This easy Brioche French Toast is made with thick, rich, and buttery bread slices, dipped in a cinnamon and vanilla flavored egg custard, then cooked until lightly golden!
A fluffy, amazing french toast made with only 6 ingredients? Yes, please! There is nothing better than quick and easy, filling breakfast ideas that can be whipped up in a pinch, but look like a big fancy deal! Easy sheet pancakes and homemade crepes are another couple classic breakfast recipes that you should definitely check out!
Table of contents
French Toast Made with Brioche Bread
Brioche french toast is an easy yet impressive breakfast that I like to whip up for family brunches on special occasions like Christmas morning but also for weekend breakfasts just because. Of course, you could always serve mom a Mother’s Day breakfast in bed, served with sliced fruit, fresh berries, and a cup of tea or coffee! Or perhaps celebrate someone’s birthday with the perfect french toast bar. Set out a variety of toppings and have everyone dress their own.
Homemade french toast made with thick slices of soft brioche bread results in tender, fluffy, buttery, and delicately sweetened bread with a hint of cinnamon flavor. It’s slices of bread that have been dipped in an egg custard and cooked in the skillet so it forms a nice golden brown exterior on both sides. Then it’s served warm with toppings of your choice. Anything as traditional as fresh fruit and warm maple syrup to whipped cream and powdered sugar!
This delicious French toast recipe is the best simple classic breakfast idea. It’s is easy enough to get the kids involved, and fancy enough to please any crowd.
What is Brioche Bread?
Brioche bread originates in France but is very popular all over the world. It has a soft, fluffy, and tender crumb and a signature thin golden crust. It’s also slightly yellow in color and has a delicate sweetness to it. It’s rich in butter flavor thanks to the increased amount of eggs and butter, more than you would find in regular bread.
Why we love this recipe
- Quick and easy and yet doesn’t look it.
- Brioche is a thick buttery bread that soaks up just the right amount of custard.
- Soft, fluffy, and tender without being soggy.
- Can be as casual or fancy as you make it
- Flexible in that you can use this recipe with any bread if the brioche isn’t available
- Always a crowd-pleaser and is in good company with pancake and waffle lovers!
Ingredients/shopping list
- Brioche bread – A bread with a higher egg and butter content which makes it lighter and fluffier than regular bread.
- Eggs – You’ll need a total of 4 for this recipe. It’s the base of the custard mixture.
- Whole milk – Used to thin out the egg mixture and acts as the liquid needed to make it dippable. Using whole milk will keep it nice and rich.
- Vanilla extract – Gives the egg custard a warm flavor that pairs nicely with the cinnamon.
- Ground cinnamon – A very popular way of flavoring french toast. It adds incredible taste.
- Butter – Will be added to the skillet to melt before adding the bread.
- Optional Garnishes – Fresh strawberries, blueberries, cherries, bananas, maple syrup, whipped cream.
How to Make this Recipe
You will be enjoying this delicious breakfast in under 30 minutes with a simple mix, dip, flip, and serve!
Step 1: In a medium shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon, You want a shallow bowl because it’s easier for handling the slices of bread and keeping them flat.
Step 2: Add a tablespoon butter to a preheated large nonstick skillet and let it melt and coat the bottom of the pan. Keep adding butter to the skillet in between each batch.
Step 3: Place one piece of bread at a time into the egg mixture and flip it to coat the other side.
Step 4: Immediately place the dipped bread into the skillet and allow it to cook until the bottom side is lightly golden. Flip and cook the other side.
Step 5: Repeat with the remaining pieces of bread. Dip only just before cooking the slices so they don’t get soggy.
Serve immediately with your desired toppings and enjoy!
What to Serve with French Toast
There is nothing about this meal that will leave you hungry, it is totally satisfying all on its own. However, there is something about preparing a big brunch with all kinds of menu ideas that gets everyone excited! Below are just a few ideas.
- Eggs (egg white scramble, over easy, sunny side up)
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Spinach Quiche Muffins
- Breakfast potatoes
- Fruit salad
- Mango banana smoothie
- Strawberry blueberry banana smoothie
- Yogurt and granola
- Orange juice
- Yogurt parfait
- Tea/coffee
Variations/Substitutions
1: Although I love using full-fat milk because it creates a richer egg coating, you can substitute low-fat milk as well as dairy-free milk, like oat, almond, or coconut milk if desired.
2. If you cannot find a loaf of brioche bread, use any thick sliced bread like French bread, Texas Toast, or challah bread. Use gluten-free bread if desired for this recipe. And of course you can always use regular sandwich bread if that all you have!
3. Add a little nutmeg and orange zest to the custard for an additional flavor element.
Tips
- Dip bread one slice at a time into the custard batter just before placing it in the pan to cook. This way the slices don’t get soggy while they wait.
- Cook in batches and keep the toast warm by preheating the oven to 200° F and place each piece of french toast on an baking sheet with a wire rack on it as you cook each piece.
- Cook on medium heat to medium-high heat prevent overcooking the outside of the toast.
- If (and only if!) you have a large griddle, or skillet large enough to cook more than 3 pieces at a time, you could pour the egg custard into a larger baking dish. Doing this allows you to soak as many pieces of brioche as you can cook right away.
- Brioche can be found at your local grocery store as well as any local baker. Typically a grocery store will sell it already sliced which will make your life easier.
- Fresh bread will work, however, day-old stale bread works great too! So, don’t hesitate to use it.
FAQ’s
Luckily these beauties will keep in the fridge for 4 days when stored in an airtight container. Transfer them to a freezer-friendly zip-top bag if you’d like to freeze some. They will keep for up to 2 months. Remember to keep them separated by parchment paper or plastic wrap, that way you only need to take as many as you’re going to use.
You can reheat French toast much the same way you would waffles or pancakes. You can pop them in the toaster for a quick reheat. You may find they crisp up nicely that way. If you want them a little softer, you can use the microwave for 20 second intervals. If you have a big batch you might want to toss them in the oven so they reheat all at once. And of course, you could also reheat them using the skillet.
While a pad of melting butter and maple syrup is definitely a classic for a reason (you can’t go wrong!) there are also other options out there worth checking out. A drizzle of honey, or a dollop of your favorite yogurt, perhaps. Chocolate syrup, caramel or strawberry sauce, and a fruit compote are also some other yummy ideas.
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Brioche French Toast
Ingredients
- 8 slices brioche bread
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons butter
Optional garnishes
- Fresh strawberries
- Fresh blueberries
- Fresh cherries
- Bananas
- Maple syrup
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- In a medium shallow bowl, add the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and whisk together thoroughly.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add one tablespoon of butter and melt and coat the bottom to the pan completely.
- Separately place a piece of bread in the egg mixture then flip it to coat the other side.
- Place the dipped bread into the skillet. (I cook 2 slices at a time in the skillet)
- Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom side is light golden brown.
- Then flip it over and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Add additional tablespoon of butter between batches.
- Repeat with the remaining pieces of bread, dipping only just before cooking the slices so they don’t get soggy.
- Serve immediately with your desired toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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Maria
Love your recipes Thankyou so much
Sherri
I’m so happy to hear that!! Thank you so much for letting me know!