American · Breakfast
How to Make French Toast
The best use for bread that has gone a day too stale — custard-soaked, buttery, and golden.
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- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
- Oven
- Stovetop
Ingredients
- 8 slices sturdy bread, preferably day-old
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp butter, for the pan
- Maple syrup, to serve
How to cook french toast step by step
- Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a wide dish.
- Soak each slice 20–30 seconds per side — long enough to absorb, short enough to hold together.
- Melt a knob of butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook the slices 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden and set in the middle.
- Keep finished pieces warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven while you cook the rest.
- Serve with maple syrup and any fruit that needs eating.
Chef's tips
- Stale bread soaks better than fresh; fresh bread only needs a quick dip.
- Medium heat, not high — high heat browns the outside before the custard sets.
Cook it with what you already have
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