An unmissable French classic where stale bread slices transform into golden, savory perfection. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, French toast delights as a dessert or breakfast treat with its rich vanilla notes and caramel aroma.
⏱️30 min
📊Easy
👥4 servings
🍽️Dessert
vegetarianbudget-friendlyfamilyquick
Ingredients
8 tranchesstale bread
3 pièceseggs
250 mlwhole milk
2 cuillères à soupewhite sugar
1 cuillère à cafévanilla extract
50 grammesbutter
0.5 cuillère à caféground cinnamon
3 cuillères à soupepowdered sugar
Instructions
1PREPARE THE EGG MIXTURE: In a shallow bowl or plate, crack the eggs and beat them vigorously with a fork until you reach a homogeneous texture. Gradually pour in the whole milk while stirring constantly to properly incorporate the liquid with the eggs. Add the white sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Mix energetically for 30 seconds until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture becomes smooth and glossy. The mixture should have a creamy and homogeneous texture with no lumps visible.
2PREPARE THE BREAD SLICES: Select your stale bread from the previous day or the day before, as it should be slightly dry to properly absorb the egg-milk mixture without falling apart. Cut the bread into regular slices approximately 2 centimeters thick. Verify that the bread is not too dry (it should still have slight flexibility) nor too fresh (it could become mushy). If you only have fresh bread, let it dry for a few hours at room temperature or lightly toast it in the oven at 100°C for 10 minutes.
3DIP THE SLICES: Quickly plunge each bread slice into the egg mixture, immediately flipping it to coat both sides. The dipping must be very quick (approximately 2 to 3 seconds per side) so the bread absorbs just enough liquid without becoming saturated and collapsing during cooking. You should feel slight resistance: the bread must remain firm but have a well-moistened surface. Arrange the soaked slices on a plate or tray while waiting to cook.
4HEAT THE PAN: Pour the butter into a large nonstick skillet or regular pan and heat over medium-high heat for approximately 2 minutes. The butter should foam generously and release a slight hazelnut aroma, indicating it has reached the proper cooking temperature. Don't wait too long as the butter should not blacken: you are looking for golden foam with a pleasant aroma. Make sure the pan is well-heated before adding the bread, otherwise the slices will absorb too much fat.
5COOK THE FRENCH TOAST: Gently place the soaked slices in the hot pan, spacing them well so they don't touch and can cook evenly. Cook over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, until you achieve a beautiful golden and crispy coloration. You should see the edges beginning to caramelize slightly. Then flip each slice with a spatula and cook the other side for 2 to 3 additional minutes until you achieve the same golden and crispy coloration.
6PLATING AND SERVICE: Place the cooked French toast slices on a serving plate or directly onto individual plates. Generously dust with sifted powdered sugar just before serving to prevent it from sticking with moisture. Serve immediately while the bread is still hot and crispy on the outside. You can accompany with a drizzle of honey, jam, apple compote, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.