14 Ways to Make French Toast Even Better
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe
French toast is one of our favorite options for both quick breakfasts and indulgent brunches. Infinitely riffable, there really is no wrong way to enjoy bread dipped in custard (morning custard!) and baked or fried. We're all about classic, no-frills versions like our Challah French Toast, which features thick slices of rich bread delicately flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. But when we're feeling extra fancy, we also adore variations stuffed with jam or peanut butter or topped with berry compote. And let's not forget savory takes such as Ham and Gruyère French Toast Sandwiches! Don't miss any of these crave-worthy French toast recipes.
Challah French Toast
Julia Hartbeck
This decadent challah bread French toast is delicately flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, and freshly grated nutmeg. The key to making perfect French toast is to thoroughly soak the thick slices of bread in the egg mixture, then cook them over medium-low heat so the edges don't burn before the centers cook through.
Pumpkin-Banana Bread French Toast
This rich French toast is the flavor of fall on a plate. The pumpkin and banana in the bread are balanced by warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. After being dipped in the custard and cooked in butter, the bread slices get a crispy, toasty, and almost caramelized exterior that yields to a deliciously soft interior. Maple syrup, butter, and pepitas are the perfect finishing touch.
Blueberry Cornbread French Toast
Cornbread and blueberries are natural partners, especially in this French toast recipe by chef Erick Williams of Virtue restaurant in Chicago. Dipping cornbread into the blueberry-infused batter gives the bread a beautiful blue marbled pattern while retaining its texture.
Cardamom Baked French Toast
To make this baked French toast, inspired by the Swedish cardamom-infused buns called kardemummabullar, you'll spread slices of tender, eggy challah with a sugary cardamom butter, then toast them until light golden. Next, the spiced toasts get soaked in a peppercorn-spiked custard that enhances the cardamom flavor even more before it's topped with melted butter and Swedish pearl sugar and baked.
Overnight French Toast with Cranberries and Pecans
This stunning overnight French toast is the move for an effortless make-ahead brunch. After you've assembled it and let it chill overnight, all you have to do in the morning is top it with pecans, bake it, and finish it with powdered sugar. Allowing the challah slices to sit overnight in the egg mixture results in evenly soaked bread that remains irresistibly custardy as it bakes, while the top crisps up.
Easy Italian Bread French Toast
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe
Whether you're looking for a breakfast or brunch recipe to make the weekend or a holiday morning feel special, or just feel like treating yourself, this French toast recipe, which uses sturdy Italian bread, is a keeper.
Torrijas
Carson Downing / Food Styling by Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco
Citrus, cinnamon, sherry, and a final drizzle of orange marmalade make this Spanish-style dish even richer and boozier than French toast.
Blueberry Almond Yogurt Toast
This yogurt toast mimics the rich, creamy flavor and texture of French toast and can be adapted to use all kinds of fruit and nuts. It comes together in just a few minutes, making it an option even on busy mornings.
Brioche French Toast with Fresh Berry Compote
Pastry chef Mariah Swan bakes buttery brioche for this crisp French toast, which she tops with a warm berry compote. The compote comes together in less than 10 minutes but tastes surprisingly complex for something so quick.
Monte Cristo
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee
A hybrid of a ham and cheese sandwich and French toast, this breakfast and brunch sandwich is both sweet and savory, with raspberry jam and spicy mustard. The dusting of powdered sugar at the end reminds us of how much better and more complex a brownie or other dessert tastes when it has been sprinkled with salt. Serve it with more raspberry jam on the side if you like.
Peanut Butter Crunch French Toast
This decadent version of French toast from chef Jamie West is made with two slices of buttery brioche that are filled with creamy peanut butter, coated in crunchy cornflakes, toasted until crisp, and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries.
Ham and Gruyère French Toast Sandwiches
© Fredrika Stjärne
Dive into the delectable sandwich with a fork and knife or pick it up with your hands, providing there are plenty of napkins close by. Chef Jesse Cool likes to tuck the maple apples in with the ham and cheese, but the fruit can be served on the side, along with a spicy mustard or horseradish sauce.
Foie Gras French Toast
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's savory take on French toast omits sugar from the custard. Foie Gras, chicken livers, and fresh black truffles create a rich toast topper that's spread on each bread slice before it hits the skillet.
Jam-Stuffed Brioche French Toast
At Sqirl, the Los Angeles café with a cult following, owner Jessica Koslow showcases all different types of jam in all different types of ways — on granola, with porridge, layered on top of ricotta toast. And, of course, stuffed into brioche French toast, as detailed in this recipe.
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