French Toast

This exceptional French toast recipe is versatile and suitable for various bread varieties, including white, whole wheat, brioche, cinnamon-raisin, Italian, or French. It is exceptionally delightful when served hot, accompanied by butter and maple syrup.

French toast’s ideal bread

The most suitable bread options for preparing French toast include brioche, sourdough, French bread, and challah. These selections possess a desirable density and structural integrity, ensuring they can withstand complete saturation in a moist, egg-based custard without disintegration. In cases of limited options, thick-sliced white bread can serve as a viable alternative.

Conventional French toast recipes traditionally call for day-old bread slices, as they exhibit enhanced receptivity to the egg-infused mixture compared to their freshly baked counterparts. This approach not only optimizes ingredient absorption but also minimizes food waste, presenting a mutually advantageous solution. Nevertheless, it is important to note that employing entirely fresh bread remains a feasible and acceptable option when circumstances dictate its use.

French toast: Is it actually French?

Contrary to common belief, French toast, known as “pain perdu” in French, does not originate from France. Anecdotal accounts suggest that this delectable breakfast item was attributed to Joseph French, a resident of the United States, who purportedly crafted it in the year 1724 and christened it with his own name. Nevertheless, historical accuracy challenges this narrative, as evidence suggests that bread soaked in a mixture of milk and eggs underwent frying in the kitchens of Ancient Rome, as documented in early culinary recipes.

The genesis of what we now recognize as modern French toast is more plausibly traced back to the culinary endeavors of 15th-century chefs who sought to repurpose stale bread, thereby pioneering the dish as we know it today.

How to Keep French Toast Fresh

Allow your remaining French toast to reach room temperature before transferring it into an hermetically sealed receptacle, such as a resealable plastic bag or a reusable storage container. Refrigerate the leftovers for a period ranging from one to three days.

Can French toast be frozen?

Certainly, it is feasible to freeze a substantial quantity of French toast for a period of up to three months. To do so, arrange the French toast slices in a singular layer upon a baking sheet and subsequently freeze them for a minimum duration of four hours or, alternatively, for an extended period overnight. Following this, transfer the frozen toast slices into a suitable freezer-safe container, where they can be stored for a span of two to three months. When you are prepared to enjoy them, simply place the frozen French toast slices onto a baking sheet and bake at a temperature of 375°F until they are heated thoroughly and cooked to perfection, which generally takes approximately 8-12 minutes.

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (Optional)
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (Optional)
• salt to taste
• 6 thick slices bread
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, or more as needed
Advertisement

Method for French Toast

Step 1

Gather all ingredients.

Step 2

Whisk milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together in a shallow bowl.

Step 3

Lightly butter a griddle or skillet and heat over medium-high heat.

Step 4

Dunk bread in the egg mixture, soaking both sides.

Step 5

Transfer to the hot skillet and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Step 6

Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts