The Perfect French Toast Recipe?

French toast is perfect for weekends as it only takes a few minutes and a handful of cupboard ingredients to make.

My first memories of French toast, or as I was introduced to it, eggy bread, was at girl guides. On a misty spring morning soaking the hard bread in the eggy mixture while trying to reignite the campfire from last night and finding a lost jacket potato wrapped in foil in the burned out embers. The smell of browning butter wafting through the campsite.

There are few things better than thick-cut bread slices soaked in vanilla-scented egg and milk custard fried until golden brown. There are many variations of this delicious dish, be it the bread itself, the eggy mixture or the toppings. My favourite is super simple; French Toast with cinnamon sugar topping. There are 2 eggy mixtures for you to choose from; one for any weekend and the other, a more luxurious version.

The Ultimate French Toast

What’s the Best Bread to Use for French Toast?

Long gone are my girl guide days where we would drench cheap sliced white bread into the eggy mixture for so long it became at risk of turning into mush. I like to use bread that will soak up the eggy mixture as much as possible. French, Italian, brioche or sourdough all work wonderfully but my favourite is French baguette as it adds chewy-ness. No matter what type of bread you use it needs to be day-old bread.
Why Use Day-Old Bread?

What you need to know. One or two-day old bread is best for making French toast. If the bread is fresh, it will crumble or fall apart when added to the egg mixture or during cooking. Try 1 or 2 day old French, Italian, brioche, sourdough.

Thin Slices vs. Thick?

Just as fresh bread will fall apart or become mushy, so will thinly sliced bread. Try slicing the bread 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick. If you are using a french stick then you needn't worry! I slice the baguette length ways.

Luxurious French Toast Ingredients

Serves 4

4 large eggs
1/2 cup (118 ml) milk
1/4 cup (59 ml) double whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
8 slices day-old bread (3/4 inch thick)
3 tbsp salted butter, plus more for serving

Eggy bread with cinnamon sugar

Everyday French Toast Ingredients

Serves 4
4 large eggs
pinch of salt
4 tbsp skimmed milk
8 slices day-old bread (3/4 inch thick)
2 tbsp salted butter

How to make Cinnamon Sugar

Combine granulated sugar with cinnamon powder. For an extra nice touch, especially with the everyday version, add cinnamon powder to vanilla sugar.

Other French Toast topping options:

blue berries & whipped cream
blackcurrant compote & maple syrup
crispy bacon and maple syrup

You should follow me on twitter here

If you love London, then you may enjoy a private London Guided tour