Made with thick slices of challah bread, dipped in a rich egg custard flavored with honey and orange zest, this really is the best French Toast recipe! Serve topped with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or berries and enjoy for breakfast, brunch, dinner, or even dessert!
5 STAR REVIEW
French toast is one of the easiest breakfast dishes to make – the secret lies in the bread you use and the custard. And this french toast recipe has the best of both.
Instead of flimsy, flavorless white bread, this recipe is made with thick slices of sweet, pillow-y challah dipped in a rich eggy custard, flavored with honey, orange zest, and cinnamon, then cooked until golden and crisp. And it’s not just for breakfast – I’ve been known to serve this for dinner and even dessert!
What Type of Bread is Best for French Toast?
Challah and brioche are hands-down the best bread for French toast. They’re both thick and sturdy with a tender, pillow-y crumb and enriched with eggs and butter, which pairs so well with the rich custard each slice soaks in. You can buy a loaf at your local bakery or make our homemade challah bread recipe.
Other varieties like sourdough, French bread, and even Texas Toast will work too if that’s all you can find. You can even get creative by using flavored bread, like chocolate challah, cinnamon challah, or chocolate babka!
Tips for Success
- Use day old bread. Day-old bread that has dried out a bit is essential. Warm or fresh bread will just turn to mush sitting in the custard.
- Use thick slices. The bread should be 3/4 to 1-inch thick for the same reason, so that it doesn’t turn to mush.
- Don’t have the heat too high. While you do want the skillet hot, you also don’t want the slices to burn as soon as they hit the surface. Each slice should take a few minutes to ensure that the egg custard cooks completely. Otherwise, you may end up with a soggy center and crisp outside.
- Work in batches. Instead of trying to squeeze as many slices as possible onto the skillet, it’s best to leave space between each slice and cook in batches.
- Keep slices warm in the oven. I always preheat the oven to 250F and place the cooked slices of toast on a baking sheet in the oven to stay warm while I continue cooking the others.
Challah French Toast
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 1 & 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- pinch of cinnamon
- 1 loaf challah bread (day old)
- 2 tablespoons butter , for the pan
- maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries , for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
- In a large shallow bowl or casserole dish, place 6 large eggs, 1 & 1/2 cups whole milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, and a pinch of cinnamon.
- Whisk together to form a custard.
- Slice the challah loaf into 3/4 to 1-inch thick slices (you should get at least 10 slices.)
- Soak as many slices of the challah that you can fit in the custard as possible for 4-5 minutes, flipping once. (Repeat with the remaining bread slices while the first batch is frying.)
- Warm 2 tablespoons butter in a very large nonstick fry pan over medium heat until bubbly. Remove the bread slices from custard, letting excess liquid drip off, and place in the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned.
- Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven.
- Fry the remaining soaked bread slices, adding butter as needed, until it's all cooked.
- Serve hot with maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and fresh berries.
Video
Nutrition
Other Notes
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
French toast is best when enjoyed immediately. However, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days, tightly wrapped. Gently reheat on the stovetop to avoid making the slices too mushy. Leftover French toast custard can also be refrigerated for up to 2 days, which is perfect for making an additional batch or two the next morning.
More Breakfast Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
- Crepes
- Hash Brown Egg Casserole
- French Toast Casserole
- Cheese Blintz
- Absolute Best Bread Pudding
- Life Changing Scrambled Eggs
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Delicious. I love breakfast for dinner and this was perfect with a side of bacon.
This truly was the best french toast – the custard is amazing! I used regular challah but I want to try the chocolate challah next time!