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Home » Recipes » Breakfast

How to Make Crispy French Toast

Published: September 5, 2012 | Last Modified: April 9, 2023 | by Marie with 9 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

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One slice of french toast drizzled in maple syrup, garnished with powdered sugar and cut in to four strips on a white plate from bird's eye view.

A while back, on my way to upstate NY, I enjoyed some crispy french toast at a restaurant that I hadn't been to previously. I can't recall exactly where the restaurant was, but I do know that the french toast was a-maz-ing.

Has that ever happened to you? You take a chance on a new diner or small family-owned place and are simply wowed by the  food? I just love when that happens!

Since having the a-maz-ing crispy french toast, I've been on a quest to recreate it.

After digging a bit, I've come to learn that the best strategy to get that ideal combination of crispy outside with custard-like inside involves the use of a few distinct steps that include:

  • the use butter on the stovetop to begin developing the golden crust
  • the use of dry (not moist) bread to facilitate adequate soaking
  • the use of an oven to finish off baking the inside of the bread.

Soaking the bread thoroughly is also needed to ensure that the bread is adequately saturated - a dry middle would be far from ideal. The contrasting textures of this french toast make this a go-to breakfast recipe for me on a Sunday morning.

Source: Modified from Chef John's Food Wishes Video Recipe

📖 Recipe

One slice of french toast drizzled in maple syrup, garnished with powdered sugar and cut in to four strips on a white plate from bird's eye view.

Crispy French Toast

Crispy French Toast, creamy on the inside.
4.73 from 11 votes
Author: Marie
Print Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 21 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 485 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 loaf unsliced bread
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 6 tablespoon Butter (may need extra)
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Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Cut bread loaf into ½ slices
  • Combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla
  • Soak each piece of bread in the egg mixture thoroughly while turning the bread slices several times in the egg mixture
  • Using medium-high heat, melt a tablespoon of butter in pan and lightly brown the bread (use additional butter as needed), about 3 minutes per side
  • Transfer lightly browned bread to sheet pan, bake for 6 minutes, then flip each piece over and bake for another 6 to 8 minutes (12 to 15 minutes total)
  • Serve with pancake syrup and powdered sugar

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 17gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 749mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 5gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 580IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 226mgIron: 4.5mg
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About me...

Hello! My name is Marie, and I love to cook! I was born and raised in a Italian American community in Philadelphia. Many of my happiest memories were with my mother or father cooking happily in the kitchen and their passion definitely inspired me. I'd like to share my recipes for pizza, breads, Italian cakes and cookies, as well as other family favorites with you! Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DAVID HRUSKA says

    August 27, 2023 at 2:14 pm

    3 stars
    Not much different than pan fried

    Reply
  2. Judith Murphy says

    January 08, 2022 at 3:14 pm

    What kind of bread do you recommend.

    Reply
    • Marie says

      January 09, 2022 at 1:03 pm

      My favorite is thick slices of brioche - But any thick sliced bread will do

      Reply
      • Judith Murphy says

        January 09, 2022 at 8:00 pm

        Thank you, I’ll try the brioche bread.

  3. Laurie says

    December 26, 2021 at 7:15 am

    5 stars
    In your crispy French toast recipe which are the critical ingredients and/or process that gives the crispy exterior?

    Reply
    • Marie says

      December 30, 2021 at 6:27 pm

      I'd say the low prolonged heat

      Reply
  4. PapaDoc says

    July 17, 2020 at 11:26 am

    4 stars
    Very easy and tasty!
    Kids loved it

    Reply
  5. Melanie says

    May 19, 2019 at 8:08 pm

    I wonder if you're thinking of the Roscoe diner. They have incredible French toast.

    Reply
    • Marie says

      May 19, 2019 at 8:36 pm

      I can’t remember but I’d love to try it and see next time I’m around there! Thanks for the tip

      Reply

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