The Best French Toast

Fluffy and tender inside, gloriously browned outside, this is the very best recipe for the brunch classic.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 09, 2025
Elise Bauer

Why Make This

  • Cooking this French toast in butter on a skillet yields a gloriously browned and crisp exterior.
  • Serve hot with maple syrup, butter, and optional berries for an indulgent brunch treat at home.

Is there nothing better than French toast for Sunday breakfast?

Thick slices of bread, soaked in a mixture of beaten eggs with milk and cinnamon, toasted in a frying pan, and served with butter and maple syrup. This has to be one of our favorite, and most indulgent, breakfast dishes.

French toast with butter on a plate syrup being poured bowl of berries beside

Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

Best Bread for French Toast

French toast comes out best if you work with thick slices of French or Italian loaf bread that are several days old. That way they've had a chance to firm up, which will make the slices hold up better when you dip them in the egg milk mixture and fry them.

Thin slices of fresh bread tend to fall apart or get mushy when you do this, making for lousy French toast.

French Toast Additions

  • Powdered Sugar: Many people love to sprinkle powdered sugar over their French toast! Personally, I think there's plenty enough sugar in the maple syrup, so I don't bother with adding more.
  • Orange zest and Triple Sec: One of my favorite variations, the idea for which I picked up from The Silver Palate Cookbook 20-some odd years ago, is to add some orange zest and a bit of Triple Sec orange liqueur to the batter for extra zing.
French toast slices on a plate with butter syrup being poured bowl of berries and fork nearby

Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

How To Keep French Toast Warm

Preheat your oven to 170°F, and place a baking sheet in it. Transfer cooked slices of French toast to the baking sheet in a single layer to keep warm as you're cooking additional slices. Do not place the slices on top of each other or they will get soggy.

Best Toppings for French Toast

The classic topping for French toast is butter and maple syrup (or pancake syrup), but feel free to get creative with these toppings. Choose one or mix and match.

  • Chocolate chips
  • Ripe banana slices
  • Fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries
  • Whipped cream
  • Lemon curd
  • Chocolate-hazelnut spread
  • Cinnamon sugar
  • Apple butter

More Ways to French Your Toast

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

The Best French Toast

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 4 servings
Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs

  • 2/3 cup milk

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 8 thick slices 2-day-old bread (better if slightly stale)

  • Butter (can sub vegetable oil)

  • Maple syrup

Optional

  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

  • 1/4 cup triple sec

  • Fresh berries

Method

  1. Make the egg mixture:

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Stir in the orange zest and/or triple sec if using. Whisk the mixture until well blended and pour into a shallow bowl, wide enough to place a slice of the bread you will be using.

    Egg Mixture for Easy French Toast Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  2. Soak the bread slices in egg mixture:

    Place each slice of bread into the milk egg mixture, allowing the bread to soak in some of it.

    Bread Soaked in Egg Mixture for French Toes Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Bread Soaked in Egg Mixture for French Toast Recipes

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  3. Fry the French toast:

    Melt some butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Shake off the excess egg mixture from the bread and place the bread slices onto the hot skillet. Fry the French toast until browned on one side, then flip and brown the other side.

    Frying Bread in Recipe for French Toast

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    How to Make French Toast

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  4. Serve:

    Serve the French toast hot with butter, maple syrup, and/or fresh berries.

    Did you love this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    Two slices of French toast with butter and syrup served on a plate a side dish of strawberries and blueberries

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
434 Calories
19g Fat
55g Carbs
12g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 434
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 220mg 73%
Sodium 431mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 55g 20%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 206mg 16%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 283mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.