How to Make French Toast

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Calories: 551

4 slices of homemade French toast topped with sliced butter and maple syrup on a plate with a fork beside it

Nothing fancy—simply how to make the very best French toast you’ve ever had! Now, pass the maple syrup.

Best French Toast Recipe

Our super classic french toast recipe is everything you need in your weekend morning—the kind of easy, joy-spreading food that takes a pretty-good lazy morning into the realm of greatness. A dash of cinnamon and a touch of vanilla add a cozy warmth to the French toast batter, and swapping heavy cream in place of milk gives it all the restaurant-y richness we crave in a brunch recipe. In other words, this really is the best French toast recipe of all! We’ve perfected it, and we’re not afraid to say it! So grab yourself some good maple syrup—seriously, go for the good stuff—and whip up the best French toast that’s ever graced your breakfast table.

sliced brioche, eggs, cinnamon, butter, heavy cream cream and vanilla in bowls on the counter to make home made French toast

Everything You’ll Need to Make Our Easy French Toast Recipe

If you’re a person who keeps heavy cream in the fridge at all times, firstly we salute you! And secondly, you’ve probably got everything you need to make French toast! If you’re not, though, no worries. A quick grocery run and you’ll be set. Here’s what you’ll need to make French toast:

Eggs
Cream
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Butter
Bread. And speaking of bread, you might be wondering what is the….

two eggs, heavy cream, vanilla extract and cinnamon in a glass 8x8 baking dish on the counter

eggs, heavy cream, vanilla extract and cinnamon whisked together in a glass dish on the counter for home made French toast

a slice of brioche bread being dipped cream and egg batter in a glass dish on the counter for homemade French toast

Best Bread for French Toast

One of the delightful things about making French toast from scratch is that you can work with what you’ve got! You, too, can have a spur of the moment French toast feast—no grocery runs required. So yeah, you can totally use that whole wheat bread that you usually use for PB&Js to make French toast. However, if you do have the chance to plan ahead, your French toast will be more restaurant-like if you use a slightly richer bread. Our very favorite breads for French toast are:

Challah. This tender, squishy, rich braided bread is a classic restaurant favorite for French toast, and we love it too!
Brioche. Even richer than challah, buttery brioche French toast is a seriously luxurious way to start the day. Live it up!

a slice of brioche bread soaked in egg and cream batter being fried in a skillet for French toast

4 slices of homemade French toast topped with sliced butter and syrup on a serving platter on the counter

How To Make French Toast

French toast is so easy to make from scratch and it’s actually kind of…fun? You can enlist the kids’ help, if you’re feeling up for a team effort. Or just put on some good music and have fun yourself! We love watching the butter bubble and quickly rushing the soaking, cinnamon-scented bread to the hot griddle and then—ahhhh—that beautiful sizzle! Then you start to smell the sweet, toasty fragrance of the French toast and just all it’s pretty darn exciting. Sip your coffee, flip the bread and get ready for a seriously exciting breakfast. Here’s how to make French toast:

Make the French toast batter! Whisk the eggs, heavy cream, vanilla extract and cinnamon until fully combined.
Melt some butter until it’s bubbly!
Soak the bread slices in the cream-and-egg batter. About 30 seconds on each side.
Cook the French toast! Lay a soaking wet slice of bread in the bubbling hot butter and let it brown. Then flip the French toast and brown the other side.
More butter. Repeat with the rest of the bread until you’ve made a mountain of gorgeous, golden brown, homemade French toast!
Dig in! Serve the French toast with warm maple syrup and plenty of extra butter.

Tools You’ll Need

Griddle or a good skillet.
Mixing bowl or a pie pan
Whisk
A good spatula for flipping.

More Brunch Recipes To Serve a Hungry Crowd

4 slices of homemade French toast topped with sliced butter and syrup on a serving platter with a fork and a knife

4 slices of homemade French toast topped with sliced butter and syrup on a plate with a fork and a knife and a bite being cut

Please Pass the Syrup!

We’re not saying we’re never going out for brunch again. However, once you realize how easy it is to make French toast at home—and that it’s not just easy but also pretty fun!—it does get kind of hard to put on real clothes and go out for brunch and wait for possibly mediocre French toast. So if this recipe ruins going out to brunch for you, sorry! But also you’re welcome! When you make it, we’d love to hear about it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!

How to Make French Toast

February 9, 2022

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Calories: 551

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Ingredients

3 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
4-6 Tbsp salted butter, plus more for serving
6-8 slices bread (white, wheat, brioche, French or challah)
Pure maple syrup, warmed

Method

In a pie dish or shallow bowl, whisk the eggs, heavy cream, vanilla extract and cinnamon until fully combined.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add butter to the pan, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until it’s melted and bubbly, but not browned.
Dip the bread into the egg mixture and let it soad for 30 seconds. Then, flip the bread and let it soak for another 30 seconds on the other side.
Add the bread to the bubbly butter in the skillet or griddle. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until the French toast is golden brown on both sides.
Repeat with remaining slices of bread, adding more butter to the skillet as needed.
Serve the French toast hot, with extra butter and maple syrup on the side.