Are you tired of soggy and lackluster French toast? Do you dream of perfectly crispy edges and a fluffy, custardy center?
Look no further, because in this article, we are diving into the art of making the perfect Crispy French toast. And it only takes one extra simple step.
Get ready to impress your taste buds and your brunch guests, because here's how to make the crispiest French toast you've ever tasted.
French Toast is a staple in my house for breakfast, brunch and brinner (breakfast for dinner). Simple ingredients we usually have on hand, easy to make up in minutes, and a hearty helping of custardy comfort.
And it is so easy to adapt to different tastes, including both sweet and savory (think Monte Cristo sandwiches).
What is the best bread for French Toast
While you can use any bread for French Toast, some lend themselves better to creating that gooey custard like center without falling apart.
For this batch, I used Alfaro's Artesano bread (not a sponsor) because it is nice and thick... and it was on sale. French bread, challah, and brioche also work well. If you want a special citrusy seasonal treat, pick up some panettone when it is available in late November through early January.
Two things I recommend is to cut the bread ¾ to 1 inch and don't use fresh bread. Slightly stale bread will hold up better to the milk mixture. If you have fresh bread, toast it in a 300 degree oven for 10-15 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
How do you make Crispy French Toast?
The trick to extra crispy French Toast is to add a crumb topping after soaking but just before cooking.
I have seen recipes that use crushed cornflakes or panko for the crumb. I opted to use the two worst pieces of the loaf for making French Toast, the heel (aka the end, the butt, or the crust pieces).
The heels have too much crust and will never achieve the custardy center. Instead, I popped those two pieces in the food processor with some brown sugar and cinnamon, and pulsed to make my own crumbs.
When you cook the bread, the crumbs get and stay crispier than the outer crust. This gives you a nice crunch with every bite.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Vegan Options for French Toast
French Toast is easy to adapt to specialized diets.
Gluten-free bread or Keto bread can be used with no changes required to the recipe.
Dairy-free milk can be switched in ounce for ounce for the whole milk.
To make a vegan version, you can use your favorite egg substitute such as a store-bought plant-based egg mix or 3 teaspoons of ground flaxseeds soaked in the milk for a few minutes to gel.
More French Toast Recipes from #OurFamilyTable
French Toast is wonderfully versatile. Start with bread, eggs, and milk then go from there. You can swap out the bread, add a variety of ingredients, cook it on the stove, or bake it in the oven. Here's some inspiration for you:
French Toast Recipes
- Apple French Toast from Art of Natural Living
- Croissant French Toast from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Easy Make Ahead French Toast Casserole from Creative Cynchronicity
- Pioneer Woman Baked French Toast from Jen Around the World
- Strawberry Stuffed Keto French Toast from Palatable Pastime
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 slices thick sliced white bread (e.g. challah or French bread)
- 1 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1½ cups whole milk (room temperature)
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons butter (for cooking)
Instructions
- Rip up two slices of bread into large pieces and put in the bowl of a food processor with brown sugar and cinnamon. Pulse 8 - 12 times until finely ground. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.
- While griddle is heating, combine milk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Pour into a pie pan, or similar shallow dish.
- Melt ½ tablespoon of butter in the griddle. Dip two slices of bread in the milk mixture for about 10-15 minutes a side. Sprinkle a tablespoon of crumb mixture across the top of the soaked bread.
- Flip the soaked bread crumb side down on the hot griddle. Sprinkle another tablespoon of crumbs on top. Cook until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes.
- Repeat with the remaining bread. Serve immediately
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Until next time, happy eating!
~Audrey
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