Perfect 10-Minute French Toast

Sunday morning breakfasts are an important routine in our house. We like to wake up a little late, put on some soothing music, make coffee, and eat a leisurely breakfast. The morning light is always beautiful in our little dining nook and our dog even likes to eat his breakfast at the same time. It’s a pretty happy life to live.

However, I don’t always feel like spending an hour or two cooking breakfast on Sundays. Sometimes Saturday nights are a little too fun for intricate Sunday morning breakfasts. When that’s the case, I like to pull out this French toast recipe. It’s quick, easy, and tastes delicious every time.

I grew up just whipping up French toast with some eggs, a splash of milk, and some cinnamon. It wasn’t until recently that I realized my French toast wasn’t hitting it out of the ballpark like some of my other recipes. After a little research it became clear. The secret to delicious, custardy french toast, every time, is the egg-to-milk ratio.

It’s not just about the ratio – the fat in the milk is just as important. Whole milk does the job right, but half-and-half is a good mix of extra fat without tipping the scales the way using heavy cream does. The eggs are what help make your French toast fluffy – not enough eggs and your toast will end up being more dense, while too many eggs can lead to a soggy texture.

I like to use whatever bread I have in the house to make French toast. Regular sandwich bread can be too soft for really perfect French toast. You can either leave your bread out the night before or you can heat it in your toaster oven while you get your other ingredients and morning coffee ready. Drying out the bread will make sure that you can sop up all that delicious liquid without your bread falling apart in a goopy mess in your pan.

One final trick that will turn ordinary French toast into a real pick-me up breakfast, is a simple sprinkle of sugar on the bread to create a crispy, caramelized coating and beautiful golden-brown crust. Then you can top it with whatever you’d like – from maple syrup to fruit preserves.

What’s your favorite French toast pairing?

Perfect 10-Minute French Toast

INGREDIENTS
This recipe assumes you can fry two pieces of French toast at once. If you can only fry one at a time, use 1/2 Tbs of butter in the frying pan instead of a full Tbs.

8 slices bread, 1/2” thick
3 eggs
1 cup half-and-half
2 Tbs sugar, plus more for sprinkling
2 Tbs cinnamon, divided
4 Tbs butter
powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fruit preserves for serving

1. Preheat your oven to the lowest possible setting or a “warm and hold” mode with a wire baking rack set in the middle.

2. Mix your eggs, half-and-half, and sugar in a large bowl – stir well with a fork to make sure the eggs are thoroughly beaten and the sugar is well dissolved.

3. Melt 1 Tbs of butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
4. Soak a slice of bread in the liquid, allow excess to drain off before placing in the frying pan.

5. Sprinkle the side facing up with sugar and cinnamon fry for three minutes. Flip and fry for an additional three minutes.

6. Remove from pan and place on the baking rack in the oven to stay warm.
7. Repeat steps 3-5.
8. Serve with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and fruit preserves.

 

Variations:

• Leave out the sugar for savory French toast: top with ham and swiss cheese or sauteed veggies
• Try using only the yolks in your soaking liquid for an extra decadent French toast experience
• Substitute honey for sugar in the soaking liquid
• Use challah or brioche for a thicker, chewier French toast