Early weekend mornings were simply made for indulgent breakfasts, and there’s truly no better way to start the day than with a serving of fresh and tasty French toast. While there are many fancy and unnecessarily complicated variations of this staple recipe, the classic French toast recipe is an incredibly quick and easy meal to make that can effortlessly be enhanced with the right choice of toppings. Requiring nothing more than a few simple ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen, this recipe will show you how to make classic and undeniably delicious French toast.
Table of Contents
The best bread options for French toast
For the most delicious French toast, it would be best to opt for thicker types of bread, such as an Italian or French loaf, and preferably one that is a couple of days old, or slightly stale. This way, the bread will have a chance of stiffening up, allowing the slices to stay firm while being dipped in the egg mixture and fried.
Slices of fresh or thin bread might end up falling apart or get soggy after being dipped in eggs, making for poor, unsuccessful French toast.
Ingredients you’ll need
2 servings
- 4 thick slices of bread
- 1 large egg
- Milk or a milk alternative
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
- ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Butter
Method of preparation
- Step 1: Crack an egg into a shallow dish or a wide bowl, and add a splash of milk of choice. Add the vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt for a balanced flavor, and then briskly whisk all the ingredients together using a fork, until combined.
- Step 2: Dip each slice of bread into the mixture, leaving them to soak for a few minutes, before flipping them, and repeating on the other side. Make sure both sides of the bread are evenly coated.
- Step 3: Using a skillet or a non-stick cooking pan, melt a knob of butter over medium heat, and place two slices of coated bread. Cook the bread without moving it for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Carefully turn the slices over with a spatula, and fry until both sides are golden. Then, transfer the cooked bread onto a plate, and fry the remaining two slices in butter.
- Step 4: Divide the French toast between two plates, and slice them diagonally for décor. Drizzle a few toppings of your choosing, serve, and enjoy!
How to serve French toast
When it comes to French toast, the secret to an exceptional meal lies in the toppings and the embellishments you choose to serve it with. And while the possible variations might be endless, here are some of the most popular combinations:
Butter and maple syrup
Similarly to pancakes, the most popular way of serving French toast is by placing a slice of butter while the toast is still hot, allowing it to melt, and then soaking the bread slices in sweet maple syrup. Although common and seemingly basic, it became a favorite combination for a good reason.
Strawberry and ricotta
For a fresh, summery taste, place a dollop of ricotta cheese on each French toast piece, sprinkle a couple of sliced strawberries on top, and then drizzle everything with a spoonful of honey. Quick and simple to make, this topping adds a richer, more enhanced aroma that truly looks and tastes like a professional dish.
Peanut butter and banana
If you need a meal that will easily win over both kids and adults, simply top your French toast with two sliced small bananas. Then, melt two tablespoons of peanut butter in the microwave, and drizzle it on top of your French toast slices, for the ideal combination.
Nutella and bacon
For a more experimental, yet surprisingly delicious variation, sandwich a layer of Nutella and fried bacon between two slices of French toast. This unexpected flavor pairing is bound to satisfy even the most sophisticated of palates.
Regardless of how you choose to top and serve your French toast, this delicious classic recipe is incredibly easy to make, and an ideal option for the most indulgent breakfast and brunch dishes.
