat. Add ¼ tsp. butter to the pan.
Dip each side of a bread slice into the egg mixture and place it in the center of the heated pan.
Sauté for about a minute per side or until golden brown in color. Repeat these steps with each slice of bread.
Tip: For a faster process use a larger pan, ½ tbsp. of butter and fry multiple toasts at a time in a single layer.
Remove the bread from the pan and place it onto a serving platter.
Top with fresh fruit, and drizzle organic maple syrup or raw honey for an irresistible morning meal or afternoon brunch!
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Recipe Tips for Making the Best French Toast
- Use day-old bread: For French toast, stale bread works best because it absorbs the egg mixture better without getting too soggy. For a similar result, you can dry out fresh bread in the oven on a baking sheet for a few minutes.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook the French toast in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can result in uneven cooking and steaming instead of frying.
- Let the bread soak for the right amount of time: The bread should be soaked in the egg mixture for about 15 seconds on each side or until fully coated. Oversoaking the bread can lead to a soggy texture.
- Use thicker bread: To prevent the toast from being soggy I recommend slicing your bread thicker. Also, stale bread works best for the toast. If your bread is fresh I like to toast bread slices in the toaster before dipping them into the egg mixture.
Substitutions and Variations
This French toast recipe is absolutely delicious and perfect as is, but here are some ideas if you’re looking to change things up and personalize the flavor:
Variations
- Add cinnamon: Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg to the egg mixture to give the French toast a warm, spicy flavor.
- Try different bread: French toast is a great way to use any leftover bread you have around the house. Brioche, sourdough, and challah are good choices.
- Add chocolate: Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the egg mixture to create a chocolatey French toast. Top with whipped cream and fresh berries for an indulgent breakfast.
- Try some coconut:: Use coconut milk instead of regular milk in the egg mixture, and add a handful of shredded coconut to the bread before cooking. Top with strawberries and blueberries.
- Use nut milk: You can use almond milk or any other nut milk you like in place for dairy free option of the 2% and whole milk in this recipe.
Substitutions
Sweeteners:
- Maple syrup or honey instead of sugar.
- Coconut sugar or brown sugar for deeper flavor.
- Stevia or monk fruit for low-sugar options.
Butter/Oil for Frying:
- Ghee or coconut oil for different flavor.
- Vegan butter or avocado oil for dietary needs.
How to Store Leftover French Toast
Storing leftover French toast at home is easy. First, let the toast cool completely before wrapping it in a layer of plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
When you are ready to eat the leftover French Toast, simply heat in a skillet or on a griddle over medium-low heat until warm throughout.
You can even freeze these French toasts! Wrap each individual French toast with plastic food wrap or place it inside a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze it for easier serving and thawing. You can freeze them this way for up to 2 months.
To defrost, you can place the preferred amount of slices of French toast into the fridge and let it thaw gradually overnight. If you are in a rush, you can defrost your French toast in the toaster oven for 20 minutes at 350 F.
They pair great with a hot cup of homemade latte or homemade hot chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may be undercooked or the bread was too soft or soaked too long. Use thicker bread slices, a drier loaf, and cook on medium heat to ensure the center sets properly.
Yes! Make an overnight French toast bake for easy prep. Cooked slices can also be stored in the fridge (up to 3 days) or frozen and reheated.
Absolutely! Vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, or even a splash of rum can elevate the flavor.
A non-stick or cast-iron skillet works best to achieve a golden crust without sticking.
Old-Fashioned French Toast (Like Mom Used to Make)
Ingredients
French Toast Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup organic sugar (or depending on the sweetness level you prefer)
- ⅛ tsp. sea salt
- ¼ tsp. organic cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 loaf of French Bread (or bread of your choice)
- Unsalted butter for sautéing
French Toast Topping Ingredients
- Organic maple syrup or raw honey
- Your favorite fruit or choice
Instructions
How to Make French Toast at Home
- First, cut thick slices of bread out of a loaf of French Bread.
- Whisk the eggs, sugar, salt, and pure vanilla extract in a mixing bowl with a hand whisker until well combined and the sugar dissolves.
- Next, heat a medium-sized frying pan, skillet, or griddle to medium heat. Add ¼ tsp. butter to the pan.
- Dip each side of a bread slice into the egg mixture and place it in the center of the heated pan.
- Sauté for about a minute per side or until golden brown in color. Repeat these steps with each slice of bread.
- Remove the bread from the pan and place it onto a serving platter.
- Top with fresh fruit, and drizzle organic maple syrup or raw honey for an irresistible morning meal or afternoon brunch!
Notes
Thank you for following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
This recipe was originally posted on August 28, 2017 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
I’m curious if this is something that can be made in advance and frozen? Have you tried that? And at what point to freeze?
Yes, absolutely! Once cooled, you may freeze them for a couple of weeks.
We did this, froze a couple of the slices, then popped them into the toaster and it was just as good as when I made your recipe fresh.
That’s amazing! I love these french toasts very much. Thank you for your feedback!
OMG! Now I know what I am going to make for breakfast this Sunday!
Your presentation is stunning!!!
Thank you kindly! Let me know how you like it 🙂
oh wow, i thought i left review about your french toast, but appears not. I love your french toast. I made them and my kids ate them right away. Thank you for sharing them.
So happy to hear that Hope! It’s definitely kid friendly food. My kids can never get enough of it 😉 Thank you for stopping by and commenting 🙂