A classic recipe that's easy to make and perfect for breakfast or brunch. Here's how to make French Toast - use thick slices of Texas toast and soak them in an egg mixture with cinnamon and vanilla. Then, pan sear until golden brown. This is the best french toast recipe and it only takes 20 minutes to make!

This is such an easy french toast recipe and you are going to be amazed at how simple it is to make! There's a secret to this recipe that sets it apart. I finish it off by baking it in the oven. Baked French toast is a game changer! It's both fluffy and crispy...all at the same time! This is my husband's favorite breakfast recipe. He recently asked me if it was hard to make and I was like...no way. Not only is it super simple, but it's also fast to make.
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
You probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen. The ingredients you need for French toast is a thick bread, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and milk. You'll also need butter for pan frying. The best bread for French toast is Texas Toast. I'm not talking about the Texas toast garlic bread that's in the frozen section at the grocery store. You can find a fresh loaf of Texas toast in the bread aisle or bakery section at your local grocery store.
📋 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
This is the best French Toast recipe and you'll start by slicing the Texas toast into 3 columns so you have "sticks". Expert Tip: When making this recipe, I use the entire loaf of bread so I can freeze any leftovers.
Next, place the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract in a large bowl and mix together with a whisk until well combined. Note that the cinnamon and nutmeg will rise to the top of the french toast batter after it's mixed.
Place a large skillet on the stove top and set the heat to medium-high. Melt the butter in the skillet.
In batches, take 3-4 slices and dip them one at a time into the egg mixture. Soak the bread for 5 seconds until each piece is slightly saturated. Place each slice in the skillet.
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Let each piece pan sear for 4-5 minutes and then using tongs or a spatula, flip each piece. If you don't have that golden brown glow on each piece, you flipped them over too soon. Once you turn the toast over, pan sear until the other side is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining slices.
Once all the slices have been pan seared, place them on a cookie sheet. In a 350°F preheated oven, bake the French toast for 7-10 minutes until slightly crispy. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and serve immediately while it is still fresh out of the oven. The homemade French toast is perfect and ready to enjoy! Top it off with butter, syrup, and fresh fruit.
💭 Expert Tips and Common Questions
- Any type of milk works well with this recipe (1%, 2%, whole, etc.). Heavy cream also works!
- Don't skip the baking part. This method is what makes this recipe so good!
- You can freeze this recipe by putting leftover slices in a freezer safe container.
- To reheat, bake them in the oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.
- If you're gluten free, you can very easily turn this into a gluten free French toast recipe. All you need to do is switch out regular Texas Toast with a gluten free loaf of bread. Rudis Gluten Free Bread is a good bread option to use.
📖 More Breakfast Recipes
If you're looking for more quick breakfast recipes, check out these Baked Oatmeal Cupcakes. These can be frozen and reheated for busy mornings. These Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Eggs en Cocotte are also quick to make are extremely tasty! These Sausage Balls pair perfectly with this recipe!
My Lemon Blueberry Bread is also a great choice for a quick and easy breakfast. But if you love a good "syrup required" breakfast, then definately check out these Matcha Pancakes with Lemon Maple Syrup. You'll be amazed at the flavor!
Easy French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup milk, 2% or whole
- 2 Tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- 2 Tablespoons butter, salted
- 1 loaf Texas Toast
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Slice the Texas toast into 3 columns so you have "sticks".
- Next, place the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract in a large bowl and mix together with a handheld whisk until well combined.
- Place a large skillet on the stove top and set the heat to medium-high. Melt the butter in the skillet until completely melted.
- In batches, take 3-4 slices of bread and dip them into the egg mixture, one at a time. Soak for about 3-4 seconds each until they're slightly saturated. Place each slice in the skillet where the butter has melted.
- Let each piece cook for about 4-5 minutes and then flip using a spatula. Each piece should look like this when flipped over. If you don't have that golden brown glow on each piece, you flipped them over too soon. Once you turn the toast over, cook until the other side is browned. Repeat with the remaining slices.
- Once all the slices have been browned, place them on a cookie sheet. Bake each piece for 7-10 minutes. The goal is to get the each piece of bread to a slight crisp.
- Remove from the oven, serve on a plate, and add butter and syrup.
Video
Notes
- The best bread for French toast is Texas Toast. Other good bread options include sourdough bread, brioche bread, and white country loaf. Using a bread that is a day old and a little dry works amazingly well.
- Any type of milk works well with this recipe (1%, 2%, whole, etc.). Heavy cream also works!
- Don't skip the baking part. This method is what makes this recipe so good!
- You can freeze this recipe by putting leftover slices in a freezer safe container.
- To reheat, bake them in the oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.
- If you're gluten free, you can very easily turn this into a gluten free recipe. All you need to do is switch out regular Texas Toast with a gluten free loaf of bread.
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Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in June of 2017, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures and tips in August 2021.
Lori Arreola
This French toast was absolutely delicious yummy yummy!!!๐พ๐พ๐พ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐๐
Amanda Mason
Hi Lori! Yeah!! I'm SO glad you loved my French toast recipe! Let me know what other recipes of min you try!!
Liz
I love how quick & easy this recipe is! Perfect for busy school mornings!
Amanda Mason
Hi Liz!! Yes! So convenient! Leftovers are great in the fridge for a couple of days and then you also have the option to freeze!! So glad you love my recipe!
Deborah
We prefer whole slices. If we do that, does it change the recipe/instructions at all?
Amanda Mason
It shouldn't, no.
Dianne
Hello
Quick question regarding freezing for future use. Do you freeze after the pan fry then place in oven when ready to use or put in freezer after pan fry and oven bake.... then place in oven when ready to use ?
Thanks
Amanda Mason
Hi! I freeze them after the pan fry and the baking in the oven. Then, when I'm ready to eat them from the freezer, I let them sit on the counter to defrost and then place them in the oven to crisp up again. Hope that helps!
Karen
I love that you sliced the toast into perfect โfingersโ! This is going on the menu this weekend.
Amanda Mason
Yeah!! You will have to let me know how you like it!!
Trici aCarmichael
I love French Toast and make it regularly...I dont like using icing sugar or similar on the toast...I make sure I soak the bread, very thick bread, well and fry in butter/oil...I liked the comment re putting it in oven on baking sheets to crisp...i store it in oven but just to keep warm, Im going to do the other next time...and I usually make the French Toast as a whole slice, will try the cutting into three pieces next time...I also love my toast with fresh fruit or maple syrup...or chilli jam...
Amanda Mason
Hi Trici!! I can't wait to hear how you like my version!!! Yours sounds yummy, too!! Let me know how it turns out!
Ashley Hult
What degree do I cook them at for the ten min after?
Amanda Mason
Hi! In step 1, you preheat the oven at 350.