Skillet Classic French Toast
Thick-cut brioche soaked in vanilla cinnamon custard and griddled in butter to golden perfection for the weekend breakfast everyone fights over.
Classic French Toast (Custard-Soaked Brioche)
¾-inch slices of day-old brioche or challah, dipped 20 seconds per side in a 4-egg custard (1 c whole milk, ¼ c cream, 2 tbsp sugar, vanilla), cooked in a butter-filmed nonstick skillet
skillet Timer
Set for 8 mins @ Medium Heat (Flip at 4m)
Ingredients
Base recipe calibrated for 4 adults.
Get to the Point Execution
Whisk 4 eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1 tsp cinnamon in a shallow dish.
Dip 8 slices thick-cut brioche into the custard, soaking 15 seconds per side.
Griddle in butter over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries.
Step-by-Step Guided Instructions
In a shallow dish, whisk together 4 eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon until smooth and well combined.
Whole milk makes richer custard. Skim milk makes sad French toast.
Dip each of the 8 thick-cut brioche slices into the custard mixture, soaking for about 15 seconds per side. Let excess drip off before transferring to the skillet.
Brioche is the best bread for French toast because it is rich and slightly sweet. Day-old bread works even better because it soaks up more custard without falling apart.
Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Working in batches, cook soaked bread for 3 to 4 minutes per side until deeply golden brown. Add more butter between batches as needed.
Medium heat is key. Too high and the outside burns before the custard sets inside. Too low and it takes forever and gets soggy.
The trick to great French toast is using thick bread and not over-soaking it. A quick 15-second dip per side is plenty. If it sits in the custard too long it turns into a soggy mess that falls apart on the spatula.
Cut into strips for easy dipping. Let kids pick their own toppings from a spread of syrup, berries, whipped cream, and chocolate chips.
- Crispy bacon
- Fresh fruit salad
- Scrambled eggs
Reheat in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 5 minutes or pop in the toaster on a low setting for quick reheating.