The great thing about French toast is that it is simple enough to make on a weekday, but special enough to add to your weekend brunch menu. And this brioche French toast recipe will take your next batch of French toast to the next level. The light and airy, yet rich and flavorful French bread is perfect (parfait!) for this sweet breakfast recipe.
Ingredients for Brioche French Toast
- Milk: This recipe calls for 2% milk, but nearly any type of milk (or dairy milk alternative) will do. In order to give you the richest flavor, however, we do not recommend using skim milk.
- Eggs: Use large, room-temperature eggs in this brioche bread French toast.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar works like a charm here. However, for a more nuanced flavor, use honey or maple syrup instead. To easily incorporate the honey or syrup into the custard mixture, heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds sweetness and complex flavor to the custard.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavor of the custard.
- Brioche bread: Brioche is a soft and rich bread made with lots of egg and butter. Its slightly sweet flavor and light and fluffy texture make it perfect for French toast. For this recipe, use 1-inch-thick slices of day-old bread. The easiest way to stale sliced bread is to leave the bread wrapper open overnight. But if you forgot to do that, no worries! Use this quick trick: Place the bread slices on a wire rack set on a baking sheet and pop it into a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through.
Directions
Step 1: Make the egg custard
In a shallow dish, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Preheat a greased griddle over medium heat.
Step 2: Cook the French toast
Dip the bread into the egg mixture, letting it soak for five seconds on each side.
Cook the bread on a griddle until it’s golden brown on both sides. Serve it with your favorite toppings.
Recipe Variations
- Add some warm spices: Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the egg custard. Or, for a pumpkin-spice variation, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger, and a pinch of ground cloves to the egg custard.
- Make overnight French toast: If you need French toast for a crowd, use brioche bread in this recipe for French toast casserole. Assemble the casserole the night before to make baking the French toast in the morning a breeze.
- Elevate the toppings: Butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar are all classic French toast toppings. If you really want to impress your guests, however, add a dollop of freshly whipped cream. Make it truly decadent with the addition of whipped mascarpone cheese (follow the whipped cream recipe, but add in an 8-ounce container of rich and creamy mascarpone cheese). Top it all off with a crunch from chopped pecans or hazelnuts.
How to Store Brioche French Toast
Leftover French toast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave for about a minute, or toast them in a hot skillet with a little butter.
Brioche French Toast Tips
What can you serve with brioche French toast?
Of course, brioche French toast pairs perfectly with a generous drizzle of maple syrup. It also tastes great when topped with fresh berries. If you have the time, consider making an easy blueberry sauce or apple-pear compote topping for the French toast. As for sides, all of the breakfast and brunch staples work well here—like bacon, breakfast sausage patties and even scrambled eggs.
How can you prevent soggy French toast?
If your brioche bread French toast is soggy, it’s likely because your bread is too fresh. Be sure it has slightly dried out before using it. (Even popping the slices in the toaster on the lightest setting will help.) Avoid letting the bread sit in the custard for too long; five seconds on each side is really all it needs.
Let any excess custard drip off before transferring the bread to the hot griddle. Make sure your griddle isn’t too hot; if the heat is set too high, the French toast will quickly brown on the outside, but won’t cook all the way through. You can also prevent sogginess by placing the cooked French toast on a wire rack set on a baking sheet, then baking it for an additional five to seven minutes in a 350° oven.
