Vanilla French Toast
Classic vanilla French toast made by soaking day-old sandwich bread in a lightly sweetened egg-and-milk custard flavored with vanilla, then cooking each slice on a greased griddle until evenly golden. Serve warm with butter, maple syrup, berries, and powdered sugar as desired.
Pin it to remember it!
Print Recipe
Ingredients
Vanilla Custard
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
French Toast
- 12 slices day-old sandwich-style bread preferably thick-cut for a better texture
Optional Toppings
- Fresh assorted berries
- Pure maple syrup
- Butter
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Crack the eggs into a shallow dish and whisk them together with the reduced-fat milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Continue whisking until the ingredients are thoroughly blended into a uniform custard mixture.
- Place each slice of day-old sandwich bread into the prepared custard, coating both surfaces completely. Leave each side in the mixture for approximately 30 seconds, allowing the bread to become well saturated and noticeably heavier without becoming so soft that it breaks apart.
- Adjust the soaking period slightly according to the thickness and dryness of the bread. Gently pressing each slice into the custard can help it absorb the mixture evenly.
- Lightly grease a griddle and preheat it over medium heat. Arrange the soaked bread slices on the heated surface without overcrowding.
- Cook the first side for approximately 2–3 minutes, or until it develops an even golden-brown color. Turn each slice over and cook the second side until similarly golden and fully cooked through. Prepare the French toast in batches when necessary.
- Serve the French toast immediately while hot. Top as desired with butter, maple syrup, assorted fresh berries, and a light coating of powdered sugar.
Notes
Thick-cut, day-old sandwich bread is preferred because its drier texture allows it to absorb the custard while retaining its structure.
Pure maple syrup provides the best flavor. Gently warming the syrup before serving also helps keep the finished French toast warm on the plate.