Homemade French toast is a delightful and satisfying breakfast option. It is not only easy to prepare but also a fantastic way to utilize leftover bread. My personal favorite version of this classic dish is made with thick slices of Italian Bread. This particular bread adds a wonderful texture and flavor.
To create the perfect French toast, begin by preparing a rich and creamy egg mixture. This flavorful coating includes eggs, milk, a touch of vanilla extract, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The bread slices are then gently dipped into this mixture, ensuring that they are fully coated. After soaking, the slices are pan-fried on a hot griddle. This is where they transform into golden-brown perfection, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Once cooked, serve your French toast topped with sweet cream butter that melts beautifully into the warm bread, and generously drizzle with pure maple syrup, creating a breakfast that is loved by the whole family.
Why use pure maple syrup for French Toast
Pure maple syrup is a sweet, natural sweetener that tastes so much better on French toast than imitation maple syrup. Maple syrup is made by extracting the sap from maple trees and then boiling it until it is the desired sweetness and consistency. The process of making the syrup is a long, slow boiling which takes several days. When the sap is boiled, it is reduced significantly from forty gallons to one gallon.
Most of the syrup is produced in Canada and the northeastern United States. It can be made from any maple trees and thankfully, there is an abundance of maple trees here in Wisconsin.
The amount of time and effort taken to produce as well as the volume of sap needed is the reason pure maple syrup is much higher in cost than the imitation variety. If interested in supporting local maple syrup producers, information can be found at Wisconsin Maple Syrup Production Buy Local.
French toast Preparation, Servings and Storage
When it comes to preparation, French toast stands out as a quick and efficient breakfast choice compared to other options like pancakes or crepes. When cooked on a griddle, you can easily fry ten to twelve slices at once, significantly reducing the cooking time as opposed to crepes, which require individual preparation in a smaller skillet.
This particular recipe yields enough French toast to serve six hungry bellies, making it ideal for family breakfasts or brunch gatherings. If you happen to have leftovers, it can be easily stored for later. French toast can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to four days, maintaining its deliciousness. For longer storage, it can be frozen for up to three months. Reheating is a breeze, as it warms up beautifully in the microwave, making it a practical option for busy mornings. Plus, you can easily double the recipe with the intention of freezing some for later, ensuring you always have a treat ready to go when time is tight.
Other family favorite breakfast recipes:
Chocolate Chip Sourdough Pancakes
French Toast
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Griddle
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Italian white bread (2 day old)
- 3 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Cut bread loaf into 1-inch thick slices.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, milk, cream,1/2 tsp Cinnamoncinnamon, and vanilla until combined.
- Heat the griddle over medium heat. To test if it is warm enough, drop a tiny bit of water on it. If it sizzles, the griddle is ready for cooking.
- Spread butter over entire griddle surface.
- Dip bread slices into the egg/cream mixture and gently place on the griddle.
- Cook for 4 minutes or until the bottom of the bread is crisp and there are no longer any soggy spots. Flip bread to the other side and cook the same way.
- Can be kept warm on a sheet pan in the oven at 200℉.
- Serve with butter and maple syrup.
Nutrition
