French Toast Recipe

French Toast - Pain Perdu. Ralph Daily
  • 17 mins
  • Prep: 5 mins,
  • Cook: 12 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings
Ratings (4)

By Rebecca Franklin

Updated 09/13/17

This French toast recipe, or pain perdu, is an easy preparation of thickly sliced bread soaked in a sweetened, vanilla-scented custard mixture and then fried in butter to golden perfection. The name pain perdu literally means lost bread and is used in reference to using day-old bread that would otherwise be lost. Dress up this French toast recipe with a dusting of confectioners' sugar, whipped cream, or fresh berries.

Cook's note: While softer breads may be used, this French toast recipe produces great results with a drier, more substantial bread, like a country loaf or baguettes.

What You'll Need

  • 4 Eggs
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cups milk
  • 8 thick slices of day-old bread (cut on a bias)
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup whipped cream (or 14 cup powder sugar, or 1 cup berries for garnish)

How to Make It

  1. Beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is completely blended and smooth.
  2. Stir the milk into the egg mixture until it is fully incorporated.
  3. Place the slices of bread into the egg mixture, turn them over to coat all the surfaces, and allow the bread to soak for 10 minutes.
  4. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook 2 slices of soaked bread in the melted butter for 3 minutes.
  1. Turn the slices of French toast over and cook them for an additional 3 minutes, until they are golden brown and lightly crispy on each side.
  2. Repeat with the remaining butter and soaked bread.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 363
Total Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 12 g
Unsaturated Fat 7 g
Cholesterol 254 mg
Sodium 251 mg
Carbohydrates 27 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Protein 13 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)