Lowkey Chef
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Golden French toast slices with maple syrup and powdered sugar in a white bowl on a blue background.
Breakfast · American

French Toast

Slightly stale bread is the move here. It soaks up the custard without going soggy, so the slices come out crisp on the outside and custardy in the middle. Plain sandwich bread works fine; no brioche needed.

Quick facts

18 min(5 prep, 12 cook)

2 servings

  • Vegetarian

Contains: Egg, Milk, Wheat

Step 0

Get it all out

Tick things off as they hit the counter.

  • 6 slices sandwich bread, a day or two old
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter

To serve

  • maple syrup, to tasteoptional
  • powdered sugar, to tasteoptional
Then

Let 'em cook

Tap Done as you go. Each step lists what goes in.

  1. 1

    Crack the eggs into a shallow dish, like a pie plate or a wide bowl. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt, and whisk with a fork until no streaks of egg white remain.

    • 3 large eggs
    • ¾ cup whole milk
    • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
    • 1 pinch salt
  2. 2

    Set a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add 1 tbsp of the butter. Wait until the butter melts and stops foaming, about 1 minute.

    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  3. 3

    Lay 3 slices of bread in the custard and soak for 10 seconds per side, until they feel heavy but still hold their shape. Lift each slice and let the extra custard drip back into the dish.

    • 6 slices sandwich bread
  4. 4

    Put the soaked slices in the skillet and cook until the bottoms are deep golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is golden and the center feels firm and springy when pressed, about 3 minutes more. Move to plates.

    • 6 slices sandwich bread
  5. 5

    Add the other 1 tbsp of butter to the skillet. Soak the last 3 slices of bread the same way, then cook them for about 3 minutes per side, until both sides are golden and the centers are firm.

    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
    • 6 slices sandwich bread
  6. 6

    Drizzle with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar, if using. Serve hot.

    • maple syrup
    • powdered sugar